“Seeing Is Believing!”

At the age of 23 and a few months after the birth of my second child, I unexpectedly had to have a total hysterectomy. This is when I began to gain the largest part of my weight. I was weighing approximately 200 pounds and I began having headaches. So I decided to get my eyes examined. That is when my world turned upside down.

I was diagnosed with Intracranial Hypertension & Psuedotumor Cerebri, (high fluid buildup in the brain and a false tumor in the optic nerves of my eyes). I was sent directly from there to have the first of many spinal taps, to relieve the pressure in my brain. The headache subsided, for a little while. At that time, my Neurologist said that “most” (not all) cases were from being overweight! That moment began my “unsuccessful” journey of dieting. After I turned 40, I began having more issues with my vision, thinking that it was just simply age related; I again went to have my eyes examined again, only to find out that I had lost approximately 75% of the vision in my Left eye. I had another spinal tap, with no relief or visual improvements what so ever! Something HAD to be done!

At this point I had been taking several medications to help control my blood pressure and the “brain-pain” which were supposed to make me lose weight… (NOT!) The next option was to have a Shunt inserted in my brain… this was NOT something that I was ready to have done. I started doing research about weight loss surgeries and signed up for one of the seminars with Dr. Cywes. I weighed out my options, did my research, and ultimately found the BEST doctor that I could have hoped for. Thus, My “Journey” to Success began! During one of my evaluations, I was asked why I wanted to have surgery, and my answer was not because I wanted to be smaller or look “sexy”… I simply WANTED to be Healthy and to literally “SEE” my grandchildren grow up! Dr. Cywes and his Team have helped me to Achieve Success and allow me to SEE how successful this program truly is!

I had the Vertical Sleeve surgery done in October 2010. When I started the program, I weighed in at 222 pounds wearing a size 20/22. I am now maintaining my weight at 140 pounds and now wear an average size 5, since April 2011. I no longer take ANY of my medications and I am 95% Symptom Free from my IH/PTC.

To Dr. Cywes and The Entire Team, I owe My Deepest and Greatest Appreciation for the opportunity to “See” and Share My Success!

I have battled with my weight all my life, and in March 2010 I reached an all-time high of 335 pounds. I had heard about gastric surgery and explored my options. An RN in Gainesville referred me to Dr. Cywes and I attended a seminar. I signed up for the process and my lap-band was installed in July 2010. Since then I have lost 105 pounds and my goal of 195 pounds is in sight.

My blood pressure has dropped from 220/140 to 120/72 and my total cholesterol is 131. Dr. Cywes did more than just perform the operation. He taught me more about weight loss and food than I had ever known before. I truly believe that I would not be alive today had I not met Dr. Cywes.

“Just take the first steps toward what you want and trust that the next step will become clear and the next obstacle will somehow melt away”

I can truly say that I have, or should I say that I did have a weight problem all of my life. I can remember being teased as a child about being bigger than the other children, this continued through high school and throughout college. During my college years, I was introduced to prescription weight loss drugs that helped me to lose a large amount of weight. Needless to say, the weight returned. After marriage and three sons my weight ballooned to 355.5 pounds. I tried everything, every weight loss program I could find, only to lose no more than 50 pounds. You name it I’ve tried it.

One of my goals at that time was to walk a 5k. I was told by several doctors that I would need a knee replacement and an Achilles tendon repair and walking was out of the question.

In 2005 I began attending weight loss surgery information seminars. After being convinced that bypass sugary was not for me, I began attending LAP-BAND® seminars. In February of 2006 I walked in to Jacksonville Weight Loss Center and right then my life changed. After speaking with Dr. Cywes and his staff, I knew this was the place for me. I completed the six month weight loss program, only to be turned downed by my insurance company. With encouragement of Dr. Cywes and his staff, I continued my journey towards a weight loss solution.

In March 2007, the insurance company changed their policy on LAP-BAND® surgery and my procedure was performed on April 30, 2007. I now celebrate April 30 as my new re-birth. My total weight loss to date is 158 pounds and I went from a size 26-28 dress size to a 12-14.

I can’t tell you how much my life has changed. I have a new confidence, and I discover almost weekly something new or hidden about myself. I know that the band is a tool and not a cure for obesity.

For me, weight loss has been a lifestyle change and the band helps me keep myself in check. Since having my surgery, I have completed four 5k’s! How about that!! I made it and can walk a 5k! That accomplishment has been incredible for me.

I can always count on Dr. Cywes and his staff for emotional, physical and moral support. I can never express my gratitude to Dr. Cywes his staff and the weight loss support groups. I will NEVER go back to that old weight again!

