Jacci W. "I found the real person inside." Surgery Date: July 2000 Surgery:  Roux-en-y Gastric Bypass My Life Before Bariatric Surgery I tried all of the diets.  It was the typical story--I would lose weight only to gain it all back plus more.  I took blood pressure medication, had diabetes, asthma and a lot of knee pain.  My life consisted of going to work and coming home to sleep.  I watched my family enjoy activities.  I was just too tired to join in.  Outwardly, I portrayed a happy person, but I was inwardly depressed.  I work in quality control and I felt that I was passed up for promotions because of my weight.      Making the Decision A friend of mine recommended Barix Clinics.  It was great to talk to the patient service representatives that had been through the surgery.  My experience at the initial consultation was very informative.  It was there that I decided to go ahead with the surgery.  The Barix staff are experts.  It is a wonderful organization for this procedure and they have been around for a long time.  They offer the advantages of support, expertise, and good customer service.  Making Success Happen My whole mindset is low fat, low sugar and small portion sizes now.  There is always a gentle reminder that you can't eat an entire plate of food or foods high in fat or added sugar.  Your mind automatically forms those eating habits.  You're learning to eat right with those measures in place.  I always flip the boxes over and look at the Nutrition Facts Label to make sure it is something that I want to put into my body.  I walk, line dance, swim and do aerobics.  I am lively, energetic and look for activities to do.  I lost the first 100 pounds in 10 months.  How My Life Has Changed   One of the biggest changes is my confidence level.  I feel good about myself and my abilities.  I no longer worry about what others think.  People tell me that I don't even need to talk, they can see and feel my confidence.  My attitude and outlook on life has totally changed.  I have a great time with my three boys now.  We walk, run, and play together.  My relationships with people have gotten much, much better.  I no longer take medications for high blood pressure or diabetes.  My breathing is much better.  I can bend, lie in bed, run, walk and exercise without knee pain-no pain whatsoever.  Losing the weight helped me find the real person inside.