BEFORE
Hi! My name is Heather Adams. I am 29 years old, and a patient of Dr. Ronnie Clements. I had gastric bypass surgery on April 23, 2001, and I have a new life thanks to Dr. Clements.

I had never really had a weight problem until after having children. I maybe needed to lose 20 pounds. Three days before having my first child, I weighed 199 pounds. I told myself that I better not get over 200 pounds. That was in March 1993. After 6 weeks, I lost down to 147 pounds. I was very pleased and thought I would lose about 20 pounds and be perfect. But instead, I gained some weight, but never really thought much about it.

One and a half years later I found out that I was pregnant with my second child, and went to my doctor’s appointment and saw that I weighed 180 pounds. I could not believe it but said to myself, “Well, I’m pregnant so that gives me a way to eat what ever I want. Who cares?” During that pregnancy, I gained up to 223 pounds. That was June 1995.

About a year later, I decided that I needed to loose weight so I started out with Nutri System. I lost about 13 pounds, but hated it. Then I tried Slim Fast. I lost weight about 20 pounds, but I always gained it back. In 1998, while watching television, I saw a commercial for a weight loss surgery. I called and got information, but was too scared. I had never had surgery and did not want to.

I took my daughter to play school one morning and heard that one of the teachers was having surgery (stomach surgery). I could not believe that this was the same surgery that I had heard about. Someone that I knew was having it. Then I heard that Ronnie Clements was doing the surgery. I could not believe it. Our children had gone to school together. I knew his wife, and knew that they were a wonderful family. I knew I could trust him. I talked to his wife about it, and she told me how safe that the surgery was, so I started to consider it. Then, I thought it is still surgery, so I put in the back of my mind a second time.

I hired a personal trainer at One to One Fitness, went a couple of times, and quit. I was too tired to do anything. I really did not know my weight at this time. I never wanted to weigh. I then tried Physicians Weight Loss. I lost a little, and then I gained it back. Then, I tried several other weigh loss programs like Weight Watchers, Sugar Buster, Atkins, Medifast, and diet pills. Nothing seemed to keep the weight off.

Then my neighbor told me she had an appointment to go to Texas to see a doctor for a stomach banding (stapling). I was so jealous and thought “I can’t do that!” So, I told myself that I would go back to Medifast and lose the same amount that she would before she got back. But it was is so hard I could not stick with it. And again, all the weight that I lost I gained back. So, I decided to get another personal trainer and to do exactly what she said. I did and lost about 9 pound, then stopped losing.

I made my mind up that there had to be something wrong with me, so I went to see my neighbor, an MD, because I knew that I could trust him and he would tell me the truth. He said that everything as fine and I just had to stick with it. It would be hard, but I could do it. I told him that I knew someone that performed weight loss surgery and said if this didn’t work, I was going to think about it hard but did not want to be cut open. Then he told me that it was now done by laparoscopy, and that his friend Dr. Ronnie Clements performed this kind of surgery. He was the same doctor that I knew. I could not believe it.

The next day I called Dr. Clements. They told me I needed to get a packet before making an appointment. So I went to pick up the packet and completed it, and made my appointment the next day. I was so nervous. I met with Ronnie and had to go for a sleep study and a glucose tolerance test. When I got that done I went back for my second appointment and scheduled my surgery. I could not believe that I was really going have it done. I was so scared, but so excited. However, I still thought I would not lose weight, not me. My pre-op weight 2 weeks before the surgery was 240 pounds.

I had surgery on April 23, 2001. This first week I lost 11 pounds. I could to believe it. I was scared to eat at first, so I was very careful. June 19, 2001, my husband and I went to Cancun Mexico and I had 43 pounds. I could not believe it. I had to buy new clothes. By August 18, 2001, my 10-year class reunion I weighed 176 pounds. In December of 2001 I was a size 12 and weighed 152 pounds and was so excited. At my one-year surgery anniversary, I weighed 143 pounds I had lost 97 pounds in one year. Dr. Clements said that was great and keep it up. In May of 2002 I had a breast lift with implants because of loose skin and weighed 134 pounds.

Today, July, 2002 I weigh 133 pounds and would like to loose about 5 pounds but if I don’t, who cares? I can wear a size 8, and it is loose. In September 2002, I plan to have a tummy tuck for loose skin, for my self. My doctor says that I will lose about 8 pounds and wear a size 4. Can you believe it? I cannot believe that I have lost over 100 pounds.

I feel great in every way. My surgery went perfect and I have had no problems what so ever. I can do things with my 9-year-old son and my 7-year-old daughter and not be tired. Going to Six Flags was fun. I had room on each side of me on every ride. I did not once wonder if I would fit.

Dr. Clements has changed my life. He is wonderful!!! I know he can help you too. I hope that my story is helpful to you. My e-mail address is heasew@aol.com if I could help answer any questions. It is a big decision and should be thought through thoroughly. This was the best thing for me and it might be for you too!

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