Patient Stories 23
Celebrities Are Choosing Gastric Sleeve Surgery to Shed the Pounds
A number of celebrities have come forward over time stating they have had resounding weight-loss success with gastric sleeve surgery — most recently, TV personality Mama June Shannon in her new series Mama June: From Not to Hot. In fact, several have reported losses ranging anywhere from 60 to 150 pounds following their procedure. Celebrity Gastric […]
Obesity Surgery Made Her Beautiful Outside
Kristin Szilagyi waited with me in the hospital room the day of my obesity surgery: August 27, 2003. Kristin stayed with me up until the last moment when the nurses brought the gurney to deliver me into my new life. And Kristin was there on the “other side” — the term bariatric patients have given […]
Colleen Cook Bariatric-Patient Bariatric-Guru
Colleen Cook is motivated. Colleen self-paid for the gastric bypass surgery in 1995 by taking a second mortgage on her home. Colleen Cook went on to become the President of Bariatric Support Centers International, a company that provides education and support services for weight loss surgery patients and the healthcare professionals who serve them. The decision to have […]
Meet Sandi Henderson Bariatric Educator
Sandi Henderson discusses her role as a bariatric educator. As a successful weight loss surgery patient, Sandi literally has “been there” and brings her shared experience to the people she serves. Sandi Henderson had been struggling with her weight since she was 3-years old. Finally, at age 56 and weighing over 400 pounds, Sandi made the […]
Alex Brecher’s Success with Lap-Band
Alex Brecher, founder of BariatricPal, is over a decade-long success with Lap-Band weight loss surgery. In 2003, the same year that I had my gastric bypass surgery, Alex underwent the Lap-Band procedure. At age 27, it took Alex a little more than a year to drop roughly 100 pounds. And he vows to keep it […]
Lap-Band Surgery Success Sandi Henderson
Sandi Henderson is a Lap-Band surgery success story. She lost 250 pounds — more than half her bodyweight! And she has kept that weight off for the long term. Lap-Band Surgery Success Sandi Henderson reached her heaviest weight at 424 pounds. With a BMI of 68.5 and wearing size 28 clothes, Sandi knew she had […]
Meet Alex Brecher BariatricPal Founder
Alex Brecher is not only successful at weight loss (read his Lap-Band success story), Alex also is the man behind the success of BariatricPal. BariatricPal is an online social network for the weight loss surgery community, where patients support each other before and after weight loss. BariatricPal grew out of the desire of Alex Brecher […]
LAP Band Surgery Success Story
Terri Wehling struggled for years to lose weight. She tried a number of different diets but, like most of us, would take off some weight and then gain it back. Terri’s health was failing so fast that she opted for the LAP Band surgery, which is one of the two adjustable gastric band implants available, […]
Getting Plastic Surgery Paid by Insurance
Mikimi’s journey through body contouring after massive weight loss is one of triumph over challenges: From battling HMO insurance approval for plastic surgery, to enduring wound healing issues, to again fighting for HMO insurance coverage for plastic surgery revisions — and in the end, winning! Mikimi got her plastic surgery paid by insurance. Mikimi had […]
Dating after Weight Loss: Jen’s Story
Dating after Weight Loss is Part 2 of Jen’s story. Read Part 1. Jen began Dating after Weight Loss Surgery Jen and John met through an online dating site. They were married on October 17, 2015. My Bariatric Life: What were some of your concerns about attention from men and dating? Jen: My #1 concern was […]
Finding Self Acceptance after Weight Loss
Before Jen could love another person she first had to find the love within that she had for herself. Finding self acceptance after weight loss can be one of the most empowering benefits of bariatric surgery. Today Jen shares that journey with us. Self Love After Obesity Jen did not engage in dating when she […]
4 Strategies to Weight Loss Surgery Success
Bill Streetman was not always obese. In fact, he was once quite an athlete. As Bill matured his activity level decreased. His eating did not. Eventually, Bill weighed 404 pounds. He told me, “Nobody gets to weigh 400+ pounds without lying to themselves and others a great deal.” Bill finally faced the truth about his […]
4 Strategies Defeat Barriers to Weight Loss
Bill Streetman lost roughly half his body weight. He credits his success to defining his personal barriers to weight loss and developing “The 4 Strategies” to overcome them. Whether or not you opt for bariatric surgery as Bill did, The 4 Strategies will nonetheless help you to overcome your barriers to weight loss. Learn The […]
Reinventing Cameron McCulloch after Weight Loss
Cameron McCulloch, father and grandfather, recently took the bariatric plunge and had weight-loss surgery. He was once slim and in good health. But Cameron’s weight soared to 350 pounds before bariatric weight-loss surgery. After years on the weight-off-weight-back-on-again merry-go-round, Cameron finally made the decision to have the gastric sleeve surgery. He advocates attitude change and […]
Gastric Sleeve Revision Patient Story
Fabiola Apollon is familiar with the setbacks and success of weight loss. She was not a first time winner, nor a second or third, for that matter. However, she is a woman of great spirit, and her determination finally won the battle with a gastric sleeve revision, spirituality, and dedication. Fabiola was overweight all through childhood […]
Patient Stories: From Obesity to Bariathlete
Jonathan Blue is one of our inspiring Patient Stories. One-year post-bariatric surgery, Jonathan competed in endurance events such as the Disabled American Veterans 5k and Great Ohio River Swim. The Obesity Action Coalition defines “bariathletes” as people who have lost weight via bariatric surgery and now compete in endurance events. Today, I interview a bariathlete […]
