When 28-year-old Julia Nathan decided to undergo bariatric surgery after years of struggling with her weight, she wasn't prepared for people's negative reactions to her method of weight loss, or the pain that a necessary follow-up surgery would cause.
Nathan recently shared her story with Health magazine, and these are her biggest takeaways if you're considering a major weight-loss surgery.
Many people don't understand the decision. When she told people how she lost weight, they often seemed disappointed, like she "cheated" by getting surgery, she says. This was understandably frustrating, but ultimately, she knew the struggle it took to get there. After surgery, she still had to exercise often and keep her portion control in check to lose weight. Plus, because she went the gastric sleeve route, overeating comes with the risk of vomiting, diarrhea, or ripping her stomach lining.
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A few factors made her a good candidate. She was young, didn't have any health complications like diabetes, and had tried to lose weight with diet and exercise first.
The surgery itself wasn't so painful. She recalls waking up from the two-hour surgery and being surprised at how good she felt. She spent one night at the hospital and then went to her dad's house to recover. Her gut was sore, but not in pain.
Post-surgery, she was on a liquid diet for two weeks. She was eating about 600 to 800 calories a day, and surprisingly wasn't nearly as hungry as she used to be. She did have an allergic reaction to the whey protein shakes she was drinking though.
The second surgery was brutal. A year after her gastric sleeve procedure, Nathan had lost 100 pounds and decided to get another surgery to remove seven pounds of excess skin. The pain from that surgery was "constant and more severe," and the medication she took after made her throw up, which of course hurt her stomach even more.
She's got scars, but she embraces them. They are long and visible, she says, especially the one that runs from one hip to the other. Instead of being embarrassed by them, though, Nathan sees them as badges of honor. "They remind me of what I went through and how proud I am to have taken action to improve my life."
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Link:
This Woman Had Major Weight Loss Surgery, And This Is What She Wants You To Know - Delish.com
