About… Me.
I’ve struggled and worked for as long as I can remember to be true to the real me. Strangely, in trying to achieve that, I’ve done LOTS of things that actually took me farther than I ever thought I could go from that goal, but I guess that’s part of human nature.
At 25 and 273 pounds, some things in my life happened to make me sure of my next step, at least. Gastric Bypass. I lost the weight, but battled with the extra skin for 5 years. Then my ‘sister’ and some very cool people I’m not sure I can name right now gave me a huge gift and I was able to have the reconstructive surgery for the major areas causing problems!! So now I’m back, recovered, feeling good and partied out from playing with everyone in a bikini for the first time in my life!!
Achieving those things really made me realize that there is no end to bettering yourself. And I needed to learn some balance. So in order to achieve that (if anyone ever really can), I decided on a 30 day Healthy Living Program that my friend dubbed ‘Operation Sexy Bitch.’ I figured by the time I came out the other side of those 30 days, I’d have some solid habits back that got lost when the rollercoaster of life took me on a rather wild ride starting a year ago!
We’ll see how the journey goes, but that’s me in a nutshell. 
Hope this brings you some inspiration in your own quest…
Sommersmiles
1.
Tonya | September 2, 2009 at 6:56 pm
You rock!! I started out watching you on starting over one day I looked you up on face book after seeing a small part of the doctors anyway you are inspiring me to get sexy. I’m a 28 year old mom of 5 and I weigh 263 I have a appt. next week to see if my insurance will pay for lap band if you have any advice as to how I can get the process rolling please let me know.
2.
sommersmiles | September 2, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Hey thanks Tonya!! I love that we can all do this together, in one way or another!! Keeps us motivated, especially when life gets in the way for awhile, you know?
You are a brave soul- 5 little ones? WOW! I’m sure you haven’t had a moment to really focus on your health in years, but I know it’s all worth it!! Hopefully your insurance will come to the rescue! I don’t have any advice for you there- I am still paying off loans from my surgery over 5 years ago! I will say to pick a surgeon with a support group and nutritionist and therapist. There are steps to really getting through this, and with a healthy mind as well as a healthy body, and finding the right surgeon is definitely the most important aspect in the beginning!!! GOOD LUCK! Let me know what happens!
3.
Beth | September 8, 2009 at 1:43 am
OMG Sommer. You have really been an inspiration to me since Starting Over. I had GB on 5/8/06 and had Tummy tuck, breast aug, thighplasty on 6/11/09 (almost 3 mo’s post op). When you had your “touch up work” done, did you go up several sizes and gain weight afterward? My tummy’s flatter and boobs bigger
but I just feel bloated and nothing fits! I know the doc said I would gain a few lb’s (quitting smoking also didn’t help) and go up a size for a while, did you do that and about how long did it take to feel “normal” again? Thanks for any advice…..it’s nice to have someone else out there that understands. P.S. Insur did not pay for ANY of mine either, I paid for GB and all after procedures……TOTALLY worth it, Tonya, if you can do it!
4.
sommersmiles | September 12, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Hey Beth! Sounds like we ARE kindred spirits!
I quit smoking 2 years ago now too!! 
I didn’t gain any weight or sizes when I had my reconstruction though. I actually lost weight the first month because I couldn’t eat at all at first, I was so tired and doped up, and then I just stayed the same for probably another month because I was all bound up still. I didn’t weigh myself because I knew I’d be bloated and really, I didn’t care, but I’m sure in the two months after that, I put back on the weight I’d lost, just because I still couldn’t work out like I wanted (or much at all) and wasn’t really worrying about what I ate or anything because it was just awesome to see a belly button. I guess I figured I could afford a few months of not worrying about it since I had finally gotten a flat stomach! HA HA! BUT then I noticed that it’s only SO flat- like I thought it would be tighter, or something, and I realized that I could now work out and see how flat I could really get it. Hence Operation Sexy Bitch. 
If you are only three months post op, maybe your swelling is just taking longer to go down? The quiting smoking is a problem for a lot of people too, I know. I was lucky there. If I gained, it was minimal. As long as you keep eating what you were eating before, quiting smoking should really cause you to lose weight- all other things being equal- because as I understand it, the act of smoking may raise your metabolism, but not for long, it slows it down in the long run. Or at least that’s what I heard. LOL However almost EVERYONE I know gains weight when they quit, so I don’t know how true that is! HA HA! I’d say not to worry about it yet. Wait another month because you should be cleared to do any type of exercise and then I’d say just start working out. Weights especially. It’s so cool to see parts of your body toning up that you’ve just never seen before! 
Nothing better than that, I think… At least in my mind. 
I’m taking some time off OSB right now, because my work is crazy, and I just signed on to sell Mary Kay to try and help my family stay afloat in this crappy time, and so i need to focus on that. I’m still going to do my morning workouts and stuff, and I’m planning on blogging once a week, but I’m just not going to be crazy like I was. Maybe October 1st I’ll be proficient and rolling enough with Mary Kay to feel like I can take some time away from that and get crazy again! 
My first year to wear any damn costume I want! LOL Thanks for writing Beth! It’s motivatiing to hear other stories!! We gotta stick together! LOL
5.
Cheryl | September 22, 2009 at 6:42 am
Sommer it’s great to see how far you have come. You inspired me to have GB Surgery. I did 2yrs ago and have lost 180lbs. I carried all my weight in my belly………..so can we say a huge apron yuck. I hope someday to have PS.
best of luck Cheryl
6.
sommersmiles | September 22, 2009 at 5:18 pm
CHeryl, that just ROCKS!! I’m so proud of you!! Do you just feel so amazed by yourself?? You should!!
7.
Brian Jason White | October 19, 2009 at 10:55 pm
WOW IM Super impressed. You have a rock hard body!!!!!! Way to go!!!!!!….