Venetia Makes a Life-Changing Decision That Gives Her Newfound Freedom
Before Surgery
In early January of 2012, 54-year-old Venetia Washington, of Hamilton, made a statement she’ll never forget: “That’s it. I’m done.”
Why? She had spent nearly a decade following expensive, frustrating dieting programs that yielded little-to-no success. “I got depressed because the more weight I gained, the more depressed I got,” she says. “I didn’t want to go anywhere or do anything – and, it limited my walking.”
While Venetia didn’t have any co-morbid conditions, like diabetes or high blood pressure, when the scale tipped to 273 pounds, she knew she needed to get serious about her health. She was also suffering from sleep apnea and severe knee pain that worsened with every additional pound.
One Handshake Gives Venetia the Reassurance She Needs
After much deliberation, and speaking with a friend who found success through weight loss surgery several years prior, she felt like surgery was her last option. So she made an appointment with her primary care doctor, who referred her to George Kerlakian MD, of TriHealth Weight Management.
Within seconds of shaking Dr. Kerlakian’s hand, her apprehension subsided. A feeling in her gut gave her the affirmation she needed. “There was a feeling of calm,” she says. “I knew he was the guy I could trust.”
Venetia went in for roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery on March 29, 2012 – and hasn’t looked back since.
Venetia Tranforms, Finds Freedom
Thanks to exercise, portion control, and asking her care team at Weight Management lots of questions, she slimmed down faster than she could have ever imagined. “I was bugging them there for a minute – especially Maria!” she laughs. “They took good care of me.”
Now, 96 pounds lighter, she’s enjoying a self-proclaimed, “newfound life of freedom.” She’s also been doing a bit of shopping – in her very own closet. “I’d buy stuff and let it hang. I had stuff that had been in there 15 years or more, brand new – that I’d never worn. I’ve worn everything now!”
As someone who loves food, she admits that adjusting her diet post-surgery wasn’t always easy. But, since fully recovering, she still occasionally eats some of her favorites, like fried fish; she just makes sure to watch her portion sizes. “Oh my, it was a [lifestyle] transformation, but I tell you what, I’m glad I did it."