GASTRIC SLEEVE SURGERY

I have been overweight since my mid-twenties. While pregnant, I gained a lot of weight and was never able to lose it. I have been on diets for most of my adult life and would lose 20 or 25 pounds and eventually gain it back and then some. Before I tried bariatric surgery, I tried Weight Watchers twice, Nutri-system, Slimfast, low carbs, salads, gym memberships, even prescription appetite suppressants. Everything would work for a short time, maybe 2-3 months and then I would start to stray from my plan. 

The single incident that was pivotal in my decision to investigate surgery was when I saw myself in photos at my son’s wedding. I could not believe that was me and how huge I was. I was mortified that my family and friends would see the pictures, even worse, that they had seen me in person like that. 

Gastric sleeve surgery at the New Jersey Bariatric Center has played a tremendous role in my weight loss journey. I have lost 70lbs within 7 months and I went from a size 24 to a size 14. Since my weight loss, I love that I can now sit in a booth at a restaurant with lots of room, fit in an airplane seat and know the seatbelt will not be too tight, run on a treadmill without being out of breath and, I’m looking forward to running around and playing with my future grandson (due in January).

As a food scientist and an adjunct professor at a large university, part of our curriculum deals with nutrition. Since losing weight I can now teach without feeling like a fraud. At least once a week, people tell me how different I look. Even though that is very flattering to hear, it is the difference in how healthy and energetic I feel that is my real success story. I started jogging and plan to run a 5K with friends in the spring. 

The doctors of New Jersey Bariatric Center are amazing! Each one took the time to answer all of my questions and prepare me for pre- and post-surgery. The Registered Dietitians taught me how to plan meals and I felt that I could always be honest with them and receive real-life advice and feedback. The office staff was always friendly and helpful with insurance and billing issues. Even the hospital staff made some comments about how great NJBC doctors are and how lucky I am to be their patient. Thank you NJBC for giving me back my life and making me healthy! 

I would absolutely recommend New Jersey Bariatric Center to someone who is considering weight loss surgery. They changed my life. I wish I had done this 10 years ago. 

*According to national studies, bariatric surgery results in an average weight loss of 55-80 percent of excess body weight. Excess weight is the amount of weight one needs to lose in order to have a “healthy” BMI of 25.