"Supportive and Encouraging": Improved Quality of Life with Weight Loss Care
Natalie's biggest motivation to lose weight and improve her health was her daughter, Noelle.
With hypertension and being diagnosed with obesity, her pregnancy was considered high risk. That's why, after giving birth at EvergreenHealth Family Maternity Center, she started exploring ways to begin her weight loss journey.
At first, she tried taking weight loss medication, which helped her lose weight but negatively impacted her wellness. Then, researching weight loss clinics, she learned about EvergreenHealth Weight Loss and Bariatric Care and made an appointment request.
Her first appointment was a consultation in January 2023, and she immediately liked the program. "From the first visit, I loved it," Natalie said. "I liked that the program had you learning weight loss habits and working toward a healthier lifestyle well before your surgery."
The collaborative team and unique weight loss programs at EvergreenHealth Weight Loss & Bariatric Care include dietitians, obesity medicine experts as well as bariatric surgeon John Dockins, MD, FACS, FASMBS, DABOM. Dr. Dockins helped Natalie determine that she was a good candidate for the sleeve gastrectomy procedure, but before her surgery, she started a dietitian regimen with Adriana Ho, MS, RDN, CSOWM, as well as an exercise plan, helping her lose 40 pounds all on her own.
"Both Dr. Dockins and Adriana were so supportive and encouraging," Natalie said. "He is such a positive person and understood how extremely vulnerable it is seeking weight loss treatment. Adriana made sure it wasn't just about my physical health but also supported my mental health throughout the weight loss journey."
In May 2023, she underwent the sleeve gastrectomy surgery, which is a minimally invasive procedure that involves removing part of the stomach. This helps you eat less because of a smaller stomach, lowers the secretion of hunger hormones and helps you feel full for longer.
"She didn't see weight loss surgery as a shortcut. It was a chance for her to improve her health and life forever," said Dr. Dockins. "She had a vision for her future and showed up for herself every day. Her surgery was smooth, her recovery was fast and she has done tremendously well during her postoperative follow-up period."
Fast forward 2 years, 38-year-old Natalie has lost nearly 140 pounds and continues to enjoy the lifestyle changes and the improved quality of her health. "I can rally now, and my energy levels have quadrupled," she said. "I don't need to sleep nearly as much as I used to, and I feel more comfortable physically and emotionally in public."
Even after the short recovery from her surgery, Natalie continued to work hard and now enjoys her time in the gym where she's built a workout routine to 1-1.5-hour sessions from what started as 10-minute exercises she learned on YouTube.
"I held myself accountable," she said. "I used to not be able to make it up a flight of stairs without feeling winded. Today, I can go running with my 7-year-old daughter. We may even run a 5K together this summer."
Read more EvergreenHealth Bariatric Surgery Patient Stories.
