Bariatric Success: A CRMC Employee’s Journey to Weight Loss
It was a relationship that began at just eight years old and profoundly impacted Cuyuna Regional Medical Center’s Environmental Service Director, SJ Wieczoreak, for decades. That relationship was with food, and five years ago, Wieczoreak finally broke free of its hold thanks to the bariatric surgery program at CRMC.
“Since I was in 2nd or 3rd grade, I knew I was bigger than others. Having that feeling as the years continue, body dysmorphia is ingrained in your brain. You go through high school as most teenage girls do, unhappy in their skin and very insecure,” said Wieczoreak. As she entered her college years, hormones, the ‘freshman 15,’ and a lack of physical activity would contribute to her weight gain. “I didn’t have a good relationship with food and used it to cope when things felt overwhelming,” explained Wieczoreak.
She dipped her toes in the world of fad diets and commercial weight loss programs, but nothing seemed to stick. “Had I talked with someone who had done the surgery a lot sooner, I would have done it over a decade ago,” exclaimed Wieczoreak. Taking the plunge and committing to surgical weight loss didn’t come without hesitations. “There was this fear of what would happen if I stretched out my stomach. Would any side effects be manageable? Could I truly use this ‘tool’ properly to assist me on my weight loss journey? Would I be able to maintain the lifestyle changes long-term? I had a lot of apprehension about the surgery.”
Since her Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass in March 2019, Wieczoreak has lost 129 pounds, surpassing her goal weight. “For me, it was a slow burn, I would say, for at least the first six months. Between 9 and 12 months, I saw the numbers on the scale dramatically change and that motivated me to keep going. It was a ‘wow’ moment!” While she admits she never thought surgery would be part of her weight loss journey, it has truly been life-changing.
“I’m a huge advocate for this surgery. I want people to know this isn’t ‘taking the easy way out.’ There is a lot of work to maintain this, and it is a lifelong commitment to always hold yourself accountable. You must recognize it’s okay to ask for help!” Wieczoreak went on to explain that post-surgical changes are more than just physical. “You think about how much time you lost in avoiding things. You feel like a completely different person because you are. I want to surround myself with people who want to better themselves, do a 5K, and have a more positive attitude. You are who you surround yourself with.” She said maintaining healthy eating habits, is a lifestyle. “You have to remind yourself you can’t control the decisions others make and not to let their eating habits influence yours or consume you.”
For the first year following surgery, Wieczoreak attended a support group that offered accountability. She admits after those first twelve months, she felt as though she was floundering. She experienced weight regain during COVID-19, among other minor setbacks. To continue her transformation, she knew she needed a support system.
“The medical weight loss program at CRMC with Dr. Angelina Ausban has offered me accountability. I am happy they have it, and it’s open to everybody. I knew I needed to recalibrate. I needed to remind myself of my “why” and keep going,” said Wieczoreak.
Confident in her weight loss success, Wieczoreak wants to share her journey with others who are considering bariatric surgery. “I never stopped trying to lose weight, so I never failed. If you stop trying, I think that is where I’ve experienced failure in other aspects of life. However, weight loss has always been a big thing. I never gave up on thinking I could be healthier, feel healthy in my skin, and not focus on the numbers on the scale. I don’t deprive myself; it’s a balancing act. I have my go-to staples for protein, like hard-boiled eggs, cheese sticks, cottage cheese, protein shakes, and beef sticks. It is discovering what works for you and what foods your body can tolerate.”
Wieczoreak’s mantra is simple, “I eat to live, I don’t live to eat.”
Learn more about CRMC’s comprehensive medical weight loss program, or watch our online surgical weight loss seminar.