Three years ago, at 66 years old, I began my weight loss journey with gastric sleeve bariatric surgery performed by Dr. Smith at Ultimate Bariatrics in Fort Worth, Texas. He’s a wonderful doctor and surgeon, and his office staff is just as amazing. My only regret is not doing this sooner. The only issue I experienced was some dehydration right before and a couple of days after surgery, which caused vertigo when I tried to get out of bed. But once that passed, it’s been nothing but progress. I’m proud to say I no longer take medications for diabetes, cholesterol, or blood pressure. I started at 315 pounds with a BMI of 47.9, wearing women’s sizes 28/30 and men’s 3XL/4XL. Today, I’m at 155 pounds with a BMI of 23.6, fitting into women’s sizes 14/16 and men’s size L. I’d love to reach 150 pounds someday, but I’m already beyond grateful for how far I’ve come. I exercise almost daily and enjoy being able to eat a balanced diet — even nuts and kale salads. I still choose to limit bread, pasta, and sweets to keep myself from slipping back into old habits, though I’ll admit, I used to love carbs. The most rewarding part has been seeing people I haven’t seen in years and hearing their reactions, along with the simple joy of shopping for smaller clothes. I wish I could afford to have the excess skin removed, but at my age, that’s not a big concern. I can live with it because I finally feel healthy, strong, and confident in my body. I’m so thankful I decided to move forward with the sleeve. Thank you to Jessica Lockwood for all the talks and guidance before my surgery. This truly is the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. Sharing these photos is a little scary — I’ve never posted them before because of shame and fear — but now, I share them with nothing but pride and gratitude.