My journey continues…

I’m a married mother of three that has battled with her weight for over 19 years. As a teenager I was fit and trim. When I got pregnant with my first child I gained 85lbs with that pregnancy and the weight never seemed to come off after that. With every new pregnancy I gained more weight and by baby number 3 my weight just kept climbing. My heaviest weight was 273lbs. I have tried Jenny Craig, Adkins, South Beach Diet, Weight Watcher and many other things to try and lose the weight. I even went as far as the Cabbage Soup Diet. Needless to say; it did not work. Two years ago my family doctor and I were discussing different ways to lose weight when I asked him if I was a candidate for the LAP-BAND® surgery. He said that he would refer me to see someone that could help me with this process: and that is when Dr. Cywes came into my life. I went to see him for the first time and did not know what was going to happen and how much he would change my life. I had LAP-BAND® surgery on May 17th, 2010, and since then my weight has dropped. I will say that there were some hard days after the surgery, but I would never regret the decision I made to take back my life. I have lost 106lbs. I am now able to do things with my children that I have not been able to do in a very long time. I was able to ride the rides at Universal Studios with my kids! It has been many years since I was able to ride the rides because I was uncomfortable. My life and my relationship with my husband and kids are better now that I have a new body. The years that I have gained with my family by having LAP-BAND® will not be wasted. I owe my new life to Dr. Cywes and his team.

If you would like to share your weight loss story contact Kristi at Kristi@jsapa.com.

In August 2010 I looked at myself and said I want to live! I have not been over weight all my life, only for about 18 years or so. I’m an Air Force Veteran but after I got out I started to gain weight. It was a slow process I guess. At first I was over 200 lbs…then 250…then, due to my volume eating and eating the wrong things, I got to 344—my all-time heaviest. I didn’t really see myself as that large and heavy and life went on for a while. Then things changed, my life was going by and I wanted to be in my life! I would go to a theme park and sit and watch when what I wanted was to ride. This was because I got stuck in a ride a few years before—I was so big I couldn’t get out of it and I was so embarrassed. I was finding myself wanting to keep up with my family and friends, but it was getting very hard to do. I had hypertension and I had found myself hurting in areas that I never thought I would hurt. I could feel myself getting sicker. I had already had foot surgery to repair a toe joint that in part was caused by my weight…what would be next? All I knew was that I was in my mid-forties and I wanted to live to see my grandchildren one day, and to grow old with my husband… but I was wondering if I was going to live see my fifties!

For a few years I had considered Gastric Bypass Surgery for weight loss. I just could not do that to myself. Then I was on the internet last summer looking again at weight loss surgery and came across the Lap Band. I took this information to my primary care doctor and said I would like a referral to Jacksonville Weight Loss Center. My primary care doctor had said many times I need to loose the weight. I would lose a few pounds and then gain it back. It was a yo-yo on the scale and never saw below 300. This was a referral that would change my life.

From my first appointment with Dr. Cywes and nutritionist, KaLoni, I immediately started following the 30 carbs a day. I was weighing in at 332 at the end of September 2010. At my next appointment, in October, to start the process of getting a surgery date I had drop 25 pounds and by the time I got to my surgery day I was crying tears of joy as for the first time in many years I weighed 289! I was below 300 pounds and had not seen that in years! Today, one year out from the first appointment I happy to say I have lost over 130 pounds!

Lap Band surgery, Dr. Cywes, and staff has helped changed my life! I have more energy now then I have had in years! I can keep up with my kids. I challenge myself, I have walked/jogged two 5k’s and will do at least two more before the end of the year! This is the person I want to be! I am continuing with the follow-ups and support group meetings as I use these for accountably. I like to encourage those that are thinking of weight loss surgery to look at the Jacksonville Weight Loss Center for the whole package of help, not just surgery.

If you would like to share your weight loss story contact Kristi Anderson at Kristi@jsapa.com.

Achieving Goals and Inspiring Others

My journey begins May of 2009. I work as a Police Dispatcher and got really sick at work one night. I could not breathe. It scared some of my colleagues. They took me over to Fire Station 16 to get checked out by the paramedics. Long story short, my parents came to pick me up, and we ended up at the ER. Tests were done, but they could not seem to find a problem. They sent me home with an inhaler.

I followed up with my primary care doctor a few times who continued making me go through all kinds of tests. The last time I went to my primary doctor he said that the only thing he could come up with is that my weight was causing me to have these problems. He said, “I would really recommend you having the Lap Band Surgery.” I immediately said, “NO! I am not having surgery!” He said that it is a safe surgery and since I have struggled with my weight my whole life, this would be the best thing for me.

