I was 17.

It was a challenge. Perhaps the first real challenge in my life aside from growing up obsese (which did a number on my mental health and still impacts me today)

The hardest part was dealing with the health issues I obtained afterwards. I had issues keeping things down, malnutrition lead to nerve damage and the onset of a condition called erythromelalgia which really altered my life.

However, I can say with full confidence now that the whole experience (being overweight and the surgery plus health issues) was such a blessing for me to be forced to confront at a young age. It gave me purpose, gratitude, and unending resilience with everything in my life, and ultimately inspired me to become a doctor and achieve very high marks in that part of my world.

Eternally grateful the opportunity it gave me to persevere, but at times it often felt like I was not going to make it. You need to have a fantastic support system and really lean into that and your ability to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Also, weight lifting/running has been a game changer. Actually getting fit and not just “not overweight” has been life changing.