My Testimony...

I am 56 years old and I had Gastric Bypass Surgery May 15th, 2002.  When I had surgery I was 252 pounds, wore a size 20.  I had sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, restrictive lung disease, a cholesterol over 400 for the last ten years, low back pain and pain in my hips. 

Since my surgery I lost 110 pounds and now weigh 142.  I wear a 6 to 8 and all my illensses are gone.  Everything changed except my ring size.  This has and still is a life saving change for me.  My husband was asked by a friend, who hadn't seen me in awhile, where's Merrilou?  My husband said, I married her twin!!!  I then turned to Rich and said it's me!!

Now as the new owners of Enjoy Health we have the opportunity to provide you with top quality protein and vitamins!  Together with my incredibly supportive husband, Dennis, and the future staff of Enjoy Health, we will strive to continue to service you to the very best way we can!  If you ever have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

 -  Dennis & Merrilou Gronholdt, Owners/Enjoy Health

SHERRI - RNY Distal Gastric Bypass - Lost 195 lbs.

I am 31 years old and I had Gastric Bypass Surgery September 28, 2000. When I had surgery I was 350 pounds, wore a size 30/32 and I had several co-morbidities. I had been on blood pressure medication for 2 years, I had asthma, sleep apnea, chronic low back pain, and pain in my knees and hips. As you can see from my before pictures I had very dark marks on my face from sleeping on my hands.  I was so heavy that I was actually bruising myself as I slept.

Since my surgery I have lost 195 pounds and I now weigh 155 pounds. I am now wearing between size 8 and 10 and all of my co-morbidities are gone. I was 5 foot 7 inches when I first had my surgery and since I lost the weight I am almost 5 foot 9 inches. My shoe size went down from an 11 wide to an 8 regular. I never thought my shoe size would change too! This has been the best thing that I have ever done for myself and I am so glad that I made this life changing decision.

 -  Sherri

DEB - RNY Gastric Bypass lost 109 lbs!!

Since having my surgery on March 23, 2004, my life has changed for the better.
I am now 8 months out and have lost 109 lbs.  I still have weight to lose but no
longer feel like I am being stared at for my size but for myself.  My back, legs
and knees no longer hurt and I have begun to live life more than ever.  My children
are glad to be around me now since I can keep going like the energizer bunny.  Thanks!

MELISSA - RNY Gastric Bypass - Lost 111 lbs!!

My name is Melissa and before I had surgery I weighed 256 pounds, I am now 11 months post op and I weigh 145 pounds.  The change it has made in my life is wonderful, I don't stay at home like a hermit anymore, my attitude about myself and how others see me has drastically changed, even my children tell me that I don't get as angry anymore and I am happier.  I don't feel ashamed or embarrassed or feel like everyone in the world is staring at me and whispering.  It is a wonderful feeling to be just like everyone else and like myself again.  My doctor is Dr. Oh, and I think he is a wonderful doctor and if I had to do it all over again I definitely would!

 -  Melissa

LYNDA - RNY Gastric Bypass - Lost 120 lbs!

When I went into have this surgery was on Dec 11, 2003 and I was at the weight of 289 lbs.  I had lots of complications and my weight got up to 320 lbs.  I ended up having 3 more surgeries and I almost died 3 times having all the surgeries.  What this surgery has done to me is give me my life back.  I would sit home and let my life passed me by.  Now I am out doing things.  I am enrolled in school full-time and I work for my parents when not in classes.  I am a Chapter Leader for Obesityhelp.com for local support group meetings.  I would of never stood up in front of people and talk.  I was the person in the back of the room not saying a word.  I got self confidents that I never had before.  Funny thing my dad and I was never close I could never do anything right in his eyes.  Since I have had this surgery my dad and I are close.  People come up to me in my hometown and tell me how proud my dad is of me.  People tell me my dad talks very highly of me and thinks the world of me.  I never knew that before.  I want more out of life and I will get it.  I am very open about my complications I had.  I am not the same person I was a year ago.  The before pic is me at 289 lbs last Dec and the other pic is of me as of 12-09-04 at 169 lbs.

 -  Lynda

PAM - RNY Gastric Bypass - Lost 125 lbs!

