My name is Michelle Batchelor. I’m 35 years old and I have battled with being overweight since I was in high school. So for almost 20 years. I was on monitored diets all throughout high school because my doctors said I was obese and that I needed to be placed on a strict diet.
Learn more about weight loss surgery at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians www.RMAP.com (801) 268-3800
I played sports during this time and joined two softball teams to get more exercise. That helped, but it was a lot of work. After high school there was college, and I played softball there too, but was beginning to gain weight because I wasn’t on two teams working out two times a day, sometimes three. So I joined a fitness class in college and a nutrition class in hopes that could teach me the right way to not be overweight. That was still a tough battle and I took a lot of weight loss pills to help.
After college, I wasn’t playing any sports and I quickly gained a ton of weight. I tried eating healthy, trying portion control, but I was ALWAYS hungry. I was embarrassed as I was always the last to finish eating and could eat more than most. I sought medical help when I was in my 20’s since I was already 100 pounds overweight, and I didn’t want to be overweight anymore. They started me on phentermine and I started to lose weight. I was so excited! Then I was told I couldn’t take it anymore for medical reasons, so I stopped taking it. I took B12 shots, hydroxy cut, as well as other diet pills, but had no success. I gained everything and some back.
I put thousands of dollars into Herbalife which helped for about a year, but my body gained tolerance to it and it stopped working. I felt helpless, unhappy, and like a failure. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I was embarrassed. I was told all you have to do is eat less and only healthy meals. But it was never that easy for me. I didn’t like that I didn’t fit on roller coasters. I was the person that people didn’t want to sit by on the airplane because I took up my space plus more. It made me not want to travel. I envied people that were cold because I was always hot. I never like clothes shopping because I would discover I went up a size or two, and I’d put the clothes back refusing to buy them until I was forced to.
Then, a friend of mine told me about her husband’s success with bariatric surgery. At first I was scared because I had looked into this year’s back and ran because it scared me. I was inspired to look into it because of my friend’s husband’s success and passion behind his new life. I thought to myself, “What could it hurt? I can do the classes and worst case, I learn more about it and choose not to do it.” That wasn’t the case. I learned more about it and thought it was still scary, but the benefits of the surgery outweighed the fears and enabled me to be able to make a healthier life changing decision.
I committed to doing the Gastric Bypass Roux-en-Y on May 30th, 2019. It was the best decision I could have ever made for myself because I do have my life back again. I can keep up with my niece and nephew again. I go hiking, camping, and I’m more confident and happy because I feel and look healthier. I’m challenging myself to new things and completed my first ever 5K in a terrain race. I made it to the end winning a medal! I am committed to my new lifestyle and motivated to be a better healthier version of me.
The journey has been one of the hardest experiences but one of the most memorable and amazing experience I’ve ever had. I have no regrets and I wouldn’t change my mind on my new life. Before this surgery, I committed to myself that if I do this, there’s no going back. I will commit 100% or not at all. Though I was challenged, I stayed strong and honest to myself. Because of that I’m now around five months post-op and I’ve lost 88 pounds! When I started I was 283 pounds and I’m now 195 pounds. I still have more to lose to reach my goal weight of 145, but I will get there and I will success because there is no other option!
I have been given a tool that won’t fail unless I fail myself and that WILL NOT HAPPEN! I will success for myself because I deserve that! I deserve to be the best version of me and no one will do that for me except me. I can’t say enough how grateful I am for the opportunity I have been given, and for Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians (RMAP) for making it happen and preparing me for success. Now, it’s up to me. I won’t let myself or my surgeon down.
–Michelle B.
Surgeon: Dr. Steven C. Simper
Surgery Date: 5/30/19
SW: 283
CW: 195
TWL: 88 (so far)
Read more patient stories here.
Interested in learning more about weight loss surgery? Learn more information here .
If you would like to share your weight loss surgery story with others and on Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians (RMAP) other social media outlets, contact Jessica at Jessica@rmapinc.com.
www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124