Today, Andy is busy having adventures that he couldn’t have imagined when he weighed 340 pounds. Four years ago he was afraid he was going to have a heart attack, leaving his children without a father. One night his wife boldly stated “You always say you would die for your children, but I think it makes more sense to chose to live for them.” Those words rang true for Andy and he knew it was time to get serious about getting healthy.

A search for a bariatric clinic that made him feel comfortable led him to the SmartShape™ Weight Loss Centre. He was surprised to talk to a doctor who understood his problems and who had a real solution. He was actually spoken to in a manner that was understanding and compassionate. “I had never felt so good about a visit with a doctor in my life.” By the time Andy finished the meeting, he was ready to have the Lap-Band procedure.

That decision didn’t come lightly. Deep down Andy wondered how he would handle a new identity — he had always been known as “the big man,” and now that was going to radically change.

With the support of the SmartShape™ team, Andy has lost over 100 pounds and continues to do so in a gradual way. He still enjoys food, but it is no longer the central focus of his life. “I went from digging my own grave with a knife and fork to not obsessing about food any more.” He also discovered that he is okay with his new identity. He’s earned a new nickname that he can be proud of: “Little Big Man.”

Andy has literally climbed mountains since the days he spent worrying about having a heart attack. He’s become an adventurer, including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. His barriers are gone and the sky’s the limit!