Health is a touchy subject for people, believe it or not. Some say your health is your wealth others say you should love your skin. What category do you fit in at 345 pounds with no preexisting health concerns, while being fashionably responsible? Medically speaking, it is a morbidly obese fashionista, meaning you are significantly closer to death's door because you are (generally speaking) 100+ pounds overweight. While your community is screaming, you are beautiful the way you are. I happen to fall in-between both medians.

If I had to be honest, my health was not a priority until 2016. My father was an addict to drugs while growing up, and my mother did her best to make sure we did not turn to drugs as a way of coping, little did she know she was serving it daily. Strange, huh?

I decided that morbid obesity was no longer an option for me. I cannot remember the specific event that led me to grab the reigns on my health and considering weight loss surgery. What I recall was I could not imagine my life at 65 being a 345-pound woman. I was thinking about retirement and what that life would look like for me. I am a travel bug, so I did not want to have to keep asking the flight attendant for a seat extender. I mean, I had no problem asking. However, your ride is much faster when you can get in, click, get out, and be on your way.

My self-awareness is high. I know what serves me, works, and what I should leave alone. Do I always listen to myself? Nope. I am a little stubborn. But, when it came to my weight and the seriousness of it, I knew I needed help. I sought to have gastric bypass after many attempts at weight loss. My most successful attempt was when I was in Philadelphia. I enrolled in a bootcamp style gym, and the weight was falling off. I had lost 31 pounds in 3 months! Tooting my own horn- I was killing it! I finally found my circadian rhythm. I had the secret sauce!

Well, my life would come to a halt on July 19, 2015. I was preparing for church feeling stylish and lighter. I grabbed my stilettos to complete the outfit I had created. While living on the 3rd floor, there is two flight of stairs. I made it down the first flight. (Uh, Uh, getting money in my Kevin Hart voice.) Oh, but coming down the second flight, I would find myself tumbling down the steps onto the tile floor of the apartment floor. (no head injuries, thank you, Jesus!)

Well, upon arrival at the hospital, I would find out that I shattered my leg in four places! Being heavy caused the injury to be more severe. After my leg broke, it seemed as if my health was spiraling out of control. I would hide food to binge eat, I could barely walk, and my work ethic was out the door.

Since then, gastric bypass surgery has allowed me the ability to experience so much more of life than I could have imagined. I decided this was the way after consulting with my doctor. My original decision was to have another operation, but my doctor educated me on what would work best for my body at the time. I did not take this decision lightly, and it was not a sign the dotted line you are next type of situation. I tried so many times on my own, i felt this was my saving grace. It was the final option, or I was going to keep eating until my heart stopped.

The reason my health is my number one priority now is that I'm single. I have no obligations that keep me from pursuing my goals. It is all about me right now, and I am ok with that. Am I dating, sho nuff! What about going out responsibly- of course! I want to be married; kids are optional (not for or against-lol). I have to do the work. It's my operation. I feel this is my season of maximizing my free time. My workout times are non-negotiable, and I will bring my food to parties if need be. Lol. I find that priority and boundaries are words that intersect in my life a lot more often these days.

I had to stop living for others and choose myself during this transition. It was not easy, and I am still tempted at times to place my needs on the backburner. I want you to understand that sometimes the "others" are not actual people. It could be the intangibles: guilt, lack of self-esteem, or fear of knowing what happens from here. I had to wake up and realize that I have an issue that I cannot manage alone. Its a daily battle but, I love myself too much to allow a substance to have control over me.

Is your health a priority to you right now?

Why My Health Is My Number One Priority & Why I Chose Gastric Bypass.

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