Super Weight Loss, Super Grandma, Super Hugs
At last Bonnie Badore can closely hold what is close to her heart. "At 354 pounds, I couldn't even hold my grandchildren. Now I can," she lovingly boasts. "I had to keep my grandchildren at arm's length because of my weight and it tore me up inside." Now, after loosing 210 pounds, holding and hugging her grandchildren tops the list of Bonnies favorite activities.
Before Bonnie stepped on the scale at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Surgical Weight Loss Center, Bonnie already was a terrific grandma. She already had a winning personality but loosing 210 pounds gave her a whole new outlook on life. "I now have hope for a future that I didn't have before I had the gastric roux-en-y bypass operation. Now I can do so many things. I live life to the fullest, and I want to help others to live their life to the fullest. I not only hold my grandchildren, I can sit on the floor and play with them and run with them. I am having so much fun."
Life wasn't always fun for Bonnie Badore. Bonnie opens up in an interview with Linda Trainor, Bariatric Nurse Co-coordinator. She discusses the physical and emotional journey she undertook to obtain vibrant health, happiness and to heal some of the real unspoken wounds of being overweight.
How do you feel since you had weight loss surgery?
"I feel great. Like so many other people that have lost weight, my worst day of being thin is so much better than my best day of being overweight. Life is completely different. Life is more pleasant. I travel. I dance. I laugh. I exercise. Simple things like walking, tying my shoes are so much easier for me to do. I am so grateful because I used to observe life at 354 pounds and was sedentary. Now at 146 pounds I participate in life. I am very active. It is wonderful not being burdened by the extra weight."
How has your overall health improved?
"I suffered from sleep apnea, hypertension, high cholesterol, metabolic disorder, acid reflux. I had so much back pain, knee pain and joint pain. Life was difficult. I felt sick and tired all the time. Now, I am off all medications except daily vitamins. I have more energy. My back pain and knee pain subsided considerably. I feel so much better. Now I can move my body without being so uncomfortable. My self esteem has improved although I still have trouble accepting compliments
but I’m working on acceptance."
Were you always overweight?
"I was overweight as a child, but not obese. My sister called me “chunko” and “porky”. Of course these names were unkind but when you're overweight people can be very insensitive. Always being made fun of whether you’re a child or an adult is sad, very sad. I always had a weight problem. I was up and down like a yo-yo.
But my significant weight gain occurred as an adult, after the death of my brother. My highest weight before weight loss surgery was 354 pounds."
What caused you to overeat?
"The death of my brother was the precipitous for being out of control with eating. I am an emotional eater and his dying put me over the edge. I was devastated. So I ate to ease the pain. I stuffed my feelings but sooner or later I had to come to terms with dealing with life on life’s terms and not eat because of things that happen in my life or happen to me."
How did you decide to have weight loss surgery?
"My primary care physician told me that if I didn’t do something about my weight problem that I would be dead within a few years. Like I said I couldn’t even hold my grandchildren. I couldn’t sit in a chair. I couldn’t go the movies. I couldn’t travel. I couldn’t even look at myself in the mirror without feeling sad, ugly and depressed."
How did your relationship with food change after weight loss surgery?
"My relationship with food drastically changed after weight loss surgery. I don’t eat sweets any longer. I don’t feel hungry all the time. I eat to live instead of living to eat. I still struggle sometimes when I get emotional about things, but I remind myself eating is not the answer, for me it is problem. I exercise instead now when I become stressed. Playing the Wii video game really helps me too. It is a fun release for tension."
What motivates you?
"I don’t ever want to return to my old way of living. I don’t ever want to be burdened by carrying that much weight around with me anymore. I had plastic surgery after weight loss surgery and I certainly don’t want to ruin my new body contours. Helping others is also a strong motivator for me. It helps to keep me refreshed and balanced. "
Your thoughts about attending weight loss support group at BIDMC?
"I believe they played a major role in my success. The support groups motivate me and give me the opportunity to be with other patients who share similar thoughts and emotions. They have been a tremendous source of strength and help to keep me on the right track. Support groups also give me the opportunity to encourage other people who have had weight loss surgery. I love being a real cheerleader rooting others on towards their personal goals. The only difficulty is driving an hour into Boston and an hour home. Traffic can be an obstacle but it is a very small price to pay for the big rewards that I get by going to support groups."
How did the multidisciplinary team at BIDMC help you?
"The Bariatric staff has become a family for me. Dr. Jones, the nurses, dieticians, administrators , social workers have been wonderful. My experience in the hospital at Farr 9 was great. I felt welcomed at 354 pounds. I feel welcome at 146 pounds. It has become a second home. I can’t thank them enough for restoring my life."
Did you have any problems along the way?
"I lost weight quickly, but I had a few plateaus along the way. But with the help of the staff, support groups and exercise I reached my goal weight. I also had a lot of extra skin that had to be removed, so I had plastic surgery. After a recent body contouring revision, I am pleased with my final results."
What are you looking forward to in the future?
"I now have hope for the future. I look forward to encouraging others who have had weight loss surgery. I look forward to traveling. I am really looking forward
to going to Orlando, Florida. I am planning a Disney vacation that with my family and six grandchildren. It will be so nice to go on Splash Mountain with my grand kids. Some call Disney the happiest place on earth but for me the happiest place on earth is holding my grandchildren in arms that I can now hold and hug them. “
