Patient: Jeff
Province: Ontario
Surgical Weight Loss Procedure: Mini Gastric Bypass
2 years post-surgery
At his heaviest weight of 320 pounds, Jeff lived with low energy, high blood pressure and was taking high doses of insulin for his type 2 diabetes. At one point, he even he had to take medication for his blood pressure and cholesterol – a result of his escalating weight.
“I had a very strong desire to carry on with life,” says Jeff. “Every time I looked at my kids and my grandkids, I thought there was so much more to do and see in my lifetime. If I continued like this, I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it.”
After struggling with yo-yo dieting for more than 35 years, Jeff made a conscious decision that he couldn’t lose weight through diet alone and that surgery was the answer for him.
“I always went on diets, and I was acutely aware of the calorie content of everything that went into my mouth but I still struggled with portion control.”
In March 2017, Jeff had a Mini Gastric Bypass at SmartShape Weight Loss Centre, a private medical clinic with locations in Toronto, Mississauga, Calgary and Regina.
“When I looked at the alternatives in the United States and in Mexico, I was very happy with my decision and had a good, strong feeling about SmartShape and the facility,” Jeff says.
Jeff opted for the Mini Gastric Bypass procedure after a consultation with the surgeon. A Mini Gastric Bypass is performed laparoscopically and is a two part procedure that divides an approximately twenty five percent section of stomach from the rest of the stomach. This gastric pouch is then joined to the small intestine above the new surgical connection. This results in the majority of the stomach and approximately one third of the small intestine being ‘bypassed’ – meaning it is not involved in the digestion or absorption of the food you eat.
The Mini Gastric Bypass procedure works in two ways. The first is that when you eat, the small pouch of stomach that’s left behind gets filled quickly with smaller portions of food. This sends signals to the brain that you feel satisfied and comfortable with those portions. The second reason the Mini Gastric Bypass is so effective is that in bypassing a section of intestine, absorption of the food you do eat is lessened.
Two years after the surgery, Jeff has lost 120 pounds and has even been able to stop taking insulin for his diabetes.
After his procedure, one of the key supports Jeff received was guidance from SmartShape’s team of nurses and dietitians, as part of the company’s AfterCare Program. Jeff credits their support for helping him build good habits immediately after surgery and helping him change his lifestyle.
“As part of the AfterCare program, we assist patients with their nutrition,” says Margeaux Maniatis, a Registered Dietitian at SmartShape. “We provide group and one-on-one support to patients navigating lifestyle changes after surgery. In our interactive online education session, we discuss topics like expectations for their journey, hunger and satiety, optimal meal timing, as well as how to build enjoyable, good quality meals and snacks.”
Jeff has now been able to cross off major things on his bucket list – one of which was driving a NASCAR Formula 1 racing car and travelling 170 miles per hour. Jeff has also enjoyed his increased energy levels and travelling with his wife.
“The folks at SmartShape saved my life,” says Jeff. “Had I continued on that path, it would have shortened my lifespan considerably. I can now enjoy life again.”
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