For Jami Gilliland, American Heart Month is personal.
The Murfreesboro resident had her first heart procedure in 2016.
Six months later, she was back at the doctor’s office with another heart problem, this time caused by her weight. Her doctor told her to lose 80 pounds or she could be at risk of a heart attack. Gilliland lost her father to a heart attack and didn’t want to leave her family that way.
That caused her to seek bariatric weight loss surgery in December 2017.
“It’s given me my life back and my health back,” Gilliland said of the surgery at Ascension St. Thomas Rutherford Bariatric Center.
Five years later, Gilliland has kept off 100 pounds, even more than the doctor advised her to lose. She said surgery gave her confidence and the ability to exercise. It’s also helped her feel comfortable in her own skin, she said.
Gilliland said the biggest challenge since surgery has been sticking to the plan even when times get tough. When she feels as though she’s gaining weight, Gilliland said she reflects on the reasons she lost weight in the first place and does a mental reset.
“You come out of the ‘honeymoon’ period, and you really have to work,” she said. “You have to choose to go low carb, choose to exercise.”
The weight Gilliland has lost since her surgery has also helped her be more active. She said husband, Blake, is supportive of her new lifestyle, and she’s able to be more active in her career and with her kids: Maysen, 10; Cooper, 6; and Walker, 2.
Gilliland said she is lucky that she works in a healthcare facility so there isn’t an abundance of unhealthy food options around her every day at work. She said she also has a great support system of friends and family.
Gilliland said weight loss surgery has even improved her spiritual life.
“It changes everything about you,” she said.
Gilliland credits part of her weight loss success to her love for running, which she started about 10 months after her surgery. She completed her first run in October 2018 at the age of 33.
Since the surgery, Gilliland has competed in 44 races, ranging in distance from 5Ks (3.1 miles) to half-marathons (13.1 miles). She said her favorite distance is 10 to 15 kilometers, or about 6.2 to 9.3 miles.
Gilliland hopes to surpass 50 races this year. Her goal is to run one race per month.
Daughter Maysen has even run races alongside her. Gilliland said running helps her with strength, endurance and gives her a sense of accomplishment.
“It cleanses my mind,” she said.
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