Sherrese Boyd's Story

I’ve learned how strong I am after having the surgery. Cause it takes a lot of strength and willpower to do this.

I decided to have the weight loss surgery is because I wanted to work at a specific place. And when I went, I had received the job, but I had to do a physical and I failed the physical by 2 points. So I kinda got discouraged cause I was at three, I think I was at 340 at the time as far as weight. And I talked to my doctor and talked to a couple of people and they just said that it would probably be a good idea for me to do the weight loss surgery. I tried numbers of diets, nothing was working for me. I also decided to do the weight loss surgery, it was because I had sleep apnea, high blood pressure and I was a borderline diabetic. So, I have 5 kids at home and I said, it’s time for me to do something, or I’m not gonna live long. Ive started with my doctor, my family doctor Dr. Murphy. I talked to him, at first, he was against it. And then he said, he’ll do research on it. He did his research, like he promised. He got on the line with Dr. Teel, that’s the doctor he chose for me, he got on the line with Dr. Teel. They both came up with a plan and I just did what they say.

I had to lose over 200 pounds to get down to where I wanted to be and where my body is more comfortable, so the roux-en-y was a better procedure for me to do.

I had to do a calorie count, was my first thing. I had to do think it was 1200 calories a day. And then I had to write down everything I eat. And when I say everything, everything. You have to write down everything you drink also. And that’s, you have to start watching your portions. And with me working the third shift, I had to change my eating habits, which like, my normal dinner would be, you know, 12 o’clock midnight, when everyone else’s would be about 8. So I had to change my eating habit far as dinner wise because I would eat heavier. I had to change to a lighter meal, um something more healthier.

I had the surgery in 2013, December 2013, on the 19th. And I weigh, as of right now, I’m down 230 pounds. And these was my jeans or capris before. Now actually, you can see, I could probably fit in one side (laugh), so. It’s, I hold onto these jeans to show me where I came from, how far I came and just shows me that I don’t want to go back there.

One thing I learned from the nutritionist when I came to meet with her, is that you’re body actually talks to you. So once I started changing my, my eating habits and my lifestyle, I started noticing that your body actually talks to you. After the 6 weeks was over, I continue with the diet that I was already doing for the past 9 months, but it was just a smaller portion. And I also exercise, I went to the gym with my daughter. Um, went to the parks with the boys, well my boys. And right now I’m at the point where I run 4 miles every other day and me and my daughter run 4 miles, um every other day. And we just, I maintain my weight with eating right, keeping up with my diet, keeping up with my vitamins. Keeping up with my doctors and exercising. It’s really amazing, once you get into doing this. I would recommend to anyone that have kids, that you know have family. I would recommend it to anyone.