Page 151 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2018

ow after following Memorial’s bariatric program for 18 months, Atwell has lost more than 115 pounds and is off all medications except one for a thyroid condition.
Her greatest improvement,
however, has been her
In addition to another Warrior Dash, Atwell would
like to fly somewhere. She’s never left the country and avoided flying while overweight. She plans to continue working hard to be comfortable in her skin and as healthy
as she can be.
She maintains a nutritious, low-carb diet and
ability to accomplish the basics of life with greater ease, including running with her daughter and performing her job as a surgical technician at Memorial. “I love just being able
to do things and not feel bad while doing them,” she says.
Another victory involved participating in a Warrior Dash in April 2018. Warrior Dashes are
“I LOVE JUST BEING ABLE TO
DO THINGS AND NOT FEEL BAD WHILE DOING THEM”
abstains from soda. Weight loss surgery patients are encouraged to avoid sodas as they can cause cramping and bloating, as well as a dietary complication known as
dumping syndrome caused when sugar
enters the small intestine at an abnormally fast rate, potentially resulting in symptoms
such as weakness, nausea, cold sweat, paleness, pounding heartbeat and diarrhea. While exercise remains a tough hill to climb,
5K races with mud and obstacle
courses that are popular around the
country. Atwell raced with a cousin who had also undergone weight loss surgery in Louisiana, and has plans to compete in another one. “It was great; it was so much fun!” she says.
Atwell sticks to her regimen. “I don’t really like it. Once I do it, I enjoy it, but I’m definitely happy when I’m done,” she says.
When asked why she decided to have her surgery at Memorial, Atwell explains, “I chose Memorial because I work there, and I feel safe there. I wouldn’t have gone anywhere else.”
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