When Abbea Porter made the decision to attend a Bailey Bariatrics weight loss seminar in June 2020, she began a journey that changed her physically and left a lasting impact on her mental state.
“I didn’t realize the depression and anxiety and how angry I was until I was on this side of it,” Porter said. “It changed my life.”
Porter had heard about the Bailey Bariatrics program from her mother. She had attended other weight loss seminars in the past, but, according to Porter, had “just never pulled the trigger.”
“In June 2020, I was ready,” she said. “I had gone through a bad breakup and food was my addiction. I was at my highest weight I had ever been. At that point, I was like, ‘What do I have to lose?’”
Porter had weight loss surgery in October 2020. She has lost 190 pounds since, but her Bailey Bariatrics journey is about more than just a number.
“I can go shopping and wear my hair down without sweating,” said Porter, who has begun coaching her niece’s softball team. “I can play with my niece and nephew without feeling out of breath. I like exercise more and not hate my life doing it.”
Porter said the positive outlook from the Bailey staff helped reshape her mind as well as physical health.
“After I lost the weight, I realized there’s more to life than just being depressed and sad,” she said. “Seeing people are constantly in your corner and motivating you to do better is amazing. The people at Bailey are in your corner, whether you fail or succeed, and that’s nice to know.”
Porter now shares her story with others, in hopes her journey will serve as an inspiration for somebody who may be going through what she experienced.
“I tell them to go for it,” she said. “I’ve told people about the experience at Bailey and how I didn’t have any regrets. It’s been a total wild ride. With being unhappy and doing things you don’t do and then doing the surgery, it just completely changes your life.”
To learn more about Bailey Bariatrics’ free seminars, click here.