I left there very upset. I knew the reality of it was that my weight was a problem, but still, no one likes to be told that. So I began to do my own research on the Lap Band Procedure. I spent hours upon hours on the Internet. I came across people’s personal blogs that told the story from day one of their surgery. The first one I came across was a girl named Amy. Immediately I realized we were so much alike. If she could do the procedure and be successful so could I. She inspired me. I also had the benefit of talking one-on-one with two co-workers who also had the procedure done.

On June 15, 2009 I went to a small group seminar at Jacksonville Weight Loss Center. I took Mom of course. We were both really impressed. After a month of praying and talking with my family and close friends I was fortunate enough to make my first appointment. My mom said she never gave up praying; she knew something great would happen if it was meant to be, and it did.

Exactly a month later on July 15, 2009, I had my first appointment. My surgery date was set. August 11, 2009 would be the day. Surgery was successful and not nearly as bad as I had anticipated.

After surgery I was very involved with the Practice. My journey consisted of: seeing Dr. Cywes every month for a follow-up appointment, meeting with a personal trainer twice a week, small group counseling once a week, and several visits to the nutritionist. I quickly learned it takes the whole package to be successful. It’s definitely not a quick fix, but it’s a lifestyle change.

All this leads me to today. I realize many people view the Lap Band as an easy way out. However, I feel that anyone who has that opinion hasn’t struggled with the same demons that an overweight person has. I have my family’s support, which first and foremost is the number one thing that matters. After that, I have a huge support group of friends who back me and continue to motivate me.

Some people say, “Thanks, to Dr. C, for giving me my life back.” I say, “Thanks, to Dr. C, for giving me a life!” I was overweight my whole life. After many failed attempts to lose weight and keep it off I am no longer the fat friend that the guys want to be friends with because they want to date my friends. They actually want to date me now. I no longer hear “you have such a beautiful face.” I hear, “Gail, you look beautiful.” Did I mention, I have not been this size since the fifth grade!

My accomplishments are endless since surgery. My first celebration was jumping out of an airplane when I lost 100 pounds. When it comes to being a passenger on a plane, I no longer have to ask for a seatbelt extender when I fly. I can fit in roller coasters. I am living a whole new life. I have gained so much confidence.

Over the past two years I have gone from being my highest weight of 343 to losing 152 pounds. That’s a whole person! I went from a size 30 to 14. I can actually walk to my desk at work from the parking garage without feeling like I am going to die from not being able to breath. I have done five- 5Ks, finished the Gate River Run, and competed in the Fight For Air Bank of America stair climb 838 steps, 42 stories. I continue with my trainer and working out. I have such a newfound enjoyment for exercise and staying active.

I still see Dr. C every month because it is accountability. He challenges me every time I see him. He has such a heart for his patients. I am honored to be one. I cannot thank the staff of Jacksonville Weight Loss enough. This place and its people will always have such a special place in my heart.

If you would like to share your weight loss story contact Kristi Anderson at Kristi@jsapa.com.

Over a year ago in June 2010 my family practice doctor told me if I did not lose 100 pounds, I was a heart attack waiting to happen. He put in a referral to Jacksonville Weight Loss Center.

For many years I struggled with managing my eating habits. My business was stressful and I was on the road a lot, we even named a meal for me, the 321. It included a Double Burger, Chicken Sandwich and a Sweet Tea and cost $3.21. I was a stress eater and never paid attention to what passed my lips.

I could not walk past food without taking a sample bite or two. I often bought things I knew were not good for me, but they made me feel good. Of course, I had to wash it all down with something sweet. I had the tomorrow syndrome; “I will start tomorrow losing weight”, but tomorrow never gets here.

I always joked that I wanted to die happy, not healthy. Then one day as I was thinking about my family and looking at the signature line on my emails. “What do You Want to Celebrate?” It was then I realized that being healthy was being happy. I decided to attend one of the seminars at Memorial Hospital.

I decided to follow up with an appointment with Dr. Cywes. The approach he uses is not in line with what I have been told for years, which is to eat less and exercise more. At 358 pounds exercise was not in my daily ritual. He actually explained to me why I was fat.

After my session with their nutritionist, KaLoni, I immediately started following the 30 carbs a day guidelines. With the help of a smart phone app called Calorie Counter from www.fatsecret.com, I was able to keep track of everything I ate.

By the day of my surgery I was down to 292 pounds and I felt great. I was very lucky on the recovery side of the surgery and suffered almost no side effects and was back to work within a few days.

A couple of months later, I was always feeling tired and could not figure out why. After an appointment with Dr. Cywes and a follow up with my regular doctor, I was taken off my blood pressure medicine which was such a great reward.

