When author Jason U. Terry works out at the gym, he feels like a rock star on tour, but that hasn't always been the case. In 2006, he weighed 416 pounds and felt like a prisoner trapped inside of a body he didn't recognize in the mirror. Because of his weight, Terry suffered from dire health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. His doctor wasn't confident he'd live to celebrate his fortieth birthday. Terry was obese, and it affected every aspect of his being. In Smiling All the Way to the Scale, Terry shares his personal story of how he suffered from depression, lived through some dark days, and then embarked on a journey that literally saved his life. He tells of surviving bariatric (gastric bypass) surgery, being healed by the hand of God, and continuing to follow healthy lifestyle habits. He provides tips and advice for others who feel the pain of being overweight. A story of inspiration, Smiling All the Way to the Scale shows that you, too, can shed unwanted pounds. The battle to lose weight can be won.

Smiling All the Way to the Scale

How Gastric Bypass Surgery Saved My LifeBy Jason U. Terry

Trafford Publishing

Copyright © 2011 Jason U. Terry
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4269-7477-9

Contents

Chapter 1 Unstable Weight Journey.............................1Chapter 2 Darkest Days........................................4Chapter 3 Mental Change.......................................7Chapter 4 Life Changing Decision..............................10Chapter 5 A New Beginning.....................................12Chapter 6 Then and Now........................................15Chapter 7 Fifteen Minutes of Fame.............................17Chapter 8 Inspiring Others....................................19Chapter 9 Commitment to Lifestyle Change......................23Chapter 10 My Vision..........................................30Chapter 11 Relating To Being Overweight.......................42Chapter 12 One Year Post-Surgery..............................46Chapter 13 "The Wall".........................................51Chapter 14 "Declaring War"....................................54Chapter 15 Enhanced Job Performance...........................60Chapter 16 Winning the War on Weight Gain.....................62

Chapter One

Unstable Weight Journey

* * *

Today, every time I go to the gym I feel like a rock star on tour. This is my story.

I use to weigh 416 lbs. standing at 5 foot 10 inches tall and the year was 2006. I was fat and out of shape and grossly overweight. My waist was a size 58, my chest look like I had size "D" breast, my legs look like giant tree trunks, and my arms looked like logs. I could not see my shoes because of my gigantic protruding stomach which was so big that I could not see below it. I could not walk 10 feet without feeling out of breath. I was very depressed and I hated myself for looking the way I did.

I felt like a prisoner trapped inside of this person whom I no longer recognized in the mirror. I tried to avoid going to gatherings and events as well as participating in activities, if it meant being around a crowd of people. I can remember how uncomfortable the family reunions were for me. There would always be someone that would make rude and hurtful remarks about me because of my weight. I would hear things like, how did you get so big.... boy you done swallowed an elephant and now you look like one..... I never would have thought you would let yourself get so huge. These remarks made me feel like hiding under a rock; however I probably could not have found a rock large enough.

Every morning and night I was consumed with thoughts of being severely overweight. Looking in the mirror at my naked body made me disgusted and angry because I had allowed myself to get so fat and become obese. I would wear dark colored clothing to try to look smaller in size but there was no fooling myself I was still obese.

I had tried almost every weight loss method known to man. I tried dexatrim, slim fast, phentermine, phenflorimine, water pills, and the grape fruit diet along with joining the Quick Weight Loss program. However, none of these dietary methods worked long-term I still remained grossly overweight.

I did not know what size I would be from one year to the next. For over fourteen years my weight was very unstable. It began in the year of 1994, one year after being honorably discharged from the United States Army. I took notice of the fact that I had slowly started to gain weight and by 1994 I was weighing 252lbs. I joined the Quick Weight Loss program and lost 61lbs within a few months, however ten months later I gained all of the weight back plus some. I just thought once I lost the weight it would be gone forever. Big mistake! By the year 2000, I was weighing well over 300 lbs. and by the year 2006 I weighed 416 lbs. As a result of being overweight I developed diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and degenerative arthritis in both knees. My body was not just obese now it was afflicted with all of the above diagnosis and I hated the way I looked even more.

I was not going to allow death to come and take me. When I thought it was no way out and that I was permanently trapped in this very large obese body of mine, a postcard arrived. It advertised the benefits of Bariatric Surgery. At that time I knew very little about this procedure, but from reading the postcard it was proving to be the way to go. I thought this was my way out and I had nothing to lose, but much to gain. I wanted to live; I had so much to live for. I had grown tired and frustrated with the roller coaster ride I was on for many years concerning my weight. I was more than ready to try something that would be more permanent.

