Spotlight Reader – Introducing Alicia

Hi! I am Alicia aka Adiosfluff.  I am 30 years old, and I had Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) surgery on March 08, 2022.  I researched weight loss surgery for about 6 months before I scheduled it.  I scheduled an appointment with my PCP and went in there with notes and ready to argue as to why WLS was the right step for me.  To my lovely surprise my doctor was on board and agreed it would be a good step for me. My BMI was 40 and I had spent the previous four years attempting to lose weight with no real success.  and my medical record spoke for itself.  Unfortunately, my insurance plan did not cover the surgery, but that didn’t stop me. I researched weight loss centers in Mexico and booked with Elias Ortiz and Company.

My “why” for proceeding with VSG surgery is that I am hoping it helps in my fertility journey.  I have gone through two miscarriages, in 2016 and 2017. The losses have never been attributed to my weight, but I see so many others who have gone through what I’ve gone through have had successful pregnancies after VSG.  I was going to begin fertility treatments and used that money for my surgery instead. NO REGRETS!

I am now three months post-surgery, and my life has changed for the better!  I have always considered myself to be confident in my skin and had high self-esteem, but I see and feel myself as different and a much happier person.  By no means has this surgery been easy, but I do my best to approach this new life in the most positive way I can.  I am thankful for my tool, and I reached my first goal of losing 50 lbs. at my 11-week surgery anniversary. My goal weight has always been 197, my weight when I got married, and I chose that weight because I felt and looked good!

I was so excited to be in communication with The BariGirls.  The BariGirls is one of the first TikTok accounts I started following after my surgery.  And I have learned so much from watching them and their videos telling us bariatric patients to WATER CHECK, thoroughly chew your food, don’t compare your journey to others and be honest with yourself. These are constant reminders I have going off in my head.

VSG is hard and not the easy way out.  Going through with weight loss surgery is a huge act of bravery and self-love. It takes a lot of discipline, devotion, math, time, planning and the list goes on.  Regardless of the struggles the pros will always outweigh the cons.

Thank you for reading my story and I hope it inspires you to, as The BariGirls say, love yourself enough!!!!!!