bridgetann1961
I grew up in a very small town in Pennsboro West Virginia. The youngest of 4 children. I was of normal size as a child actually pretty thin until puberty. That is where my story begins. I can remember at age 14 being taken to a Doctor and given amphetamines to lose weight. Well that was wonderful as long as I took them...but once I stopped..wow all came back and more. Then again before college went to another Doctor and again the same thing. I started college slightly big but not obese. By the time I graduated I was way overweight. NO self esteem and married to a man I didn't love. Was afraid noone else would have me so I settled. We lived a pretty "normal" life. Moving from Fairmont Wv to Morgantown WV(Lets Goooooo Mountaineers) working and packing on the pounds. After the birth of my beautiful daughter Jodi in 1989 I was miserable and had come to the decision that Jenny Craig could help me...she could as long as I went and followed the program I saw wonderful results...Heck by this time I was a professional at losing and even better at gaining. Trouble was I was unhappy thin now as well as unhappy fat...but fat felt normal so I liked it. Food was my best friend and I sure depended on that friend most of the time. So I worked at jobs that enabled me to be very close to my "best friend" I worked in the pizza delivery business for 15 years managing...very successful because I literally loved my job. I yo yo ed for all those years but could not get less than 230 pounds. I would get there...then all would creep back and more...Well in 2000 I left my husband and moved 2 hrs away to Parkersburg WV and started a "new" life. That was all well and good but the weight was still an issue. I remarried in 2003 to a man I love and adore. Well weight was still and issue... So in 2007 I started planning my escape from this lifestyle. In September I began my medically supervised weight loss that was required by my health insurance . When it came time in November to reenroll in my benefits package at work I included xtra money in my flex spending account to cover alot of the out of pocket expence for the surgery and by Febuary I think visited Dr. Sticklers office in Charleston WV for the first time. I lost at least 100 pounds prior to surgery...that is an estimate as my Dr's. scales would not weigh me at over 400 pounds. I had my surgery on April 8th 2008 at Womens and Childrens Hospital in Charleston and to date have lost 192 pounds. I breezed though the surgery and bounced back very quickly returning to work only 20 days after surgery....Minimal sickness and nausea after surger. My biggest issue was that I had lost my best friend and felt very alone and empty but every day that gets better and I find joy in other things now. I had some rough patches where I really needed my "comfort" food but was able to get through without it and that sure felt good. Sometimes I feel like I glow. I have alot of times that I get very tired but more times than not i feel wonderful..I work out 3 to 4 times a week at a gym and love that. I have probably that most wonderful support group a person can ask for. I have a huge church family that I see no less than 3 times a week..I'm a firm believer in 3 times a week in church services to thrive... and they are so very complimentary..and for someone with my background that is a little hard to get used to as well...and I work with wonderful folks that are of much much encouragement... but my biggest cheerleaders have been my husband, my daughter who will be 19 years old soon and my bffs Natalie, Melanie, Barb and Joanne as well as my sisters Sue 58 and Linda 51....my husband has never said anything but wonderful things to me even at my biggest. .. So now I have a hard time getting myself to believe the compliments he is giving me....But that is getting better... My husband and I renewed our vows in Church on May 21st our 5 year anniversary as we were married at a magistrates office in 2003. I am eagerly awaiting when I get under 200 pounds which really seems within my reach soon. I am getting ready to go on a bus trip with 30 women from church to a ladies conference in Hammond Indiana and for the first time feel like a normal part of the group not a freak show. I can now buy wonderful clothes from thrift stores and have turned over my closet several times. (my hubby doesn't like that but he'll get over it)...I love my new life and for the first time look forward to the future. I am 48 but have never looked my age and for the first time in a long time do not feel my age...well I have never acted my age...lol. So there you have it in a nut shell....Bridget's "Days Of Our Lives".... I only hope I can be an ispiration to someone else and help them feel like me!!!!!
About Me
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