Chapter Two

Darkest Days

* * *

On April 24, 2000 my mother, also my best friend died from medical complications at the age of 59. We were very close and it was very hard for me to except her death. My mother was an unselfish woman with a giant heart. She was the gentlest, caring and loving person who ever lived. I also lost my father when I was 18 years old and now I had lost my mother at the age of 33. They both are gone and no longer here with me and I miss them both so very much. At the time of my mother's death I was weighing around 310 lbs., my heart was torn and I fell into a deep depression. Although I tried hard to keep it hidden from my family and friends, I turned to food more often for comfort than ever before. I consumed all the wrong foods and snacks such as ice cream, cookies, potato chips, all kinds of chocolate, pies, brownies..... etc. And my portions of foods were enormous and high in calories and sugars. I just did not care anymore, my mother ... my best friend was dead and over the next six years after her death, I gained over 100 lbs. Losing weight just was not a priority to me during this dark time of my life.

In December 2000, I was diagnosed with type II diabetes, a diagnosis that I knew all too well because my father was a diabetic for more than 17 years before his death. I can remember this day just like it was yesterday. It was December 26th when I drove myself to the emergency room because I was experiencing blurry vision, constant urination, feeling very lethargic and being constantly thirsty. My blood glucose level was over 750 which was very high for a diabetic. I remember the doctor saying that I could have slipped into a diabetic coma if I had gone to sleep that night without medical treatment and that really scared me. He also wanted to admit me to staying overnight as an in-patient. The next day was my wife's birthday so I pleaded with him to please let me go home once my glucose level got lower so that I could be there to celebrate her special day with her and he did. I love my wife so much.

Shortly after being diagnosed with diabetes, I developed high blood pressure, high cholesterol and learned that protein was leaking from my kidney into my urine. I was prescribed lots of medication for these conditions. In addition to taking the oral medications, I also had to take 65 units of insulin by injecting myself twice a day. It was challenging and I had to discipline myself to this new way of living. Some days were harder than others but I got through it. All of these diagnoses sounded like a death sentence and taking so much medication made me afraid, very afraid of dying.

I was told by my Physician that my weight was playing a big role in my deteriorating health. He said if I did not lose the weight, I might not live to see the age of 40. He had my attention and it was not easy to give up my comfort foods. I decided that I was not going to let my weight gain be the death of me, so therefore it was time to fight back. I had a beautiful wife and three wonderful kids that I love dearly and I wanted and needed to be there for them. I had everything to live for!

Chapter Three

Mental Change

* * *

My weight gain had affected my mental status enormously and I did not realize how much I had changed mentally because of being severely overweight. My wife use to tell me over and over again that I was changing.... not just physically by mentally I had changed. I use to be in such denial because I did not want to hear or believe the truth about myself. I believed that even though I was overweight I was still in control and that my weight did not affect me as much as I knew it really did. Many times my wife and kids did not know which Jason was going to walk through the front door after a day at work..... the loveable and happy Jason or the mean and bitter Jason. There were days when I would come home happy but most of the time the least little thing would set me off and I would turn into Mr. Hyde. If the kids did not have their homework or their chores done I would get very angry and yell at them saying things that I now regret and have apologized for. If dinner was not cooked when I thought it should be I would yell at my wife and say a lot of hurtful things to her. This was occurring more and more often and I did not like the person that I was becoming. I sometimes pretended to not know why I was this way but I knew it was related to me being severely overweight and not liking the man I now saw in the mirror. I was also grieving the loss of my mother and dealing with my multiple diagnoses which I was taking many medications and injections for. I was a walking time bomb.

There is an old saying, "misery loves company" and I was very miserable being so obese so therefore, sometimes I made others feel the same way that I was feeling but not intentionally. It was just the way I was at that time. I can remember some days I would come home from work and just shut everyone out by distancing myself from my wife and children immediately after saying hello. I had turned into this person that my family and others did not want to be around very often. Again I pretended to not know why. Sharing her life with me had become so painful that the love of my life, my wife was considering leaving me and taking our children with her. Even today, those words still cut me like a knife because I just can't imagine my life without her. I just didn't realize how bad my family was hurting because of my mental change.

I knew that I had to do something or there was the possibility that I could lose the one person that always stood by me who is my best friend, the love of my life, and my soul mate... my wife Tiffany. After this, I immediately began to put lots and lots of effort into changing this person I had become. My wife and family soon realized the changes I was making and things started to be good at home once again. Things felt so damn good between my wife and me.... we fell in love all over again although I was still overweight. We were talking more, spending more quality time together and I was actually listening but that was short lived because that bitter and mean person that I was had returned and reappeared. I was back to my old nasty ways.

I thought that being mentally tough was enough to deal with any situation but I realize now that I needed more than that; I had to change the man I saw in the mirror both physically and mentally. It just isn't enough to just be physically healthy; being mentally healthy is just as important. I love my family dearly and pushing them away was my coping mechanism with trying to accept the problem that I had deep within myself. Furthermore, I knew I had done this to myself and I had allowed myself to become so grossly overweight.

I was obese and it had now affected every aspect of my being. I often pretended that I was ok and things were good when outside of my home or when people came to visit but things weren't good and I wasn't ok. I was miserable and not happy at all. I was hiding behind my not so genuine smile. I was hurting so deeply inside and I wanted out of this fat man's body because I was growing so tired of carrying this extra person around all day and every day and I didn't like pretending to be someone I no longer was. I needed help and a way out and I needed it fast.

