I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July! I sure did. I spent my holiday weekend relaxing and recuperating from two weeks of travel.

I had the great fortune, a few weeks ago, to speak at the national conference for the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery on one of my favorite topics, The WLS Stages of Transformation. The final stage is FREEDOM!

With WLS comes a journey–a journey of trials, tribulations, setbacks, and great achievements. Our country and forefathers experienced a similar journey. Becoming an independent country and gaining freedom didn’t automatically make the United States “free,” but it was the initial step and day-to-day struggle that gave us small glimpses of freedom. Those glimpses of freedom are what kept our country going, and it’s the same reason why there are troops fighting for us today.

On a daily basis, WLS patients struggle with different emotions, overcoming old habits, and moving forward with their new lifestyle. Ultimately, what we are all trying to get to is that freedom.

Today, I mark July 13, 2004 (the day of my surgery) as my WLS Independence Day.

No matter if I get off track, my WLS Independence Day will remind me of the freedom I so much long for, and gives me a day to be thankful for my freedom from obesity.

I am free to walk. I am free to travel. I am free to enjoy time with my husband and son. I am free from obesity. I am free!

What have you been freed from since your WLS Independence Day?

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