Wow, where do I start? The past two years have been a roller coaster ride. It seems as if I’ve struggled with weight all my life…at least since age 9. I was a size 14/16 all through high school. By the time I met my husband, I weighed in at 165. Over the next 6 years I continued to gain. I tried fad diets, diet pills, medical diets, and even went to a psychiatrist where I asked, "What is wrong with me?"

During my tour to "fatville," I suffered many embarrassments. I broke a chair at work, was turned down on rides at a theme park, and once got stuck on a water ride that was shut down for 30 minutes while the staff tried to "free willy." However, on the outside, I never let these things get me down. I still went out and partied with friends and kept a positive smile on my face. The damage was all on the inside. Embarrassed by my weight, I became a closet eater. I ate normal in front of family and friends, but would sneak food all the time, stopping for fast food or raiding the refrigerator while my husband slept.

In December 2001, weighing in at my all-time heaviest of 264 lbs. and a size 28, I was told by my doctor that if I continued to gain weight at the rate I was going, I would be dead by age 40. I was scared! Something had to be done. I was killing myself and my husband became fearful of my now deteriorating health. I was desperate to try anything. I noticed that a co-worker had lost a drastic amount of weight and looked fantastic. I poured my heart out and cried while she explained the surgery in detail and shared with me the information that would forever change my life. There was no hesitation… I knew the surgery was for me. I began my research and found the best bariatric surgeon in America — Dr. Champion. I had surgery on May 9, 2002. That day was the first day of the rest of my life.

The next 18 months would send me on a whirlwind of emotions and physical changes. As the weight dropped, I turned my food addiction into new addictions. I discovered the pleasure of shopping, sex had a new spin, and I became an attention hog. All the years of doing for others, I began to do for Julie. The days of going into public with sweats and a t-shirt and no make-up would disappear. I became obsessed with my appearance and discovered the sexy girl that was trapped inside the big body… screaming to come out! I began to get attention — at work, at the mall, it was great! Thank goodness I have a husband who understood the changes I was going through. My husband is a great man and I love him with all my heart. He has been by my side every step of the way. He is proud of me, never doubted me, and has an unconditional love that no words can describe.

In July 2003, I would make the next decision that would change my life forever. I submitted my application (as a complete joke) to appear in an Atlanta/Columbus, GA swimsuit calendar. I had lost 114 pounds and weighed 150, but the fat girl brain said "you’ll never be picked as a model…" Over 200 women applied and to my amazement, I was picked as one of fifteen to appear in the calendar. Over the next few months, I would go for fittings, a make-over, a photo shoot, and many calendar signing parties. From July to October, there was much talk at my Fortune 500 employer about how my appearance began to change. I had a new sexy look, and along with that, came the whispers… "Who does she think she is?", "If I had surgery, I could lose weight too!", "She ain’t all that." I was in management and I no longer fit the "mold." When the calendar debuted, my management considered the appearance to be unprofessional and of poor judgment, even though I was fully clothed in my photograph. I was scolded first and then dismissed for having the calendar at work. After seven years of dedicated service, excellent job evaluations, and a job I loved with all my heart. It was all gone in a blink of an eye. Luckily, I had my photography business to fall back on.  I was doing photography as a full-time paying hobby while working a career full-time.  When I lost the Fortune 500 job, I focused all of my energies on making my photography business a full-time success.  It takes a lot of self-discipline and dedication, but my business has flourished.  I am self-employed doing what I love, less stress, and making more money than I had ever made before.  I love being my own boss… there is no one telling me that I “don’t fit the mold”.  Losing the way has given me the confidence I to succeed.

Well, if all that wasn’t enough! In November, I became aware of "The Maury Show" searching for individuals that had lost 100+ pounds. Cautiously, I called the show and left my contact information, sure I would never hear back. However, as crazy as my life has been, I should have known! I received an immediate call back, and by the next Wednesday, I was on an airplane to the Big Apple. I was treated like a celebrity; all travel and accommodations taken care of, given new designer clothes, a make-over, and sent on a shoe shopping spree! The show aired on Wednesday, November 19th, and featured several guests who had lost hundreds of pounds. I made the local newspaper, did a local talk show, and my telephone rang off the hook

I’ve now lost a total of 124 pounds, weigh 140, and wear a size 8. Dr. Champion has given me a chance for a life I had only dreamed about. Praise God and thanks for my many blessings.

Julie

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