How do I love thee? Let me count the pounds lost – Shaw Local

Like many {couples}, Susanna and James Ellexson of Bolingbrook really feel the best present to the opposite is the present of self.

So, for his or her twenty fifth anniversary on July 15, 2020, they determined to have much less to offer.

On July 13, 2020, Susanna and James each had weight-loss surgical procedure at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox. On the time, every weighed about 400 kilos. As of Feb 8, Susanna weighed 204 kilos and James weighed 210.

Each had struggled with weight points for many of their lives and each had tried numerous diets through the years, equivalent to Weight Watchers, with little success. Susanna even tried prescription slimming capsules and solely misplaced 5 kilos, she mentioned.

Then sooner or later, Susanna’s main care doctor recommended Susanna may attend a free informational assembly offered by the surgeons at BMI Surgical procedure at Silver Cross. Susanna mentioned she thought, “Can we carry on this fashion? Or will we strive it?”

Susanna was afraid that if she didn’t strive it, she would die. The couple has 4 kids, ages 22, 19, 11 and 9. So when Susanna arrived residence, she mentioned to James, “Guess the place we’re going Wednesday?”

And off they went.

Susanna’s story

Susanna mentioned a part of her downside was that she likes to eat and that “carbs had been my main meals group.” McDonald’s workers would ask if she needed “the standard” after they noticed her, she mentioned.

“Even once I tried to eat wholesome, it’s arduous when you might have children and you’ve got a household,” Susana mentioned. “And it was fairly simple to exit to eat somewhat than put together meals at residence.”

Over time, Susanna grew to become “morbidly overweight,” she mentioned.

“I used to be not ready … it was too painful for me to get from the car parking zone into the shop,” Susanna mentioned. “I used to be sluggish; I couldn’t run with the children. I used to be form of watching my life go by.”

James’ story

James mentioned he had seemed into weight-loss surgical procedure 10 years in the past and it was an extended, lengthy course of on the time. In the course of that course of he modified jobs, which modified the insurance coverage, which required him to start the lengthy course of once more.

“I used to be like, ‘Overlook it,’” James mentioned.

However the insurance coverage in 2020 was totally different once more, and it was 10 years later, when weight-loss surgical procedure was an accepted possibility, he mentioned.

“So we’re mainly like, ‘OK, let’s do that and see what occurs,’” James mentioned. “And, clearly, we’re glad we did.”

The highway to surgical procedure

The couple selected the gastric sleeve surgical procedure, which might change each the dimensions and form of their stomachs. That they had pulmonary, cardiac and psychological checks, and James additionally had a stress check and echocardiogram.

Each had been wholesome. James was on low-dose drugs for delicate hypertension, which was stopped when he had the surgical procedure, he mentioned.

Dr. Christopher Joyce, who has since retired, and Dr. Brian Lahmann have carried out greater than 10,000 weight-loss surgical procedures at Silver Cross, in keeping with a information launch from the hospital. Theirs is the one program in Will County that has been named a Metabolic and Bariatric Surgical procedure Accreditation and High quality Enchancment Program-accredited middle and a Complete and Blue Distinction Middle for Bariatric Surgical procedure, in keeping with the discharge.

Within the launch, Joyce mentioned the checks make sure the sufferers’ our bodies can deal with the surgical procedure and rule out any points which may undermine the surgical procedure. The truth is, surgical procedure alone may end up in sufferers gaining the load again. So Silver Cross’ bariatric surgical procedure care providers embody not simply inpatient and post-operative care however outpatient follow-up and affected person training, too.

“The surgical procedure is only one aspect of a multidisciplinary method to altering their way of life,” Dr. Joyce mentioned within the launch.

A part of qualifying for the surgical procedure means altering that way of life earlier than the surgical procedure.

So for 2 weeks earlier than surgical procedure, the couple drank a protein shake for breakfast and for lunch, and ate 5 ounces of protein and 1 / 4 cup of greens for dinner, James mentioned. He and Susanna every misplaced 20 kilos this fashion, he added. They usually caught to that required eating regimen.

“It got here to the purpose the place we had been going to do that,” James mentioned. “I’d by no means had any form of surgical procedure earlier than. And to permit somebody to go in and reduce out three-fourths of your abdomen – we had been going to comply with the principles.”

The couple additionally started a vlog on Fb – Ellexsons Journey – to doc their journey and maintain them accountable, James mentioned. This manner, household and associates knew the depth of their dedication and the right way to assist them, James mentioned.

“Everybody has been very supportive,” James mentioned. “And that helps.”

The brand new way of life

After surgical procedure, Susanna and James stayed in a single day at Silver Cross in separate rooms down the corridor from one another. They adopted a liquid eating regimen for the primary few weeks and steadily added 2 ounces of protein thrice a day, adopted by a small quantity of greens after which an occasional piece of fruit. The fruit did sluggish their weight reduction a bit, so that they backed off fruit for some time, James mentioned.

The couple additionally steadily moved from liquid meals to pureed meals to gentle meals, James mentioned. Solely decaffeinated tea and low had been allowed in these early weeks, he added. To today, the couple eats no sugar and only a few carbohydrates, he mentioned.

A high-protein eating regimen is a should, so that they don’t lose muscle mass, James mentioned. The couple additionally takes particular nutritional vitamins thrice a day “for the remainder of our lives,” James mentioned. When eating out, the couple requests substitutions and/or splits parts, he mentioned.

James, who loves watching cooking reveals, adapts most of the recipes he sees, which even consists of desserts, he mentioned.

“We’re extra selective and intentional in what we’re consuming,” James mentioned, “as an alternative of consuming no matter is in entrance of us or what appears to be like good.”

Susanna, who had successfull knee surgical procedure in April 2021, now finds she loves to buy. James is trying ahead to flying with out a seat belt extender.

However for people who find themselves contemplating weight-loss surgical procedure, James mentioned sticking to this system and following the principles is crucial for achievement. Weight-loss surgical procedure makes it simpler for an individual to vary habits, he mentioned. But it surely doesn’t make them vanish, he mentioned.

As an example, James mentioned he just lately went to Panera for lunch. As an alternative of ordering a sandwich (“And let’s face it, Panera bread is sweet,” James mentioned), he ordered soup.

“And I didn’t get the noodle soup,” James mentioned. “I bought the broccoli cheese soup.”