Should I or should I not have weight loss surgery? That is the question.
There are many things to consider when determining which weight loss option is best for you such as time, money, resources, age, motivation, willpower, and your overall state of health.
One of the primary influential factors in Marcus’ decision to undergo weight loss surgery was the time it would to take for him to lose the weight without having it. Conventional methods including diet and exercise would have taken significantly longer than he wanted. He knew he needed to lose a drastic amount of weight if he wanted to have an active role in the lives of his 4 children. After a failed lap-band surgery he chose to have the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is a type of weight-loss surgery that reduces the size of your stomach to a small pouch – about the size of an egg. It does this by stapling off a section of the stomach, which decreases the amount of food you can take in at meals. The surgeon then attaches this pouch directly to the small intestine, bypassing most of the rest of the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine. This reduces the amount of fat and calories you absorb from the foods you are able to eat for even more weight loss. (“Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass Weight-Loss Surgery.” Johns Hopkins Medicine. The Johns Hopkins University, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Johns Hopkins Health System. Web. 3 Sep. 2016.)
Marcus believes it is very crucial to seek out a surgeon that wants to see your life improve, not just from the surgery, but from a new lifestyle. Marcus interviewed many doctors before choosing Garth Davis, M.D., a Bariatric Surgeon affiliated with Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center, and Assistant Professor of Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. Dr. Davis advised Marcus that in addition to surgery, he should do something new every day in an attempt to implement a new outlook on maintaining his health. This advice sparked Marcus’ desire to have a doctor who was not just a skilled surgeon, but also an advocate for his entire lifestyle change.
During a post-surgery check-up, Dr. Davis was surprised with Marcus’ rapid weight loss. As Marcus told him of his training and exercise regime which was centered on his goal to compete in a triathlon, Dr. Davis shared that he was an accomplished triathlete himself. Seeing Marcus’ level of commitment, Dr. Davis agreed to race in triathlons with him. This incredible support from his surgeon gave Marcus additional motivation to train harder than ever before and is one of the key factors he contributes to his successful weight loss.
If you are considering having gastric surgery, Marcus believes that choosing the right doctor is a vital first step in your weight loss journey.