skip to main |
skip to sidebar
James Bennett recently sent me more information and postoperative pictures to add the story he recently shared on the blog. Here are his additional comments:
My total weight loss I measure from the night I went to your seminar. I weighed in that night at 406 lbs. I now weigh between 182 and 185! From size 56 jeans to 34 slims! From big and tall to the young mens dept! Instead of being parked on the couch I now re-enjoy camping, hiking, lifting weights, fishing, golfing, and so on! personal physician doesn't think my idea of skydiving is safe because of my artificial hip and spinal fusion, but he may okay zip lining, which I am looking forward to! Jen and I would still be more than willing to speak for you wherever you move your practice to!
Sincerely, James Bennett
Having developed degenerative arthrits approximately fifteen years ago, I noticed severe pain and damage in my lower back and both hips. The more pain I was in, the less active I was, and kept gaining weight. In march of 2005, I had emergency abdominal surgery because of severe diverticulitis. I was off my feet for three months, and began gaining weight at a rapid pace.
In April of 2006, I had a full left hip replacement, followed by three months of physical therapy. Off my feet and work for another three months, gaining even more weight, but the pain was no better.
In March of 2007, I had a lumar spinal fusion because I had a disc basically disintegrate and had vertebrae grinding together. When the surgeon opened me up, he discovered one of the affected vertebrae was cracked, and also repaired that. This time, off my feet and work for four months, gaining even more weight. The pain was still severe
Then in January of 2008, I had read about Dr. Myers and bariatric surgery. After going to the seminar in Mansfield, I went home and weighed in at 406 pounds and knew this was the right decision for me. By this time, I was in so much pain I could not walk without a cane or walker, (That is me with the orage shirt sporting a cane in the third picture), and my wife had to push me in a wheelchair when we would go shopping. September 25, 2009 I had a gastric bypass procedure done by Dr. Myers. That day I weighed in at 376, having lost some weight by following the Fresh Start nutrionist diet and changing my eating habits.
The first three months were a little tough, going through the different stages of liquids and soft foods before getting back to a normal diet. The rapid weight loss kept me motivated, losing 80 pounds in the first 90 days. Slowly the pain FINALLY began to wane. Now I was really motivated.
Some things were difficult to adjust to, physically and psychologically, but the fresh start team was right beside me through it all. To date I have gone from a whopping 406 pounds (54 on the BMI chart) to 185 pounds (26 on the BMI chart)! Now instead of buying my clothes at big and tall, I shop in the young mens dept! Instead of laying on the couch in agonizing pain, I am golfing, hiking, camping, canoeing and all the other funs things I used to enjoy doing.My pain and stress level are way down and my attitude and self esteem are way up!
For me, sacrificing 3-4 helpings at dinner, bags of chips and cookies was a miniscule price to pay for the health and happiness I am enjoying everyday. Dr. Myers and the entire Freash Start team are definately the most caring and professional group I have ever met! I owe him my life.
James Bennett
Often my patients ask how they can avoid hair loss and improve the appearance of their hair.
You can read further about my recommendations regarding preserving as much hair as possible during the time of temorary hair loss between the fourth and sixth months after bariatric surgery by choosing the subject "Hair" in the index of this blog. However here are important cosmetic tips from Jake Miller, an experienced hair stylist at Rafeal's studio in Clintinville, Ohio. Jake has been my personal hair stylist for the last several years and I recently asked him to share some tips for making our patient's hair look as thick as possible even during the "thin" times.
Here are Jakes 8 tips to make hair look thicker:
Talk to your hair stylist about working with your fine hair.
1. Create blunt lines to make your hair style look and feel thicker keeping tapering to a minimum.
2. Cut bangs deep toward the top of the head for an even thicker look in front bringing more hair forward.
3. Shorten fine hair to create fullness.
4. Expand the hair shaft with thickening shampoos, conditioners and volumizing tonics.
5. Blow dry hair forward and against the usual direction your hair is combed with a flat paddle brush.
6. Part hair on the opposite side you usually part to create fullness. This will lift the hair up further from the scalp giving the apearance of more hair.
7. Curl with hot rollers or a round brush and blow dryer to create more lift and the apearance of volume.
8. Color hair lighter shades to blend with your natural scalp color so the scalp is not so obvious.
Jake is even willing to do free consultations for our patients.
Jake Miller, Hair Stylist
Rafiel's Studio
Aveda Lifestyle Salon
2927 N. High St.
Columbus, Ohio 43202
(614) 784-1177
www.rafielsstudio.com
