My Name is Lindsey, and I'm Having Gastric Bypass.

"Do you actually want to go through with this?" This is literally the question that I've been asked over and over again since I've decided to go ahead with this surgery. YES, I'M SURE.

 "Are you even sure that you're big enough to have this surgery?" Fellas, have you seen me? I'm plenty big. Not to say that I don't love my body, and not to say that I don't rock every measly piece of clothing that I put on. What I am saying is, I WOULD LOVE TO BE HEALTHY.

Wait, what? You mean to tell me that there are overweight people out there that care enough about themselves, and those around them to change their way of living so that they can be around longer? UH.yeah. 

I have already encountered people in this very short journey that I have been on that have decided to tell me that they disagree with the decision that I have made. Which is fine. They are human, and they are allowed to have an opinion. 

Most humans do.

With that being said, I would like you to know that if you're reading this blog right now, I care enough about you to explain to you that I am not jumping head first into a surgery that is going to change the rest of my life all because I want that pair of shorts from "The Body Shop" in the WolfChase mall. I have done TONS of research on this journey -- post op and pre op, and I have decided that this is going to be a positive change in my life. 

This change is going to allow me to run 5ks without embarrassment, it's going to give me the confidence that I need to excel in my career (because I mean, if you go to a doctor that tells you to lose weight, and they're unhealthy, would you want to listen? No.) More importantly, this surgery is going to HELP me get healthy. Help is the keyword. I know that this surgery is only going to do what I want it to do if I can learn how to control myself. The surgery is only a tool that I can use. It does not prevent me from gaining weight back, it just helps me lose the weight I want to lose. 

Now that we have that out of the way, a lot of people have asked me what surgery I am having, what the process is, and how long will it be until I have my surgery.

Firstly, I have done months of research on each of the surgeries and have come to the conclusion that the Roux-en-y Gastric Bypass procedure is going to be the best one for me. I will copy and paste the definition in layman's terms down below. Before you read it and freak out on me, you should know that this surgery is reversible, and that it has the best results.

"Gastric bypass surgery refers to a surgical procedure in which the stomach is divided into a small upper pouch and a much larger lower "remnant" pouch and then the small intestine is rearranged to connect to both. Surgeons have developed several different ways to reconnect the intestine, thus leading to several different gastric bypass (GBP) procedures. Any GBP leads to a marked reduction in the functional volume of the stomach, accompanied by an altered physiological and physical response to food." (Wikipedia)

The process of having the surgery varies by insurance company/method of payment. Luckily, I have been blessed and my insurance company will cover the procedure. I have to have three months of showing the insurance company that I have tried other methods of weight loss, and I have to go through some psychological evaluations so that I can prove to them that I will be able to take care of myself after surgery. This process can take a couple of months to get everything together, and I will be updating on my journey. 

We are hoping and praying that I can have the procedure done in December while I am on Christmas break so that I don't have to miss class in order to heal. However, the December date is adjustable, and is not set in stone. Merry Christmas to me!! Amiright?

You should all know that I am very exciting about the changes that are about to take place for me. I wouldn't be hear without God's grace and blessings on my life. I would appreciate it if everyone kept their NOT SO VERY NICE OPINIONS to themselves, as this is something that my parents and I have discussed and prayed about and we feel that God has made a way when there was no way at all. I would also appreciate your thoughts, prayers, and good vibes as I continue this journey. I also hope that you are interested enough to follow me as my life begins to change. I love each one of you and would like to thank you for taking the time to read this and rejoice with me!!

P.S. I'm changing my name to "Bypass Baby"  ;)

Thanks for reading!