Where’s the best place for listeners to connect with you?: Instagram @balanced_bariatric_life.

Describe your weight loss journey.: I am a 41 year old mom of two and nurse practitioner. My weight problem began with my pregnancies, and I tried every fad diet to lose the weight. In 2010 I decided to have the gastric band surgery with which I lost 90lbs, however after 5 years I developed complications and the fluid needed to be removed. I was working full time and completing my masters degree full time, and so I again put myself on the back burner- and regained all of the weight back and then some. Two years after I completed my degree I was suffering from the physical effects of obesity with shortness of breath, plantar fasciitis and hip pain. After a family trip to DC where I was in constant pain and couldn't keep up- I said enough. I had a sleeve done in March of 2020. Unfortunately, I developed severe reflux requiring yet another surgery and 18 months after the sleeve I had conversion to bypass. My reflux is now cured, and I have lost a total of 143 pounds! I am now an official gym rat lol, and transitioned from the hospital to a bariatric nurse practitioner at my own bariatric clinic!

What’s a skill you developed as a result of working through your weight loss process?: I have learned that mindset is one of the most important pieces of the journey. Through meditation, journaling and mindfulness I have made peace with food breaking away from old habits of boredom and emotional eating. I have learned to balance work and family life while still allotting time to take care of me to continue success in this journey.

What has that skill led to outside of weight loss?: I am now focusing my passion and career to help other bariatric patients as a health and wellness coach, and Nurse Practitioner.

What advice would you give to someone working through their weight loss journey?: Do not compare your journey to anyone else's. We are all different. Our internal and external environments make each of our journeys unique. Focus on your mindset along with your health, wellness and lifestyle. This is a lifelong journey!

What's something most people don't know about you that has nothing to do with weight loss?: I enjoy the arts and volunteerism. I perform with local community theaters, sing with local choirs, have played classical piano since I was 5, and play the baritone saxophone with a local jazz orchestra. I sit on my university alumni council and am involved with their women's council, and am proud to be starting my 3rd degree (of 5) with them in the fall in their PhD program where I plan to focus on corporate health and wellness.

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