Journey to fitness provides new life after surgery

Janet Taylor-Birkey

Now petite, perky and a size four, Mrs. Julie Bizer, a Cannon Fitness Center instructor, remembers what life was like when she weighed 245 pounds.

“I thought: ‘this is it; I’m going to be fat, matronly, ignored by society.’ I did not have to put the fat suit on; I lived in it for 10 years,” said Mrs. Bizer.

No longer overweight, Mrs. Bizer lives her new life with the enthusiasm of a cheerleader, and with the certification of a fitness instructor, she has the compassion of someone who understands how difficult it can be to lose weight and become fit.

Physical fitness appeared to be impossible for Mrs. Bizer due to various health and precancerous conditions until her doctor suggested bariatric gastric-bypass surgery, a procedure that makes the stomach smaller.

“I know there are people who say [surgery is the easy way out], but I’ve had previous major surgery and this is the most painful. I’m not here to be the gastric-bypass poster child,” said Mrs. Bizer, emphasizing that complications from surgery and other serious health issues may result.

“But at the time I was just barely 40. I have children with disabilities; I didn’t think it was fair of me to leave them without a mom,” said Mrs. Bizer. She maintains that health reasons, not vanity, were the driving force behind opting for the surgery.

Even with surgery, one must exercise to maintain weight loss, stresses Mrs. Bizer. “I gained eight pounds just from sitting around and not exercising,” she said, mentioning several celebrities who lost weight with the surgery but later regained it. “If you don’t exercise, and you resume your old eating habits, it’s not a question of if you will put the weight back on, it’s when.”

Stressing the importance of getting a doctor’s permission before beginning strenuous exercise, Mrs. Bizer added that when joining a class, those with back or neck problems should let the instructor know.

Working up to walking five miles a day was the first step on her journey to establishing a routine that would keep off the weight. Although she walked the same distance before surgery, Mrs. Bizer said she had not yet changed her eating habits and, “[exercise] was with my girl-friends. It was exercise, but not hard-core. You really need to get in there and push yourself.”

“I didn’t have the confidence to get in a gym yet. I always had that stupid idea that you have to be fit to be in the gym. I wish that I would have had the strength or the courage to come in and maybe I could have lost the weight without the surgery, which would have been a healthier way to do it, instead of putting myself at risk,” said Mrs. Bizer.

The confidence she desired is now seen by her husband, Major Kevin Bizer, 27th Medical Group. “Since losing the weight, I have seen a change in her mental attitude as well as positive outlook on life. It has increased her self-esteem, activity level, and made her a more confident person,” said Maj. Bizer.

While she is pleased with her weight and physical fitness level now, she hasn’t forgotten where she was. Because of her past, Mrs. Bizer has a high level of compassion for those who struggle with weight issues. “I wish people would not be so judgmental about people who are overweight.”

“We all have our issues. I think people look around at people who are fat and point fingers and they say, ‘My gosh, if you would just put the [junk food] up.’ People who say things like this have no idea how hard it is to lose weight,” sympathized Mrs. Bizer. “Instead of being so judgmental and hurtful, help those who need to be encouraged or invite them to a class you are going to so they can meet their goals.”