Michelle's weight loss story
Michelle lost 150 pounds with weight loss surgery at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center.
My husband Mike and I decided together to have the surgery back in 2003. He was more convinced than I was and did the research. He was the guinea pig and went first.
We kept gaining weight the way we were eating. Mike finally said, "Look, we need to do this." My daughter was only 6. I couldn't do anything with her. I was going home and sitting on the couch. She wanted to ride bikes, go to the park and do things. What kind of life was I giving my kids? Mike and I agreed, we needed to get healthy for our kids.
Mike was a football player in high school and was always a big guy. I was a swimmer. I wasn't stick thin, but I exercised and ate whatever I wanted. After high school and into my 20s I just kept gaining weight. Mike developed high blood pressure and had sleep apnea. I was heading in the same direction. We knew this was the best program. You can look anywhere in the city and see the numbers. The St. Vincent program has the best outcomes. It also had the support groups that we were looking for. Having each other to lean on was so helpful to us. We don't even look like the same people in our wedding picture.
Now we're doing so much more as a family. We get season tickets to Cedar Point. Last year we flew to Disney World. It was the first time I had been on a plane since my surgery. The last time I flew I had to use the seatbelt extender. Mike and I both sat down and just put the seatbelt on. It's amazing how much more comfortable it was to fly.
We eat healthier as a family. Every time I see a cookie or brownie, I think "335 pounds." I would do it all again in a heartbeat.