Jim Sommers’ Incredible Weight Loss Story
January 12, 2016When is enough, enough? Well for me it was when the bathroom scale read ERROR. Knowing that the scale had a capacity of 400 pounds and embarrassingly, it was apparent I was over the limit of the scale (my actual weight was 435 pounds), enough had finally become enough for me. I was approaching my 48th birthday and standing on the scale that day the alarms started ringing loud and clear for me. I knew I needed to do something about my morbid obesity if I wanted to see my then pre-teen son grow up and have a family of his own. More importantly, what type of example was I currently setting for him?
I have battled weight issues for most of my juvenile and adult life, yo-yoing my way through the years; the never-ending cycle of weight loss and weight gain, with each gain putting me at a new all time high water mark. The cycle would always begin anew, trying the latest fad diet, maybe a modicum of exercise, losing weight with varying degrees of success, but never truly achieving my goals or at least only achieving them for the short term.
Same Doctor, Same Solution
I had been going to the same family physician for a few years and while he was great at dealing with my general health needs, the answer to my ongoing battle with obesity was that “I should eat less and exercise more.” While that is great common sense, it was not really sage advice on the whole for me, especially when you are tipping the scales at 400+ pounds and co-morbidities like high blood pressure, diabetes and sleep apnea were starting to play a large factor in the degradation of my health. I had come to know my local pharmacist on a first name basis as I re-filled my monthly maintenance medications to control my ever-increasing blood pressure, acid reflux and the onset of diabetes. And while my pharmacist was a nice enough person, I really didn’t need to know him on a first name basis. (I wonder if Paul misses seeing me?)
I knew I needed to seek out some different answers. The time had definitely come; I finally decided once and for all that by the time I turned 50 I needed to be in a healthier place in my life and have a much better quality of life as I moved forward in the second 50 years. If I wanted this to happen I would need to take control and search for a different answer for a permanent solution to getting control over my obesity and maintaining a healthy weight. First, let me say that I am not advocating everyone to ditch their current physician and go find a new doctor; my message here is that you are responsible for seeking out the answers. Your current physician may very well be more than capable to give you the right answers, but you need to make sure that you are also asking the right questions.
Finding New Answers that Made a Difference
When I did seek out who has now become my current general physician, the first question she asked me was "has anyone ever told you WHY you are overweight?" That question took me completely by surprise, as when I reflected on the question, it occurred to me, that no, no one had ever really told me WHY I was overweight, only that I WAS overweight. Duh! That part I knew, the ERROR on the scale told me that loud and clear!
Here is where my weight loss journey truly began; you can’t expect to lose the weight and maintain the loss if you don’t know WHY you are obese. The answers may be simple, in my case they weren’t, but the answers were very enlightening and gave me a much clearer picture of WHY I weighed what I weighed.
The right answer for weight loss could be as simple as you just need to eat healthier and exercise regularly, but it also may not be the only answer. Unless you ask the question and search for the right answers you will never know WHY you are overweight.
Since being asked that question 3+ years ago, I have gotten the answers that I needed with the help of the excellent staff at Summa’s Bariatric Care Center. First, I attended a seminar at Summa and learned about weight loss surgery and how Summa’s team of specialists – which includes surgeons, physicians, clinical psychologists, nurses, dietitians and exercise specialists – would be working with me before, during and after my surgery to help me keep the weight off.
After all of my research, I made an informed choice and elected to have weight loss surgery. I developed a personal connection with Dr. Adrian Dan and the entire staff at the center and liked that they would be supporting me every step of the way.
My New Healthy Life
I now weigh a much healthier weight of 185 pounds and I am able to maintain my weight by eating healthy and having an active lifestyle. I have been able to trade in my daily medications for a few daily vitamins (Sorry Paul, but as of right now we will have to end our relationship!) My blood pressure and diabetes are under control. I’m walking taller and making more friends. I can play with my son. And when it comes to following my passion for photography, the sky’s the limit. When I was heavy, I couldn’t fly because I couldn’t fit in a plane seat. Now I can go anywhere.
So in short, there are many answers to weight loss out there, but it is up to you to do the research. Ask your physician WHY you are overweight, before finding the solution that works best for you.
To learn more about weight loss options, you can contact Summa's Bariatric Care Center at (330) 375-6590.
 | ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jim Sommers lives in Wadsworth, Ohio where by day he works as a Technical Recruiter for an IT Consulting Group and on the weekend you will find him photographing rodeos year round in the Ohio/Western PA area. Jim is the son to a wonderful set of parents, brother to a great sister and father to one totally awesome 14 year old son. Hobbies include: travel, photography, watching his son play baseball and leading an active outdoors lifestyle. |
