"Pre and post operative care from bariatric team at ARI"

I just wanted to write to thank you and the whole team for providing me with the chance for a much improved quality of life. I began 2018 11 stone lighter than I was when I started this journey in September 2016. What a rollercoaster of a ride it’s been!

I know with 100% certainty that the work I have put in and the discipline I apply to food comes with the absolute knowledge that underlying all of that is my safety blanket of the surgery. I know that for the first time ever my weight loss journey is a one way journey as what I have now is increased confidence and motivation as the life I am leading now is so far removed from sitting in the sidelines of life observing others enjoying themselves.

I now get up at 5am every morning and complete a workout before I head into work. Three or 4 times a week I also do Jazzercise and I now even have an instructor who comes into school to do a workout with my staff - most of whom have now joined me in pledging to be the best versions of ourselves! I’m sharing the love of health and fitness with my staff and even the pupils in my school are challenging me when we take part in Bodycoach Challenges! I know they are gobsmacked to see their Head Teacher pushing harder than them with burpees and star jumps! I’ve remembered how very satisfying it is to have sweat dripping off the bottom of my hair and how motivated by stats I am!

To say I am chuffed is the understatement of the century! I am absolutely buzzing with energy and excited for what the future holds! My family and I pledged on Christmas Day 2016 that we would walk up the Hill near our house during the Christmas break in 2017 so on Christmas Day this year up we went! One of my sons does sports and exercise science at Uni and is my “personal trainer” who pushes me or kicks my butt when needed - he and I ran up the last 100m of the hill! What an amazing feeling to have looked at this hill for 15yrs we have lived here and then to be standing on the top on Christmas Day with my family!

Anyway, I could go on for ever about the positive changes in my life since embarking on this crazy journey but I will say that if you have stuck with the story this far then 10/10 for perseverance 😉

I can only say thank you, thank you, thank you to the whole team for taking a chance with me and enabling me to change not only my life but that if my family, friends (who I dragged up Tap o Noth yesterday in the snow) and my colleagues and pupils at my school - the ripple effect has wide reaching positive consequences.