{"id":1869,"date":"2020-07-02T15:26:09","date_gmt":"2020-07-02T14:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/slimmingworld.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=1869"},"modified":"2021-10-21T14:28:13","modified_gmt":"2021-10-21T13:28:13","slug":"my-weight-loss-surgery-failed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/my-weight-loss-surgery-failed\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cMy weight loss surgery failed\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As well as helping our members\u2019 amazing achievements hit the headlines, the Slimming World PR team are our go-to source for what\u2019s in the news. Here, Lucy Fisher discusses the Prime Minister\u2019s plan to tackle obesity \u2013<\/strong> and shares the story of a Slimming World member who found that there are no shortcuts to weight loss success. Over to you, Lucy…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The news is full of conflicting headlines at the moment, so it\u2019s easy to feel a bit overwhelmed by it all. One story that really grabbed our attention, though, was news that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is vowing to \u2018put the nation on a diet\u2019 by focusing on increased exercise and a greater reliance on medical interventions like surgery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, Slimming World welcomes any new steps to improve the nation\u2019s health, yet we believe that any strategy should include supporting people to change their lifestyle and form new healthy habits to help them lose weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is supported by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines which state that programmes for effective weight loss must address \u2018dietary intake, physical activity level and behaviour change\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As anyone who\u2019s attended one of our Slimming World groups will know, with the support of their group and through guided self-discovery, members make positive changes to their habits. They learn how to shop, cook and eat healthily and to become more active. Those who choose to have surgery still need to make changes and adopt new habits, with many turning to Slimming World groups for support. This is Vincent\u2019s story:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I spent \u00a316K trying to lose weight with a quick fix. Then I changed my lifestyle, lost 8 stone and reversed my diabetes!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve struggled with my weight since my late teens. From time to time I\u2019d lose weight, but I\u2019d always put it back on \u2013 with interest. I found it more and more difficult to control as I got older, and I just got bigger and bigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2009, I was working as a firefighter for Merseyside Fire & Rescue, and I found my weight affected my ability to carry out my duties. I was so embarrassed when ordering my uniform, because the sizes I asked for were so large \u2013 I had a 46in waist and the shirts I needed had a 19.5in collar. So, I decided to pay for a gastric band to be fitted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, I lost no weight at all after the operation, as the band moved in my stomach. I paid to have it corrected \u2013 and the band moved again. Then I paid to have the band removed and had a gastric bypass operation instead. I did lose enough weight to complete my service as a firefighter before I retired, but within two years of the operation, the weight had piled back on. I was so unhappy \u2013 I couldn\u2019t see how I\u2019d ever manage to lose weight when even \u00a316,000-worth of surgery had failed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

When my doctor then called me in for a health assessment, I was shocked at the results. I already knew I was overweight and suffered arthritis in my joints \u2013 but I was also diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and prescribed a lot of tablets: metformin for the diabetes, plus medication for inherited high cholesterol and high blood pressure. I was distraught to think that this would be my life going forward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My older brother had tragically died, with his death certificate confirming obesity as a contributing factor. He could barely walk before he passed away. I didn\u2019t want to be like that. Was that what I had to look forward to? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was desperate to lose weight when I started a new role visiting schools and colleges to share road-safety advice. When the occupational nurse at work said that she\u2019d lost 3st since joining Slimming World, I decided to give it a try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll admit I was sceptical, but I had nothing to lose. When I started Slimming World in February 2018, I was 21st. I was nervous about joining \u2013 I felt embarrassed, thinking \u2018blokes don’t do this\u2019. I couldn’t have been more wrong, though. My Consultant made me feel so welcome and, to my surprise, it was great. We all had a good laugh, and I wasn\u2019t the only man there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My favourite bit about Slimming World is the group session. It\u2019s so good to hear how everyone has got on through the week, and I\u2019m always learning more about Food Optimising<\/a>. At first, I couldn\u2019t believe the variety of food I could eat. I\u2019ve found that group is a great place to get some expert advice around how to cook recipes, and I know that when I Food Optimise, I lose weight. I\u2019m using my pots and pans every day now, instead of eating microwave meals or ready-made chilli from a jar. Food tastes so much better now, too \u2013 the Slimming World chilli con carne<\/a> is my favourite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

At home, I care for my younger brother, who has Down\u2019s syndrome. Since I joined Slimming World and have been making healthier meals, Mike has lost over a stone, which our doctor is over the moon about. It\u2019s great to know that Mike has lost weight as a result of my cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve now lost 8st, and I tell everyone how Slimming World has turned my life around completely! As a result of changing my way of life and not opting for a quick fix, I\u2019ve overcome my medical problems and I\u2019m not scared to visit my doctor any more. The surgery didn\u2019t work, as all it did was temporarily stop me gaining weight. It didn\u2019t address why I was gaining weight or help me with my ongoing struggle. Slimming World has given me the tools and the support to lose weight and keep it off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m at my target weight now. I eat healthily and exercise regularly, and I look forward to each day when I wake up. My diabetes is in remission so I no longer need to take any medication for it, my blood pressure is in the healthy range and I\u2019ve halved my cholesterol medication. Physically and mentally, I’m a new man. I\u2019m more outgoing, confident and my self-esteem has shot up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although I still have arthritis in some of my joints, I\u2019m so much more active than I was before. The most I ever did was walk around the supermarket, leaning on my trolley. Now I play football with my grandchildren (I have six, aged from five to 18), and I walk about seven miles every day. Walking is like using a duster inside your head: it blows the cobwebs clear away! I\u2019ve even climbed Scafell Pike and Mount Snowdon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read Jenny’s story for more mountain-climbing motivations!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since I lost weight, I\u2019ve been on holiday to Turkey. I loved it. I was confident around the pool \u2013 no more horrified stares! Now I\u2019d like to take more holidays and enjoy my life to the full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone focuses on the obvious massive physical change, but what people can\u2019t see is the mental and emotional change that\u2019s happened inside me. I am so much happier and stronger as a person. I\u2019m not self-conscious at all anymore. I approach life with a belief that I can do anything I set my mind to. I think of my older brother and I know that Slimming World has saved my life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vincent\u2019s day on a plate: <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breakfast: two cups of coffee<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lunch: nothing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Late afternoon: two microwave meals, or a large pie and pasty, or a chippy tea<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evening: family-size bag of peanuts, crisps and chocolate<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breakfast: two low-fat sausages, two bacon medallions (grilled), baked beans and scrambled eggs (cooked without butter or oil)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lunch: fruit and overnight oats<\/a> on the go<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snack: KitKat or Maltesers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dinner: roast chicken<\/a>, veggies (carrot \u2019n\u2019 turnip, cauliflower, cabbage) and Slimming World gravy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A recent survey<\/a> conducted by Slimming World found that many of our members report improvements to their health as a result of losing weight \u2013<\/strong> including the reversal of type 2 diabetes. Like Vincent, Tracy McCormack<\/a> reversed her type 2 diabetes, after losing an incredible 16st.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re determined to support our members with those healthy \u2013 and sustainable \u2013 lifestyle changes that can make such a big difference. If you\u2019d like to find out about Slimming World groups, <\/strong>your local Consultant<\/strong><\/a> will be happy to tell you more. You can also find out more about joining Slimming World <\/strong>here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Following reports of a new government obesity strategy, we talk to a member who knows that weight loss surgery doesn\u2019t always work. After spending \u00a316,000 trying to lose weight with a quick fix, Vincent Taylor lost 8st with Slimming World<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":1870,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[22,25,16,23],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1869"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1869"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1869\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1869"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1869"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1869"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}