- Name: Bart Benson
- Age: 56
- Surgery: Gastric Sleeve
- Surgery date: November 6th, 2017
- Testimonial date: August 15th, 2018
- Surgeon: Dr. Mario Almanza
I knew going into this that I would need to bring to the table a willingness to change my lifestyle on a permanent basis and that the surgery would not be a cure all for chronic weight problems. After 9 months and 85 pounds lost, without about 30 to go, I am ready to affirm the following: The surgery solved one problem, for a limited amount of time--that being binge eating. It severely limits what you can eat at a given time and therefore takes away your ability to binge eat. With the limitations of what you can eat after the surgery and the healing process, you will lose a lot of weight in the first few months. By around the 3rd or 4th month, though, the lifestyle changes will need to take affect for the benefits to be long term. Why? Because while you will be limited in how much you can eat at a sitting, you can still eat every two or three hours, and you could still consume high caloric foods when you do eat, thereby offsetting the benefits of the surgery. I have also noticed after this many months that I am able to eat larger amounts and suspect that trend will continue, especially if I push myself over time with larger portions. Thus, I still need to choose healthy foods, moderate exercise, and practice portion control going into the future--all of which require a degree of self control and self denial. If I am not committed to that, then the benefits of this surgery will be short lived.
Do I regret the surgery? I do not. I would do it again for the help that it is given me, although I might more fully consider the gastric bypass for its longer term affects. However, while I would do it again, I recognize that it is only an aid or help in the process of making lifelong changes to a healthier lifestyle and will only result in long term affects if I'm willing to make and stick to those changes. If this is you, then I recommend the surgery. I have also been happy with the combination of price and quality of care as arranged through Weight Loss Agents.
