Weight Loss Surgery Leads To Health, Fitness And A New Outlook On Life For Moss Bluff Couple
In November 2012, Kacie White took a trip to Las Vegas. What she wanted to do more than anything was to ride the zipline down Freemont St. But when she realized there was a weight limit and that she’d have to step on a scale that displayed her weight on a giant television screen for the crowd to see, she had serious reservations.
“That event completely changed me … I knew something drastic had to change.
“The trip was a bust and I felt so awful that night I cried myself to sleep. I wanted a better life for myself and for my husband and two teenage daughters.”
When Kacie returned from her trip, she considered weight loss surgery. It was costly, but when she began working at a local industry that provided excellent insurance coverage, she knew it was time.
“I promised God that if he gave me the gift of surgery, I would never let him down. I would use it as a tool to help me start a new life for myself and my family. God heard my prayers!”
As part of that process, Kacie had to quit smoking. “I began taking Chantix, and within a month I was smoke free.”
Finally, on August 28, 2013, she had the surgery.
Once she recovered, she realized she and her whole family had to change their lifestyle.
A Course Of Self-Destruction
Before her surgery, the Whites ate out, primarily at fast food restaurants, three meals a day. “Breakfast was always a large Diet Coke and Sausage a Egg and Cheese McGriddle from McDonald’s. The employees knew me by name … sad! In between meals I would drink more Diet Cokes and eat chips and snack cakes.
“Lunch was usually fried foods or burgers and fries. In the evening, we were so busy with the girls playing softball that we would just go to the drive through and order more fast food for supper.”
Kevin and Kacie, both 37, never exercised. “I literally would come home from work, pick up the girls from school, and head to their practices. When I did have free time, I laid around on the couch. I was so heavy that it would hurt my back to mop the floor, so I made that my excuse as to why I couldn’t do lots of housework.”
Combined with her smoking, Kacie says she was a “ticking time bomb.”
In the past, Kacie had tried all the fad diets — pills, liquid diets, and a number of the well-known commercial diet plans. “None of them worked for more than a few months, and the weight piled up more and more,” she says.
But since her surgery, through exercise and healthy eating, Kacie has lost 150 pounds and feels better than ever.
Husband Kevin Makes The Change
Kevin White saw his wife’s success and was impressed. But it took some coaxing to convince him to join her new lifestyle.
He, too, was overweight and a smoker. But ultimately, Kevin wanted the same things as Kacie.
Kevin had his surgery on July 17, 2014, and has since lost nearly as much weight as his wife.
There are several different types of bariatric weight loss surgeries. Kevin and Kacie had vertical sleeve gastrectomies. With this procedure, the stomach is reduced to 25 percent of its original size by surgical removal of a large portion of the stomach. The result is a sleeve or tube-like structure that limits the amount of food one can eat, as well as the absorption of the food.
Blazing A New Healthy Course
“When I was overweight I was angry and bitter … I put a wall up,” says Kacie. “I faked my feelings and acted happy. But inside I was miserable. I was jealous of all the people around me who were so active and actually living. I wanted to be that girl.”
And now Kacie is that girl. In addition to changes in her eating habits, she slowly incorporated exercise into her routine. She started walking daily. Then she added bike riding. She joined a gym. Then she joined a running group and a bicycling club. She worked her way up to running a half-marathon.
“This was no easy task, and some days [it] took everything I had to lace those shoes. I did it anyway and felt amazing after I was done.”
Now she has the whole family running. Life-long residents of Moss Bluff, they often run and bike at Sam Houston Jones State Park. They plan on running a half-marathon together in November.
“I am proud of my daughters for supporting both their parents on such an amazing journey,” says Kacie.
This practice gives her more time during the couple’s busy week for exercise. “We usually keep our meal plans simple,” says Kacie. “We love grilled chicken and fish, and will occasionally eat lean ground beef. We love all veggies, and visit the Cash and Carry Farmer’s Market to get local homegrown veggies, beans and lettuce. We sometimes have quinoa, brown rice and low carb whole wheat tortillas. Wraps are my favorite go-to quick lunch. I pile [a wrap] with a handful of spinach and grilled chicken.
“We don’t eat any ‘white foods’ (white bread, white rice, noodles). We have lots of fresh fruit around the kitchen, and my family no longer goes to the pantry for a snack; they go to the fridge. That’s where they find yogurts, fresh-sliced fruit, veggie bags, boiled eggs, string cheese. We do have the occasional treat meals; they are few and far between. We love Mexican food, and know that we can only split a meal, and will usually still have leftovers.
“We don’t count calories; we count protein and sugars. Technically, we can still eat anything we want. We choose to eat healthy.”
Are Kacie and Kevin still losing weight? They’re not sure. At this point, they have shunned the scale.
Kacie says, “I judge my body by the way my clothes fit. The scale doesn’t define me . . . I do!” Kevin adds, “Now I’m looking at my clothes, and the way my body looks in the mirror, and how many miles I can put under my shoes.”
Paying It Forward
“I feel like I have totally changed everything about myself for the better,” Kacie says. Because they’ve successfully been through the process of adopting a healthy lifestyle and losing weight, Kevin and Kacie have great advice for those looking to follow their lead. Kevin suggests seeking out people who will encourage and support you. Make sure that everyone in the house is on board with your goals. He says friendly competition between family members is just another form of love for each other.
“Family is number one in a person’s life,” says Kevin. “Without their support, a person is set up for failure. I really owe my success to God and my wife.”
Kacie advises people to look at what they’re eating and eliminate or decrease the amount of processed foods, empty calories and sugars. “There are so many websites out there that have free meal plans and grocery lists to help guide you. Simply cutting out soda is a great start.”
Be aware of serving sizes, measure portions, and use smaller plates. Use apps such as myfitnesspal to help you stay on track.
And exercise! “If you are really overweight, just making small measurable goals is perfect. Try walking to the end of the road and back. Then keep building your way up. Don’t be scared to join a gym; people really are there for all the same reasons. They want you to succeed.”
Staying The Course
One problem with weight loss is that the weight often creeps back on over time, even with bariatric surgery. But the Whites are determined not to let that happen. They’ve incorporated safeguards into their lives.
Kevin attributes his continued success to his friends, and primarily his wife. And Kacie has her running and biking groups to keep her accountable. She focuses on meal planning and preparation. She receives daily emails of encouragement from websites.
Kacie and Kevin have a friendly competition between them that also helps. “But mostly it’s the promise I made to God that I would never go back to my old ways,” she says.
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