Taking Back Life One Pound at a Time

Written by Bettina M. Straight, Residency Program Coordinator, JHU/Sinai Hospital Residency Program in Internal Medicine On July 13, 2011, I celebrate my one-year Surgiversary, one year since I took control back and said, “Things will be different!” That day I made myself a promise to stop fighting, stop self-defeating, and to start living my life. Thanks to the skill of Dr. Christina Li and her wonderful staff here at Sinai Hospital, I had a vertical sleeve gastrectomy and joined the many successful weight loss surgery patients around the world. One year = losing 93 pounds and six pants sizes.  One year = greater confidence, greater health and a greater appreciation for the amazing life I live. Deciding on surgery was a very personal decision but one I honestly found easy to make. After years of struggling with my increasing weight (including a 110-pound weight loss and regain between 2002 – 2006), I ...