I am 54 years old and  had Gastric Bypass Surgery September 17, 2002.  I was 250 pounds before surgery and had several co-morbidities. I had chronic low back pain and pain in my legs and neck. Since my surgery I have lost 125 pounds and I now weigh 125 pounds - yep, half of me is gone!!!  I now wear very small sizes (like 5-6's) and my co-morbidities are gone. I still have problems finding clothes to fit me because of my height (my inseam is 34 inches, 36 for jeans) but instead of the clothes being too small, they are now too big in tall sizes!  WOW - who'd of thought?Before surgery, my life was very sedentary - work all day, come home and eat and lay around on the couch until bedtime.  The only exercise I got was taking my Chihuahuas outside for their 'relief' periods.  Now I go to the local fitness center five to six days a week and feel better than ever!  I became a certified water aerobics instructor early this year and am currently in the process of certifying for Body Pump, which is weight bearing resistance program choreographed to music.  My entire life has definitely changed, and for the better! It is the greatest feeling in the world to have people tell me how well I have done.  There are times when I feel like that fat person I used to be, and maybe that is a good thing.  It keeps me humble and sympathetic to those that are  morbidly obese.  There is nothing worse than a thin person making fun of an obese person - I know I have been there. 

 -  Pam

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CAROLE – RNY Medial Gastric Bypass – Lost 120 lbs.

Hi, I am Carole and I am extremely glad that I had my open medial RNY with Dr. Oh on August 6, 2002. I had been the “chubby” child in school and lost and gained weight many times during my adulthood. I had tried everything that was new in ways to lose weight, but the weight always came back plus more. My top weight was 255 lbs in January 2002, when I went for my yearly physical and talked with my Dr. about current weight lost options. I did my research on the lap band and RNY and decided to go with Dr. Oh. I had lost 15 lbs before my surgery and set my goal to be 130 lbs. I have not had any major complications and reached my goal within a year. I weighed 240 lbs and wore a size 22/24 the day of surgery and now am weighing 120 and wearing a size 6.

I feel so energized that I am currently training for a two-day, 200 mile, bicycle ride in July 2004. I also plan to learn to water-ski this summer. I have always loved clothes and am having so much fun shopping. I have not been sick with colds, flu or even sinus problems since the surgery. I follow the directions given to me by Dr Oh for my continuing care, which is a lifetime commitment. Kristiina has been so supportive and her support meetings and Enjoy Health LLC business has really help me stay on track.

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CORKY – RNY Distal Gastric Bypass – Lost 275 lbs!

I had a 60 inch distal on March 19, 2002 .  At the time I weighed in at 465 pounds.  I was very un-healthy and suffered with diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis in both knees, (the right knee being bone to bone) both shoulder and two disks in my neck.  I was on crutches, canes and some days a walker, depending on how bad the pain was.  I was also diagnosed with acid reflux disease and sleep apnea.  

My family doctor told me I would be completely crippled in a year and that I should start looking at wheel chairs.  He also told me that there was a good possibility I could die in a year because my obesity was starting to affect my vital organs.  

After just 6 weeks post op, my diabetes was gone, my blood pressure normal.  The pain started to get better in my knees.  I would like to say my arthritis was cured by my obesity had damaged my joints beyond repair.  That is something I am still dealing with, but I was able to avoid a wheel chair.  Also my acid reflux and sleep apnea are cured.  

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JEANETTE – RNY Distal Gastric Bypass – Lost 224 lbs!

Confident, out-going, the life of the party—this is how many would have described me at 393lbs, but reality was I was a scared girl trying to protect myself with a blanket of fat.  Overweight since elementary school, I had grown to be comfortable with my appearance.  I liked being the fat girl breaking the misconception that being overweight would interfere with life. 

That was until I developed knee problems.  Mobility was becoming an issue.  Walking up and down my stairs at home was even becoming too much.  I knew I had to lose weight to walk.  I had lost over 100lbs over three separate times with obsessive exercise only to regain all the weight back.  In attempts to make my weight loss permanent, I chose RNY Distal Gastric Bypass.  I have lost 224lbs in 17 months and am continuing to lose weight.  

It’s been a journey that has given me back my mobility, but it’s still work every day to deal with what I wanted to be fat in the first place.  It’s not an easy road, but it’s one I needed to do.

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JEPH – RNY Proximal Gastric Bypass – Lost 120 lbs.

I’ve always battled with my weight since I was a young boy, but everyone would always tell me that it was natural for someone like me.  That my race is a race of people that are naturally big, and that it is in my genes.  After high school, I joined the Marines and got in the best shape of my life.  Because of the strict “weight limit” that we had to follow, I was always able to keep my weight below the “max weight for my height.”  At 6’3” my max. weight that I could be was 219lbs.  I always made weight at “surprise weigh-ins” but it wasn’t easy.

