Gastric bypass on Chronicle....

This is a pretty cool story that was aired on Chronicle a few weeks ago about a woman's 10 month gastric bypass recovery.  Check it out!

"In high school, Colleen Michaels-Walsh weighed 550 pounds. Over the succeeding years she lost and gained weight, jeopardizing her health, her work life, and worrying her family. Finally, she decided to take a drastic measure: gastric bypass surgery. Over the last ten months, Chronicle followed her progress as she attempted to regain control of her life; tonight, Anthony Everett tells her story." -Chronicle website

Making goals...

In the essay I had to write to be accepted into the gastric bypass center, they asked you why you wanted to have this surgery.  There were a lot of really good things I could have written to answer this simple question.  Improving my heath…looking better…becoming more active.  Instead, I just wrote the first thing that popped into my head. 

I wanted to fit into the seats at Fenway.

Despite my outward “girly girl” appearance, I enjoy watching (NOT playing) sports.  I was brought up watching lots of games with my dad and now that I’m older, going to games has become one of my favorite things to do….when I can afford it. 

But, even though I enjoyed it, I can remember the anxiety that I felt about one simple thing. 

The seats.

 

The constant wondering if my butt was going fit in and not bust out of the sides of the seat was just horrible.   Even when I could squeeze my ginormous behind in there, I was extremely uncomfortable and the anxiety about it could almost ruin my whole time.  

Well, a few weeks ago, Chris took me to a Bruins hockey game at the Bank North Garden in Boston.  It was the first time I had been to a sporting event since my surgery and I was really excited.

We had a quick pizza dinner before we went in.  This was naughty, I know, but I only ate a piece and a half of pizza and was SO full…(instead of the whole pie I used to be able to eat!) 

When we went inside and sat down, I was surprised by how comfortable I was….There was space on both sides of my butt and I could even cross my legs.  It was the first time I had a “gastric bypass moment” in a REALLY long time and it really made me smile. 

Even though it rained and I looked like a wet dog that night, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  It was fun to see the game…but it was just as fun to know I made some of my own "goals" that night, as well!