HER
HEALTHY
WAY
“ JUsTINA LINTHICUM-DALEY ”
LIFE
STYLE CHANGE
“My healthy lifestyle began in 2013 starting at 275 lb And now down over 100 lb. I started this journey when my doctor warned me about my blood pressure that would lead me to having a stroke and my BMI was over 40.”
I faced many challenges coming from childhood obesity into being morbid obese. I've always been the chubby girl smiling all while dying inside facing many traumatic events within my life. In the year of 2013 is when I started my journey and that's when I started loving myself a little bit more than I have. I was determined to get my life together before I turned 40 years old .I decided to have a consultation for the lap band. When I entered this appointment this doctor made me feel like he was really listening to me he listened to all my concerns my family history. I explained all the yo-yo diets I've been on weight watchers diet pills etc fighting trying to lose weight and that I was never taught how to eat. My fears of having two aunts that had triple heart bypass with one who passed away and one who survived was very fearful for me. Growing up you ate what was presented to you and you must clean your plate. The doctor talked to me for almost 2 hours trying to come up with a plan for me for better quality of life.he told me that the lap band was out of the question and that he suggested that I get the gastric sleeve. I was approved with my insurance once they checked out my medical background and my surgery was scheduled within 2 months.Within this time I had to go through a psych evaluation, nutritionist, sleep study and endoscopy and having to drink clear liquids with no food 2 weeks prior to surgery. The first 4 days into this liquid diet was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life.I believe what helped me was my doctor stating that if he went in he would be able to tell if I've eaten anything and he would come out and stop the surgery and not even start. During my surgery the doctor went in and when I woke up he was there telling me that it wasn't completed. I knew I hadn't eaten anything so I was very concerned on why. He stated that he found some spots on my liver and he had to see if it was benign or not. He wasn't sure
11
if I had cancer. Two weeks went by and I was told that I was cancer-free. He began the surgery again and it was done being completed with having my gastric sleeve. Once getting this surgery you really have to be in a good headspace and you have to learn your body. I had to endure another 2 weeks of liquid diet with completion to that then you have to go through two weeks of puree food, then 2 weeks of soft food and then 2 weeks after you are able to start introducing yourself to solid food. You will also learn that some foods do not agree with your new stomach. Foods you used to love you don't anymore. Foods that you craved before you don't crave anymore. I also had to cut out sugar which could cause what they call the dumping syndrome. Sugar or certain foods can have me feeling like I want to pass out or lightheaded sick to my stomach or vomiting. So it's kind of like it forces me to eat right. During this whole process I never had support from family besides my grandmother and support from two friends. Later that year after starting my journey I joined a running group called Black Girls Run South Jersey in Camden New Jersey .They taught me how to condition myself to run and giving me my self-esteem to become a better Justina. I did Cancer Walks In Trenton N.J And I also volunteered for fun runs with my grandson Jace for the Parkinson's Alliance in Princeton New Jersey.
