A Murfreesboro woman’s bariatric transformation

For most of her life, Stephanie had carried extra weight. She remembers struggling as early as middle school. Food was comfort, caffeine was a constant, and carbonated drinks were part of her daily routine. By the time she reached her early thirties, she was exhausted, in pain, and out of breath walking up a simple flight of stairs. Her highest recorded weight was 239 pounds. What she remembers most is how she felt – tired, depressed, and fearful that her health would keep her from watching her daughter grow up.

“It was never about looks for me,” Stephanie said. “I was still the mom at the pool in a two-piece [swimsuit] because I never believed my body made me any less beautiful. But I wanted to live long enough to see my daughter graduate. I wanted to be healthy enough to enjoy her future.”

Stephanie tried everything before surgery. She cycled through every trendy diet and every weight loss program. She worked with personal trainers, tried weight loss injections, and even attempted extreme calorie restrictions. Each time, she would lose 20 pounds only to gain 30 back again. 

With a family history marked by heart disease and her own cardiac symptoms growing harder to ignore, she started researching bariatric surgery at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford. At first, she resisted the idea. She had always believed weight-loss surgery was taking the easy way out. The more she learned, the more she realized she had been wrong.

“When I started reading stories from other people and really learning what life after surgery looks like, I realized it was not easy at all,” she said. “It requires a whole mindset change. A complete lifestyle shift. There is nothing easy about it.”

With support from her physician and her personal trainer, Stephanie chose to move forward with bariatric surgery. She met with Dr. Stephen Rich, bariatric surgeon at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford and immediately felt she had found the right surgeon. She completed her two-week liquid diet, gave up carbonated drinks, and prepared for surgery day.

She had bariatric surgery on April 20, 2022. The change was almost immediate.

“I could tell I was more active right away,” she said. “I started following everything I learned in the program. Getting enough sleep. Prioritizing protein. Managing stress differently. Taking care of myself for the first time in a long time.”

Over the next months and years went by, Stephanie's life transformed in ways she never expected. Her feet stopped hurting. Her joints stopped aching. She no longer needed her inhaler. She was no longer pre diabetic. She had energy all day instead of relying on espresso shots and energy drinks. She could garden, move, climb stairs, and keep up with her daughter.

Today Stephanie stays between 135 and 145 pounds depending on life and the season. She continues to focus on protein, balance, and healthy habits.

“I always post about my appointments because I want people to know this is not something to be ashamed of,” she said. “It is not the easy way out. It is one of the hardest things you can do. You have to change everything about how you think about food and stress and comfort. But it is worth every step.”

The best part has been showing her daughter what a healthy, balanced relationship with food looks like. “I tell my daughter to eat her protein first and I remind her that she should never feel ashamed of her body,” she said. “I want her to grow up with balance, not guilt.”

Three and a half years later, Stephanie is living the life she once feared she would never reach. 

“I look back at pictures now and I cannot believe that was me,” she said. “This surgery changed my life. It gave me my future back.”

Start your own journey toward better health. Connect with the Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Bariatric team and take the first step today.