At Health Volition, we support our clients on their weight loss journey every step of the way. That means sharing their weight loss success story with the world, celebrating their wins, and allowing them to show other Australians wanting to lose weight and live a healthy, fulfilling life that it is possible.
Year: 2016
Starting weight: 113kg
Current weight: 67kg
Procedure: Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass with Minimizer Ring + Small Bowel Resection
When did you decide to explore weight loss surgery?
Two and a half years after watching my husband, Brendan, go through weight loss surgery and watching him succeed, I bit the bullet and got a referral to see my surgeon. That was three and a half years ago now, and I haven’t looked back.
Unlike my husband, who had the sleeve, I had a Roux-en-Y Gastric bypass with a Minimizer ring. I also didn’t have the ideal recovery due to an ectopic pregnancy and burst fallopian tube, an experience that resulted in me almost bleeding out a few weeks post-op. This was not related to my weight loss surgery.
How did Health Volition help you on your weight loss journey?
The support and help I got for my post-op recovery from Health Volition was beyond what I ever expected. Due to all the inflammation in my body, I couldn’t tolerate purees and was limited to liquids. The team were right there to help me every step of the way.
Lisa, the Health Volition dietitian, and Belinda, the nurse, gave me advice and checked in every couple of days for the first four to six weeks after my burst tube. By the time I was three months post-op, I was still having trouble with food intake and was vomiting every second meal. I was absolutely miserable. Lisa gave me advice and put me on Iberogast, which helped my stomach digest food and gave it a chance to heal. That was my lifesaver, and after being on it for thirty days, I was like a new woman.
I know that without the team at Health Volition’s support, my recovery would have been a lot worse. They didn’t just leave me to deal with issues alone. I had regular follow-ups by phone with the team and in-person reviews with my surgeon whenever needed.
At about 6-7 months post-op, I had a review with my surgeon. He listened to my concerns about some pains I was having in my stomach. He knew straight away it was my gallbladder and told me it wouldn’t be a problem to take out, and all I had to do was talk to the girls at the front desk and book an appointment to get it done. My gallbladder removal was performed without any issues.
How has weight loss surgery improved your quality of life?
To date, I have lost 46kgs. I fell pregnant after my surgery and have gained 4kgs since giving birth to my son. This surgery is a tool and in no way “a cheat’s game” to get thin. I train 3-4 times a week and have to watch what I eat. I allow myself to live and indulge when the occasion arises because it’s all about balance and living your life healthily and happily.
On top of Health Volition’s support, I had the best support system from my husband and family. It is so important to have that after surgery. Having been through it before, my husband was a huge help, mentally and physically. We have supported each other in doing the pre-op diet years after surgery to reset our eating habits and get back into a healthier lifestyle.
We have learnt it’s not so much a physical game but a mental one, more so with weight loss. Having that constant support is what helps us succeed and reach the goals we aim for.
