Susan: Weight no more

Although she could lose up to 100 pounds at a time during her adult life, Susan always managed to gain it back. At 330 pounds, Susan had grown tired of dieting and was concerned about the health risks of her obesity.

"My weight had made me a candidate for diabetes and other health problems," said Susan. "I was so tired of dieting and the yo-yo syndrome that came with it. When I found out that someone I knew had weight loss surgery, I decided that I would, too. I saw it as my last chance to get healthy." Susan had gastric bypass surgery on November 29, 2004, and a seamless recovery.

"I had no difficulties with the surgery," said Susan. "I was ready to go back to work a week later. Dr. Bell is wonderful and kind. He makes himself available to his patients and he comes to all the support groups."

Susan says that her focus is no longer on food, rather, controlling the stressors that contributed to her weight gain and enjoying the benefits of her 160-pound weight loss. She exercises regularly and eats healthily.

"For me, it’s no longer about food; it’s about a change in lifestyle. I want to live and enjoy my grandbabies. Luckily, I have a positive attitude. Once I make up my mind to do something there’s no turning back."

Janice, gastric bypass surgery: "I did it for ME!"

"I’m happy to tell people I’ve had gastric bypass surgery," enthused Janice, 48. "It’s been one of life’s most gratifying experiences."

Like most people who choose bariatric surgery, Janice battled a weight problem most of her life. But it wasn’t until she made the startling discovery that she was shifting from a "people person" to a recluse, that she knew it was time for weight loss surgery.

"I had begun refusing invitations to do things with friends and family," said Janice. "At 450 pounds, I limited myself to two trips up and down the stairs a day – once coming down in the morning and once going up in the evening. On more than one occasion I forgot my eye glasses when I came downstairs in the morning. Rather than making the climb back up the stairs I waited until I got to work and sent someone to the local drugstore to buy me a new pair."

Janice also acknowledged that her family history and her high blood pressure were also motivators in pursuing weight loss surgery.

"My mom died at the early age of 46," stated Janice. "It scared me to think of my own mortality and my own health risks of being morbidly obese. Even on three high-dose medications for hypertension, my blood pressure was high at 160/90. I was afraid my obesity would kill me."

Following her surgery on February 23, 2004, Janice has lost 220 pounds, two shoe sizes, and has gone from a size 36 dress to a size 18. She climbs up and down the stairs easily, breathlessly and often and feels like she’s added 20 years to her life.

"I did it for me," said Janice, "which is why I’ve been so successful. My success has come with the realization that I’m a food addict. I work at it every day. It’s been a beautiful thing."

Ed: Navy pride

As a career Navy man, Ed had an impressive track record and promising future at the submarine base in Groton. But in 2005, Ed’s weight put his job in jeopardy.

"At 350 pounds, I was not meeting the Navy’s physical-readiness standards," said Ed. "I was over the recommended body mass index (BMI) and it took me 25 minutes to run a mile and a half."

As a running back at the U.S. Naval Academy, Ed’s 230 pound-frame was all muscle mass. But following his marriage in 2000, and the birth of his two children, Ed began to put on weight and become less active. He tried lots of diets but always managed to regain the weight he lost and then some. For his health and his ego, Ed made the decision to have gastric bypass surgery.

"I had two very young children and was on the cusp of being thrown out of the Navy," said Ed. "Not being able to mask my physical constraints in front of the junior personnel was also troubling."

Since his weight loss surgery in December 2005, Ed has lost 140 pounds and averages an 8-minute mile.

"I feel great!" enthused Ed. "My surgery was flawless."

Michael: Defeating adversity one pound at a time

It took Michael’s good friend, a physician, more than two years to convince him that weight loss surgery was the best long-term cure for his obesity. At 49, Michael weighed 428 pounds, a weight Michael attributed to circumstances.

“I was a college jock, 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 260 pounds,” said Michael. “I stayed in great shape until the age of 38, when I was diagnosed with bladder cancer.”

For the next eight years, Michael spent a lot of time in the hospital undergoing cancer treatments. He quit working out and ate to feed his depression.

“I spent a lot of time thinking ‘poor, pitiful me,’ as my weight escalated out of control,” recalled Michael.

Through a neighbor, Michael learned of a surgeon in Florida who specialized in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, a procedure particularly suited to those patients at the highest risk for surgery, either because of their medical history or their weight.

When Michael called the surgeon’s office to make an appointment, he was told the physician was away in California attending a conference on bariatric surgery.

When Michael shared the news with his doctor friend, he discovered that one of the speakers at the conference was Robert Bell, M.D., director of the Bariatric Surgery Program at Yale-New Haven Hospital, and his friend’s brother-in-law.

“The guy I was scheduled to see was the student,” laughed Michael. “It was an easy decision: I wanted the teacher to do my surgery!”

In June 2006, Michael arranged with his primary physician to have his pre-op evaluation in Texas and sleeve gastrectomy at YNHH performed by Dr. Bell. Three days later, Michael was home in Texas with his family and a week after returning home he went on a cruise.

“Dr. Bell did such a fantastic job on me,” enthused Michael, who lost 180 pounds. “I’d fly any member of my family half-way across the world to see him.”

Michael’s battle with cancer is not over but he admits that his body today is in much better playing shape, more like his days as a tight end at Texas A&M, and better equipped to handle another round of surgery to remove a cancerous tumor on his kidney later this month.

“Before my weight loss surgery, I viewed my medical adversities as ‘one more thing’ I had to deal with. Since then, my weight loss has added fuel to my fight against cancer, a fight I plan to win!”