Two polar opposite trips to Florida perfectly summarize Sarah’s weight-loss journey. When her family went to Disney World years ago, she struggled to fit in her airplane seat and couldn’t join her kids on many of the amusement park’s rides. Flash forward to this past month, she found herself hiking, running and swimming alongside her loved ones under the summer sun in Fort Lauderdale — without ever overheating or running out of breath.
Sarah credits her success to the Weight Loss Institute (WLI) team at Columbus Regional Health — not only for the procedures and tools they provide but for their compassionate support and understanding that weight loss is a lifelong journey.
In addition to having trouble keeping up with her kids, Sarah found herself meeting a checklist of obesity comorbidities — high blood pressure, high blood sugar, diabetes, sleep apnea. These circumstances put her on the path to the Weight Loss Institute.
When Sarah spoke to WLI’s Medical Director Dr. David Lee, she appreciated his encouragement and honesty in telling her that the Institute was just one stepping stone rather than a last resort.
“He presented bariatric surgery as one of many tools in my toolkit, and he made sure I knew how to approach it properly,” Sarah recalled. “That was my aha moment that made me realize, ‘He’s serious, he recognizes my struggle, he knows what I’ve been through and he knows I can do this.’”
Dr. Lee remained her cheerleader. During a challenging hospital stay after gastric bypass surgery, she once woke up to find him sitting on the edge of her bed, making sure she was OK. (When her mother had to leave the room, he offered to step in for comfort.)
After surgery, Sarah’s weight dropped rapidly, and she kept it off. But when she regained some weight within the past few years due to menopause, Dr. Lee and his team were there to assure her that she wasn’t alone in having this issue — and they guided her back to a healthy place. Thanks to WLI’s other major tool of Medically Supervised Weight Loss, she is back down to her recommended weight and feeling great.
“Through all of this, I’ve kept a positive attitude because I’ve had the support of the Weight Loss Institute and my wonderful family,” she said. “They’ve never once made me feel like I’m on my own. And they’ve always made sure I’ve stayed in the best state of mind. I couldn’t have done this without them, especially my mom and sister.”
In addition to their positive reinforcement, Sarah also has support from a “bari buddy.”
“Having someone to talk to who’s also gone through bariatric surgery is huge,” she said.
But even the conversations she has with Nurse Practitioner Suzannah Brown are just as personally fulfilling.
“She always has my back, and she recognizes when worries or fears leave my body,” Sarah said. “That’s huge — to care so much that you can recognize and appreciate when your patients feel relief.”
A large part of Sarah’s relief comes from Suzannah’s understanding that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all BMI or meal plan. Rather than trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, Suzannah tailors solutions to Sarah’s unique needs.
“She respected that my calculated goal weight wasn’t healthy or attainable for my height and build, and she appreciated that I listen to my body when it comes to eating rather than trying a structured meal plan that doesn’t work for me physically,” Sarah said. “That was a big relief.”
As Dr. Lee promised, the Weight Loss Institute has been a helpful tool for Sarah to pull out of her toolkit at different times throughout her weight-loss journey, and she would recommend it to anyone who’s been in her position.
“This tool, when used properly, does work,” she said. “There will be no more yo-yo dieting, no more counting calories, no more worrying about whether your blood sugar is too high. If you put your mind to it, you will be successful.”