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I want to offer a special thanks to Candi Talley.
Here is her
story: Hi! My name is Candi Talley. I am 32 years old and I am
happy to share my weight loss success story with you. This is not
only my story, but my husband’s story as well. My husband has been
my #1 supporter through my weight loss journey.
I will begin with my childhood. I had been overweight for as long
as I can remember. I loved to dance and as a child, my mom signed me
up for dance classes. I participated in these classes for many
years. I enjoyed every minute except when the time came for me to be
fitted for costumes for our dance recitals. At that time in my life
weight should have been the last thing on my mind, but it wasn’t. I
would get so embarrassed when the seamstress would measure me
because I knew I was the largest in the class. That’s just one
memory of being an overweight child.
Moving on to my high school years, I had many friends including
boys, but not an actual boyfriend. I was always told that I was fun
to hang out with and I had a great personality. I had many secret
crushes on the boys I went to school with but the crush was as far
as it went. I remember on the first day of school each year, I would
get so worried when I stepped into the classroom. I would worry that
there wouldn’t be a desk that I could fit in comfortably. It was
especially embarrassing when the teacher had assigned desks. When it
was time for the prom, I went with a group of my girlfriends. I
would have liked to have gone with a boy, but I was never asked. My
prom pictures included me and only me.
In my twenties I married my first husband. We were married for 5
½ years when the marriage ended in divorce. We didn’t have children,
thank goodness, because he never wanted kids. That was fine with me
because I knew with me being overweight, if I had tried to conceive
it could have possibly been worse on my health, not to mention the
baby’s health.
When we divorced I lost 60 pounds. I was down to 200 pounds
and it felt great!! I looked pretty darned good, if I say so
myself. I had been on prescription diet pills on and off through my
twenties, and yes, I would lose, but once I stopped taking the pills
I would gain it all and more.
Being single and feeling great had its many advantages. That is
when I met Brian, my wonderful husband of 3 years. When Brian and I
met we instantly “clicked.” While we were dating we would go out and
eat. When we would stay in for a movie, we would eat. After we
married we noticed the weight start to pile on. We were happy and in
love and that was all that mattered. We fell into “the Comfort
Zone.”
Although I didn’t have serous health problems, I knew the added
weight I had gained was taking a toll on my knees, especially
walking up and down a flight of stairs. I did almost have a stroke
when I stepped on the scales one day and weighed in at a whopping
300 pounds! I knew I had put on some “extra pounds,” but this much
was ridiculous. I couldn’t believe I had allowed myself to reach
this weight.
I had heard the success stories of Carnie Wilson and Al Roker and
thought to myself that I would have weight loss surgery, but I
couldn’t afford it. My husband and I discussed it and I took a
chance and checked into my insurance and guess what! My insurance
covered it! That’s when I went “Gung-ho!” My husband told me he
loved me unconditionally and would support whatever decision I
chose.
May 5, 2004 was the day that changed my life. Dr. Dan Proctor of
ObesitySolutions gave me a second chance at a new life. Dr Proctor
performed my Lap RNY. I weighed in at 316 pounds, wearing a size
26/28 with a BMI of 51.
I consider Dr. Proctor and his staff a “God send.” I’ve been very
fortunate. I had no complications and now that I am a year out I
have dropped 150 pounds and wear a size 12/14 and my BMI is 28!
Wow!! I’m smaller than I was in high school. I feel and look
amazing! My husband Brian has lost 60 pounds. He didn’t have
surgery, but he has changed his eating habits along with mine. I
tell my doctor it was like a buy one, get one free offer. I knew I
couldn’t have been as successful without Brian's support. I can’t find
the perfect words to explain how he has made me feel through this
journey.
Living in a “normal” sized body is awesome. I feel blessed for
the little things that people who haven’t had a weight problem take
for granted. Here are some examples:
- Wearing a pair of jeans that button and zip
comfortably instead of ones with the elastic waist bands
- Being able to cross my legs appropriately
without feeling uncomfortable
- Fitting in restaurant booths and being able
to sit on the same side with my husband instead of across the
table
- Actually shopping at Victoria’s Secret for
lingerie and not just buying the lotions
- Not scoping out the parking lot to find the
closest vacant spot because now I feel like walking
- Wearing my husband’s T-shirt as a night gown
These are just a few examples. I could go on and on. Need I even
mention our sex life! Wow!
My only regret is not having this surgery earlier in life. I
would do it over in a heartbeat. I have found that nothing tastes as
good as thin feels and I believe it! When I have people ask me, “How
did you lose all that weight?” I do not hesitate to tell my story. I didn’t expect
that accepting compliments would be so
difficult. I am learning to just say, “Thank you.”
I would like to send a special “Thank You” to my surgeon, Dr.
Proctor for giving me a new lease on life and also I would like to
send a special “Thank You" to Barbara Thompson for allowing me to
share my story with you.
The before picture are Brian and I at the beach in September 2003
and our after picture was taken prior to us attending a Valentine’s
“Sweetheart Ball” this past February 2005. See, I finally got a
real date to the prom…
Keep smiling!
Candi Talley
Clayton, GA
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Before |
After |
I love good news. If you have good news, a
success story to share, or inspiration,
please send it to me at
Barbara@WLScenter.com so that I can
include it in future issues. |
