About TJC

I let food control my life and began a relationship with it...a real bad one! It start at 10 years old. At 18 years old, I realized its not healthy at all. I was over indulging in everything I ate...cookies, candy, you name it. I knew it was not good for my body, but it was just something in it that satisfied me. Back in 2007, I bought a memebership at the YMCA and started working out. Did that help me? Sure. But I didn't control my eating. In turn, I was basically not going anywhere. It was hard to stop. Think, trying to get a "crack head" (no offense!) to stop doing crack. It's hard! They have to go through rehab. Well, in a sense, weight loss surgery was and is my rehab. I am 19 years old, gastric bypassed on 12/29/08. Weight: my weight at the consult was 365...weight the day of surgery (after 2wek preop) was 332.4...fast forward to today, 5/1/09, my weight is 270. That is 95 pounds gone! And that was not only the gastric bypass, I work out daily at the gym for 2 hours! 1 hour of hard core cardio (treadmill at a speed of 5mph for 30mins and swimming for 30mins) and a powerful hour of strength and conditioning. It is incredible. I wore a size 50 in. pants, now I am down to a size 42 and plan to get to 32/34! As for my weight, I weigh 270. My goal was 240, but I decided to push myself to 220! I CAN DO IT! God has shown me my weaknesses and in turn, I am STRENGTHENING! I can do ALL things through Christ who STRENGTHENS me!  Friends and I laugh about the old me...walking around always eating on something. With the gastric bypass, I can only tolerate about an ounce or 2 of food every few hours. Now, I am satisfied with eating 300-600 calories a day! Usually yogurt for b-fast, tuna for lunch, grapes and protein for middday snack, and something with chicken for dinner! That's it! If anyone is planning on getting WLS, please remember that it is not the sole part of weight loss. YOU must push yourself in exercise. Do not feel like when you get WLS, you don't have to do anything...NOT true!

Life is great these days!!! I have a great support system of friends and family to help me if needed. My personality has changed for the BEST know that food is not on my mind! I am able to drive longer in my car without having to get out every half hour to stretch. It is amazing! Thank you Dr. Nicholson and staff, and all my family and friends! You all have truley made an impact in my life, and there are not enough words to use to thank you!


If you are considering weight loss surgery, make sure you talk with your primary physician first.