Meet Trailblazer Amber Middlebrooks

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Middlebrooks.

Amber, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In November 2015, I was 25 at the time … I had just finished eating, I started to feel different. … My heart was beating super fast, and my body all over had a tingling sensation

I went to an emergency room. “ I was having a Transient ischemic attack aka mini stroke. … The doctor came in … she took off her doctor coat and had a heart to heart with me: ‘Amber you are so young. You are 25, and this weight is not good for you.’ … That was my wake-up moment,” i said. “I can’t do this to my brother. He already lost his mom, and I ended up getting custody of my brother when our mother died. … We lost my mom in 2013 by a heart attack. … After that, I had a lot of emotional eating. … I have been morbidly obese my whole life.” The same day i left the ER, i got online and found an insurance plan that covered gastric bypass. i had surgery in December 2016 with Piedmont Bariatrics.

Biggest challenge: “Adjusting to my new body. … Emotionally, I still feel like the 565-pound person. I constantly have to remind myself that I can do this and I can do that. I look in the mirror and I still see her. When people recognize me, I am not used to this much attention. It is a rebirth for me.” Life has changed in the best way possible. I feel like I have a second chance at life. It is the rebirth of Amber. I am getting out in the world. I am learning to care about Amber and take care of myself first. I have to do a reality check: ‘Amber you lost 411 pounds!’ That’s where I am at now, taking it day by day and soaking it all in. To have a second chance at life, and who would have thought I would be here back in 2015 saying I enjoy life?”

Has it been a smooth road?
Before the process everything felt numb. I’ve tried to get the surgery in the past and it was not successful due to me losing my insurance. Before surgery I hated my existence everything bothered me, from my look down to the way I felt inside. Fast forward 2 years 5 months later because I am now 2 years 5 months post op. I feel amazing.
Before I hated myself, I didn’t love me, and I always wished I would feel pretty. I had the lowest self-esteem ever. I just wanted to die. Now I feel so wonderful inside and out. I look at life different, my mind is in a better state mentally and emotionally. I am now learning how to love my self. It took me 29 years to love my self and i wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Do your research. Do not go into this process blind. Please do intensive research. Join Facebook groups, Follow WLS accounts on Instagram. Ask questions, attend seminars in your local area to get a better understanding. Do your research on your surgeon and their office. Make sure you are doing this for YOU! Not anyone else but Y O U! At the end of the day, you are the one going through this life changing event. Everyone is not going to understand or they may talk you out of it. If I had a dollar for every-time I told someone I was doing this procedure I would be rich. It tickles me that someone always know somebody that has this surgery and it went bad. Ignore the bad things. Remember this is not a walk in the park. There will be times you want to give up, there will be times you feel overwhelmed but think about the bigger picture in the end. You well feel amazing inside and out and you will be much healthier than you were before. This was the best D*** decision I ever made in my life and I couldn’t be any more happier

We’d love to hear more about Amberbypass.
Currently I am a social media influencer for people who had or is thinking about getting the weight loss surgery.

I want to show the world that it is not the easy way out. WLS is not the easiest way out at all. You have to prepare your self mentally, physically and emotionally to do a life changing event. Of course if it was easy, I would be skinny now don’t you think lol ? We have to go through many clearances in order to get approve. While going through the different clearances such as seeing a cardiologist, psychiatrist, sleep study , etc you have to change your diet asap. You are partner with a nutritionist that teaches you the new way of eating. I share with the world THE GOOD BAD AND UGLY! I am very open about my journey. I want to spread the knowledge and the truth about life after WLS.

I am proud when women and men message me telling me I inspired them to loose weight naturally or to get the surgery.

Contact Info:

• Email: Amberbypass@gmail.com
• Instagram: Amberbypass
• Other: Youtube.com/LadiAmber