After leaving the Marines, I wasn’t exercising at all because I was focused on trying to get a new career going to support my family.  Having said that, my weight ballooned up quite rapidly and before I knew it, I was well over 300lbs.  I had also developed numerous physical problems.  I got up to 397lbs before I realized that I needed to do something about it.  I’ve tried just about every weight loss program like Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Atkins diet, just to name a few.  As a result, I played the “yo-yo” game with my weight.  Needless to say, I was at my “wits end” until my wife found the WLS (Weight Loss Surgery) website.  She basically did all of the research for me and got all the facts, pros and cons and success stories before telling me all about it.  

I thought about it at first, “no way, I can’t take the easy way out.”  But really, it’s not an easy way out.  On the contrary, I took a big risk having this procedure done so that I could save my life and live longer to see my children grow up and grow old with my dear sweet wife and best friend, Loretta.  If it weren’t for her and my kids, Dr. Oh, Sherri, Kristiina, Enjoy Health LLC and all of their wealth of knowledge with this procedure and “new way of life,” I would not be where I am today. No sleep apnea, less stress on my ankles and knees (of which I had surgery on both legs), less stress on my back, IBS practically under control, no more acid reflux, and I have a ton of energy and I’m hardly ever out of breath when playing with my son now.  My life has definitely changed with the help of Dr. Oh and Enjoy Health LLC.  I can’t thank them enough!

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NATHAN - Adjustable Laparoscopic Gastric Band – Lost 60 lbs & Still Losing!

A little over one year ago I had my weight loss procedure, the Adjustable Laparoscopic Gastric Band (aka Lapband).
At that time I was 310lbs. give or take 10lbs, and I was also wearing size 44 waist pants, but now I weigh 250lbs
and I wear a size 36 pants which is the size I used to wear in Jr. High School (over 20 years ago)!  

I decided to have the procedure after many years of working out in the gym, years of martial arts and snow boarding with no success in weight loss. It took months and months of research but I came to the decision of weight loss surgery, I tried everything else…why not give this a shot. I have no regrets in having this procedure in fact I have more self-esteem, weigh less, wear smaller clothes and have energy and stamina than I’ve ever had. I even have to invest in new motorcycle leathers because my old ones are way too big, even adjusted to their smallest size, which makes me feel really good about myself.   

Ask me if I would do this again, my answer to you… in a moment!  

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PHYLLIS – RNY Proximal Gastric Bypass – Lost 100 lbs!

In October of 2002, I decided to see what RNY surgery was about, before I knew it I was having surgery RNY proximal
(with Dr. Oh) on January 23, 2003 , weighing in at 240lbs.  My name is Phyllis, and I have now gone from a size 22/24 to a size 6 and life has just been incredible!  Life has changed tremendously for me now weighing 140lbs.  Losing the weight has gained my love for myself again and to my family.  I never knew I could love myself!  Thank you to my wonderful husband for all the support and unconditionally love you have given to me.  

Gaining most of my weight over the last 10 years after three children was very hard on me emotionally and physically.  I now can play and run with my three children without being uncomfortable, out of breath or tired.  To have the energy to keep up with three kids!  I Love you guys!

Everyone always ask me would you do it all over again?  Has it been hard?  Has your life changed?  The answer I give to these is I would so do it all over in a heart beat!  To have life with energy and happiness and feel good about yourself is one of the best feelings anyone could ask for.   Go for it!!!! 

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WENDY – RNY Proximal Gastric Bypass – Lost 174 lbs!

These past 2 ½ years since my WLS on November 6, 2001 have been INCREDIBLE!! Not only did I lose 174 lbs., but I also lost my inhibitions, my self-loathing, my secret shame of being morbidly obese almost all of my life, and my feelings of despair and hopelessness that I was destined to live my life in the body that held me prisoner. What an amazing burden to have lifted!!   

What have I gained? WAY MORE THAN I LOST!!!! I have gained confidence, a feeling of self-worth, good health, strength (even muscles and a love of running - really!), the knowledge that I CAN DO ANYTHING I WANT TO DO IF I TRY HARD ENOUGH, a HUGE new, sexy wardrobe, DIVA attitude (only the good kind, I promise! ;), and true happiness! And, if all THAT’S not enough ~ I found my true love now that I finally believed I was worthy of it! Not only did I FIND the most wonderful man……….I get to KEEP him! We’re getting married in July 2004 and I truly feel like the luckiest woman in the world.  

With the help of WLS (and a LOT of support from my WLS friends!) I got a new body, a new life, a new outlook, and a new man………it just doesn’t get any better than this!  -Before: 309 lbs. Currently: 135