McCormick A longtime journalist living in University Heights. Follow his journey #seejerrylose on Twitter, @ JerryMcCormick.
359.6 pounds.
On September 1, 2020, when I was visiting the clinic for a regular checkup, the scale told me.
My blood pressure was high. My joints always hurt and climbing the stairs was a tough job for me. I live in a condo with stairs everywhere, so I tried to avoid them as much as possible by staying there. Sofas, fast food and Netflix were everyday companions.
A few days later, I went to Wendy’s in El Cajon Boulebird to hide my depression by hitting my best weight. When I started the order, the scalpel on the other side of the drive-through mic told me I knew what I wanted and completed my order with a special request (I hate onions and pickles) I started talking to me. I was shocked, but almost embarrassed. At that time, I knew I needed to make changes. It’s bad for fast food people to know who you are with your voice.
Fast forward to the time of writing this article, I’m in my early 250s. I feel good and full of energy.
But this journey has never been easier … not in the long run.
I had gastric bypass surgery on June 28th. It creates a new small stomach the size of an egg. The stomach then connects to the small intestine, bypassing most of the stomach and most of the first section of the small intestine. As a result, calorie intake is significantly reduced and you can lose weight. This changed my life better.
I tried all the diets in the sun (keto, weight watchers, atkins, and even cabbage soup) but nothing worked. In 2014, we held three full marathons and a half marathon. I was parked on Laurel Street in Bunkers Hill and went in and out of work every day. But life changes have upset my active lifestyle.
As executive producer of a television station in Oregon, I was offered a new job with a much higher salary. The catch was that I had to work overnight. This means getting up at 10 pm and working until noon. For almost two years I lived like a vampire and continued to gain weight. And when I got it right, it wasn’t that great. Thankfully, I saw the light and left the place and returned to sunny San Diego.
Unfortunately, I learned the difficult way that San Diego is an expensive place to live and did some work to achieve my goals. Even if I worked all the time, it was not easy to lose weight.
Finally, I decided I had enough to be the hero of my life and need to save myself. Over the last decade, I have lost my mother to heart failure, my father and brother to stroke, and another brother to cancer. Death also claimed a niece who died during the attack and a nephew of my age who died of cancer.
I thought that the future wouldn’t happen unless I took care of myself now. I started reading about stomach bypass, the doctor who gave me the tools I needed to succeed, such as actually seeing what I was eating, learning about proper exercise, and assessing my mental health. I visited. Unfortunately, we didn’t work, and I found another doctor who was better suited to me and my needs.
was scary? Yes. I knew this was an irreversible decision and I needed to be fully committed to a new lifestyle. I also met some great new friends who went this way in the support group. They were very helpful when they adapted what I call Jerry 2.0.
I also knew that I had to take responsibility for myself. So I created the hashtag #seejerrylose on Twitter and Facebook so that my friends would follow me and encourage me if needed. (But on the way there were some “friends” who turned out to hate my journey. They are now out of my life.)
I frequently posted my photos while taking a walk at Crown Point, my favorite place in San Diego, and bought an exercise bike that I often ride. Thanks to the surgery, my diet has changed. No more double cheeseburgers, sodas or oversized ones.
I also did mental work. I found myself stronger than I knew, and eating to fill the gaps I thought I had in my life. I know well now.
As an educator, I go further for my students, but I learned that in order to help people, I must first help me.
This trip has never been easier. And for those who think weight loss surgery is an easy way to do it, think again. There are multiple physical and mental tests, from which you need to get medical and insurance approval. It’s not easy.
I’m looking forward to what the future holds, but whatever it is, I’m sure you’ll be healthy and happy.