At my last appointment, I weighed in at 225 (over 130 pounds lost in 1 year), something I have not seen for years and I felt very proud of myself. Last month I was at our annual company meeting and had people that have known me for years, walk by and pause with the deer in the headlights look. They did not recognize me and was amazed at the transformation in my life.

I now am happy to be able to shop for normal clothes and have gone from a xxxl to a xl. I dropped from a 52” waist to a 40” waist and still have to tighten the belt. Recently I heard that the drop in McDonald’s stocks was attributed in part to this surgery.

Continuing with the follow-ups and support group meetings and the help of my family has made this a life changing decision for me. It only took me to get this way, but it is taking a lot to get me to a good place in life.

I encourage anyone that has the desire to lose weight, get their health back, and feel good about their life, to reach out and use the help that is offered by the staff at Jacksonville Weight Loss Center.

If you would like to share your weight loss story contact Kristi Anderson at Kristi@jsapa.com.

I was so miserable, I had become a closet eater. I was always an outgoing person but my weight had become a struggle. I always cracked jokes about me being the fat lady at the office and that if I continued getting bigger my boss would have to cut in larger doors for me to walk through. That was my way of dealing with my weight problem. Back to me purchasing protein drinks, I had done a lot of research on weight loss surgeries. I discovered the LAP-BAND and I found a few web sites that offered the LAP-BAND surgery in Mexico, so I was telling someone how I was going to head to Mexico on July 4th, that was going to be my Independence day. I was finally going to do something for myself. My friend was so worried about me going to Mexico. He had heard of so many people doing that and either dying or having to come back here and not finding a doctor that would fill the band. So he asked me to come meet his Doctor during one of his follow up visits.

I went into the office with him and was involved with his visit and he explained my situation to Dr. Cywes and once I met Dr. Cywes he explained everything to me. He was so wonderful. When you are in the room with the good doctor he spends time with you and he acts like the day is about you and he isn’t worried about pushing you in and out of the visit. He truly cares about you and your success. He is such a good doctor. Dr. Cywes set me up an appointment for me to come in and speak to him on a one on one basis. After meeting with him, I went through the group meeting where he and all the others in the room with me made me realize I had made the right decision not go to Mexico. Financially I wasn’t sure how I was going to pay for this, but I knew if it was a new shirt or a new pair of shoes I would have found a way. Although thousands of dollars later was a new shirt or pair of shoes, but just think how many new shirts and new shoes I would want to buy due to my success.

I truly think paying cash for this procedure made me realize the extreme I was willing to go through to keep the weight off. The band wasn’t a way for me to eat whatever I wanted just in smaller portions it was a way for me to change my eating life style.

If you would like to share your weight loss story contact Kristi Anderson at Kristi@jsapa.com.

• Stacia lost over 115 pounds and is now a model for Allergan, Inc. the makers of the LAP-BAND®. Here is her advertisement.

Single, sick and sorry was my motto in 2001. I realized that I had to do something about it.

In January 2001 my husband left, in April 2001 I had a heart attack and in December 2001 my niece Cassie said she wants to be just like me when she grows up — I finally saw what I looked like in the mirror. I wasn’t overweight as a child. I am a Desert Storm Veteran and with the struggles in 2001 I just ate my way into 502 lbs. I finally started doing something about it. At 502 lbs it was apparent some changes needed to occur. I was going to die at an early age and alone if I didn’t do something soon. I started walking from the front door to the mailbox, the mailbox to the end of the street and the end of the street to the next block and I just kept moving. I changed my way of eating, my outlook on life and started to focus on something greater than me.

My primary care doctor had heard from his nurse Arnette about a procedure for losing weight. I met with Dr. Cywes and on 06/10/2004 I received a gastric band. Dr. Cywes didn’t accept any of my excuses for gaining weight. He offered me a “tool” to get the weight off. It’s the tool that I have used over the last 7 years. As for being his first patient for the LAP-BAND, I had no fears. I figured; if he could perform a minimal invasive surgery on an infant then he had plenty of room to move around inside of me. I chose the LAP-BAND over any other procedure because it didn’t cut my stomach or reroute my intestines. I have lost 370 lbs and now I am someone my niece can be proud of. I am able to do a lot more than I ever imagined. Walking was my greatest feat and the best part was the day when I could cross my legs like a lady. I would have never expected to be able to lose this much weight, and thanks to God and Dr. Cywes I will continue to keep my weight off! I know that I will be able to lead a happier and healthier, not to mention longer, life.

What is your defining moment to make you realize who you are and that you need to make a change? Don’t let it be as serious as mine was before you realize that the weight needs to come off.