The before picture was taken exactly a year ago when I was knee deep in the process of getting everything together for insurance approval. The girl on the left was depressed, suicidal, and felt so stuck and miserable in life and unable to make any change to get ahead in life. I have genuine self compassion for that past version of myself because she’s the one that got me where I am today. A year ago I didn’t know what I would gain from having this surgery, truth be told I was only focused on all the weight that I needed to lose. I thought that if I only lost 160lbs then I would finally be have everything that I’ve always dreamed of.

Well here I am a year later and I can honestly say that what I have gained is more valuable and special than the weight I so desperately wanted to lose.

I’ve gained self confidence, pride, friendships, boundaries, hobbies, and an identity that doesn’t center at fatness. My entire life my identity was that of the “fat girl” but now I don’t perceive my self that way. Yes there are times when I look at myself in the mirror and think that I’m “fat” but when I truly think about MYSELF and what makes me unique and special I think about my values, contributions, hobbies, and the role I play in my relationships.

I have some more weight to lose before I get to goal, but I’ll get there of that I’m damn sure, but it’s not my mission in life anymore to be thin.

My purpose in life is to live a healthy, wealthy, and healed life and that’s what I aim to do daily.

So all of this to say, yes the before and after pictures here are great, but the real accomplishment is the healing and growth that have happened within 🙏🏽

P.S. yes I’m wearing shapeware and a damn good bra 😜