Nathan underwent gastric sleeve surgery with Dr. Long in January 2018, which helped him shed 158 pounds. In the two-and-a-half years since surgery, Nathan has successfully maintained his weight loss.
This is his story.
Life Before Surgery
“Before surgery, life was difficult due to all of the excess weight. Going up the stairs in my home would make me winded. Medically, I had gout, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea. Although I thought I didn’t mind being a big guy, I had no idea just how much my life experience was being affected by my weight. I was often depressed and irritable.
“What compelled me to get surgery was a blood pressure scare. I was traveling for work and I was checking my blood pressure. It got really high and wasn’t going back down. I called an ambulance and the EMT’s recommended I go to the ER. They took me to the ER and the medical team there monitored me. My heart was not slowing down and they were afraid I was going to have a heart attack, so they gave me some medicine to slow everything down. That incident made me realize it was time for a change.”
The Nicholson Clinic Process – With You All The Way
“The process with the Nicholson Clinic was great. Everyone was kind and professional. They gave me a lot of information. They made sure I understood that the surgery was not “the easy option” to weight loss. They made sure I knew that if I really wanted to change my life, I would need to follow up the surgery with a commitment to live and eat differently.
“The day of the operation was easy. My family and I came in the morning and I was out later that day. Post Op was not easy because of how everything feels, but the Nicholson Clinic had prepared me for everything, so it wasn’t a surprise.”
Life After Surgery
“My life today is very different. I am no longer on gout medicine. I am no longer on blood pressure medicine. I have no sleep apnea. As of this morning (July 2, 2020), I weigh 187 pounds. I make sure I weigh my food to never eat more than 4 to 5 ounces at one sitting. I log all of my food in an app.
“When I found out how many people gain the weight back, or stretch out their new stomach, I was determined to not let that happen to me. I do not let my eyes tell me how much to eat. I let a food scale tell me. I always am full after a meal, but if I serve myself more than necessary, I will over eat, so I don’t ever put more than the necessary amount on my plate. I have started jogging and I enjoy it. I go hiking with my wife and I enjoy it.
“My attitude about life has improved greatly. I did not realize that carrying around all that extra weight was a strain on my physical health, but also my mental and emotional well being. The truth is I was headed to an early grave. Today, that’s not the case. Secure in the knowledge I am doing what I can to take care of my health, I am free to experience a much richer life.”