Chapter Four

Life Changing Decision

* * *

Gastric Bypass Surgery was the answer for me and I needed to know more, much more about the procedure. I researched the internet, read articles and magazines, talked to people that had the surgery, and attended informational and support groups about the procedure. I had lots of questions that needed answered. It actually took two years from the time I first decided that I would have the procedure to the day that I actually did. Once I consulted with the team of Dr. Averbach and Singh I knew they were the Physicians that I wanted to perform the surgery and furthermore, they have the highest success rate in the State of Maryland. I had heard nothing but positive recommendations from those patients that had their procedure performed by this team of physicians. I was impressed with the fact that these doctors only specialized in this field of practice so I knew they had the knowledge and experience that could help me. I was so thankful that this team allowed anyone who was considering and needing additional information about the surgical procedure to attend an informational support group meeting, which I did along with my wife by my side. We were pleased and anxious after each meeting we attended. I was ready, so ready to begin the process to saving my life.

I first met Dr. Averbach in November of 2004 and right from the start I admired him and immediately knew I had found the best physicians to help save my life. Surgery was scheduled for January 13, 2005 but because of insurance issues it was denied and I was devastated but I didn't give up. I was anxious and very motivated because I wanted to live and be around for my family and grow old with my loving wife, so I appealed and I was approved to have the procedure. Dr. Averbach and I met again and surgery was scheduled for May 15, 2006. I was now weighing 416 lbs. I was challenged by Dr. Averbach to loose at least 30 lbs. before my scheduled surgery date because being over 400 lbs. there could be some risks involved. He explained that operating on a patient with a smaller stomach and organs would allow him to work more efficient and there would be fewer complications. I agreed to lose the 30 lbs so I began to eat less and started working out more. I was hitting the gym almost every day, sometimes twice a day. I was determined to lose the weight because I wanted and needed to have this surgery and I wasn't going to let anything get in the way this time, not anything! Instead of just losing 30 lbs., I lost 46 lbs. and I did it in two and a half months so you see I was going to have surgery and on the scheduled date. No more delays or setbacks. I was going to live!

Chapter Five

A New Beginning

* * *

It was May 15, 2006.... the day of my surgery and I arrived at the hospital at 5:45 am. By my side was my wife, two of my sisters and my brother-in-law who are from New Jersey. They had arrived the day before to be with me during the surgery. When I woke up that morning I was filled with many emotions, I was anxious, nervous, happy, scared, and excited. This day had finally come; it was the start of a new beginning. I was going to live again and I was going to once again soon recognize the man in the mirror. At the hospital I registered myself at the front desk then I was taken to a room in the back and the preparation for surgery began. My family was allowed to come back to visit me just before the surgery and they were introduced to Dr. Averbach. He explained to us all the length of the procedure and informed us that both he and Dr. Singh would be performing the procedure together because of my size. We all understood and felt very comfortable about their knowledge and ability to perform a successful operation. My brother-in-law led us in prayer and then I got lots and lots of hugs and kisses then they were gone. It was time. I was being wheeled to the operating room and immediately after that I was fast asleep, the surgery had begun. The surgery lasted two hours and it was a success, no complications! I remember waking up feeling no pain and thanking God for being right there with me during the procedure and thanking him for allowing me to make it through. I was feeling so good about my decision to have the surgery; I know I had made the right choice.

After leaving the recovery room to be admitted to my room, the pain medications began to wear off and my stomach began to feel tight. There was some pain but nothing like what I was expecting. I was told during recovery that I needed to drink plenty of water and I needed to get out of bed and walk because this would make my recovery time go by much faster so I did and after three days in the hospital I was discharge and I went home. Once at home I was given Ted Stockings to wear to prevent blood clots from forming in my legs and I was instructed to take blood thinner injections twice a day. I was a little afraid of what could happen during my recovery period especially with the chance of developing a blood clot. This is a condition known as, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) that my mother had for years. Once at home I began to walk, walk, and walk. For the first week I walked every day up and down my shared driveway, which is about 300 feet. I drank plenty of water and ate very little. My stomach was still tight and for the first couple of nights at home, I had to sleep on the sofa chair because it was too uncomfortable sleeping in my bed. I was healing quickly as family and friends continued to pray for my recovery. God truly touched me with his healing hands. Within a 7 day period, I was back at the baseball field watching my sons play ball and I was also back at the gym however, I started off slow with my workouts. I was instructed not to lift no more than 20 lbs. and I also would do a twenty minute cardiovascular workout. I had lost 18 lbs. that first week after surgery and the weight just kept coming off. Six months post-surgery I had lost 133 lbs. WOW! I was on my way down!

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Smiling All the Way to the Scaleby Jason U. Terry Copyright © 2011 by Jason U. Terry. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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