Education, Training, and Applications A personal statement from Sheryl Williams of Life Change Consultation Services: The decision to have gastric bypass surgery is an extremely personal one. It is a decision only the individual can make. It is not a decision made in haste. Every individual I meet has thought about this option for a long time, sometimes even years. Gastric bypass surgery is major surgery. It comes with benefits as well as risks, both of which can be life changing. It is for the individual and their surgeon to weigh the balance between physical benefits and complication risks. The individual ultimately has the final decision. I truly believe this surgery not only saved my life, but gave my life back to me as well. At 34-years old, I felt more like I was 80. I was borderline diabetic, my blood pressure was ringing bells, and only one-third of my liver was functioning due to the large amounts of pain pills I had to take. You see, I couldn't rest for more than four hours at a time because my joints were so painfully sore simply from carrying my weight all day long. Exercise? You've got to be kidding! I barely made it through the day much less exert energy I didn't have to do something I knew I couldn't do. My wake-up call was when I sat down on the floor to be close to my son and I couldn't get back up. In February of 1996, I had gastric bypass surgery. It changed my life forever. The surgery wasn't a miracle, but I learned to use my surgery as my tool to strive for a healthier life. It wasn't a cure for my obesity. When a client comes to me for a consultation, it's not my job to talk them into having gastric bypass surgery nor is it my job to talk them out of it. Likewise, I don't approve or reject them for surgery. By the time an individual comes to me, they have already made their decision and it's my job to provide them with as much information that I can in order to make this surgery a successful life-changing experience. I do what I do because I love it. My consultations are honest. I can speak to every individual from the viewpoint that I'm wearing the shoes they're about to put on. I don't have all the answers and I don't pretend to have them but, through research, application, hard work, and asking a lot of questions, I've been able to help other gastric bypass individuals take back control, take charge of their lives, and to become strong, fit and healthy. -Sheryl L. Williams, Nutritionist/Fitness Specialist-Educator