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10 People Who've Reclaimed their Lives from Obesity



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Obesity surgery helps people take back their lives. Meet 10 patients who've reclaimed their lives through the gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, duodenal switch, and gastric band alongside healthy diet and exercise! Click the hyperlinks to read each patient's awe-inspiring story (will redirect to HealthCentral).



Jassira: From infertility to motherhood

In hopes of solving her infertility issues, Jassira tried a gastric band and duodenal switch to lose weight. The procedures were at times life-threatening, but Jassira said she would not change a thing. Today, she feels strong, and proud that the journey made her dreams of two healthy boys come true. Read more…

Mikimi: Triumph over challenges

Mikimi fought with her health insurance company to appeal for plastic surgery after gastric bypass complications. She won, and had an apronectomy and breast reduction, but there were still more complications to follow. Today, however, she is proud of her body and views her surgery scars as badges of honor. Read more…

My Bariatric Life: Challenging fitness and fears

It took a decade after gastric bypass to reclaim my life, undergo plastic surgery, and start living boldly. One victory was conquering an advanced four-hour ropes course, pushing myself beyond physical limits and overcoming a fear of heights. I learned that at any moment you have the power to say, “this is not how the story is going to end.” Read more…

Jonathan: From obesity to bari-athlete

Jonathan lost 200 pounds after gastric bypass surgery and now competes in endurance events such as the The Great Ohio River Swim, a 38-mile bike ride, and the Disabled Veterans 5K. He says after abusing it for so many years, he’s got his body back and wants to see how far he can push himself in a positive way. Read more…

Jen: Finding love after obesity

In order for Jen to have happy dating relationships after the gastric sleeve surgery, she first had to find self awareness and love herself. She later found Mr. Right and they’ll be married this year. Jen says if she had skipped any of the mental work, she would not be where she is today. Read more…

Kristin: Between hopelessness and hope

Kristin was a size 32W before having gastric bypass surgery in 2002. She knew surgery wasn’t a cure-all for poor eating habits, but was a tool that made all the difference between hopelessness and hope. Now a size 4/6, Kristin says everyone deserves a life where weight doesn't hold them back. Read more…

Bill: Hero behind WHS-NewLife

Thanks to carefully planned weight management strategies and guidelines prior to gastric bypass, Bill has successfully maintained a 200+ pound weight loss since 2010. He believes, “Too often we sabotage our own best interest.” Bill now shares his inspiring action plan on WHS-NewLife. Read more…

Terri: Bariatric Vitamin queen

Terri achieved permanent weight loss with the gastric band. But with that success came a set of obstacles. Terri couldn't tolerate some nutritious foods or swallow her Vitamins. So she was faced with deteriorating health. Not one to give up, Terri and her husband, Fred, worked together to develop Ameriwell Bariatric Vitamins. Read more…

Sandi: Losing and finding herself

Sandi reached her heaviest weight at 424 pounds. With a BMI of 68.5 and wearing size 28 clothes, Sandi knew she had to find a permanent weight loss solution. On May 28, 2004 Sandi underwent the LapBand weight-loss surgery. Just over two years later, Sandi weighed a healthy 174 pounds and went on to become a bariatric educator and support group leader. Read more…

Alex: Everyone’s BariatricPal

Alex is not only a success at weight loss, he’s also the man behind the success of BariatricPal. Its an online social network for the weight-loss-surgery community, where patients support each other before and after weight loss. BariatricPal grew out of Alex’s desire to give back to bariatric surgery patients and help them write their own success stories! Read more…

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Great article(s)!

Almost fell off my chair when I got to #10! ;-)

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@@My Bariatric Life,

Thanks so much for sharing this article! It is very inspirational and I love the mix of stories you chose.

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Thanks so very much! I am glad you enjoy the real life stories of these inspirational people whom I have interviewed across the years. They truly make my heart swell with pride of their accomplishments. Life is meant to be lived fully!

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    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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