Although Cecilia has always been happy and didn’t let her weight get to her, it was starting to be a health issue.  Her blood pressure was creeping up and she had problems breathing.  She says, “I promised my kids I’d do something and I didn’t, that‘s when I made the decision.”

She chose the bypass over the band because she wanted rapid results.  She felt with the band she’d have to do everything.  She also thought, “Going through all this pain I’d better make it work.  I had my husband and kids to support me.  My husband watched over me like a baby.  They still watch over me.”

Now after a year she has lost 110 lbs, although with exercising she feels it can go lower. She takes her vitamins faithfully and feels says the B12 is very important for her energy level.  She states, “I’m more energetic, it’s given me a lot more confidence.  Before they were looking at a fat bimbo, now they see a lady on the corner.  I’m very grateful for all of your support, you, the doctor, all of you were there step by step.”

 When asked what things she wished she’d known in the beginning she stated: “I wish I’d known that really following this step by step I could’ve lost weight without the surgery.  It’s extremely hard at the beginning.  You can’t eat and then you get sick from it.  It was worth it.”