Better Together: The Couple That Chose Weight Loss Surgery Together
Before
After
Meet Nathan and Brittany, the couple that decided to go on a weight loss journey together. Brittany and Nathan both had weight loss surgery with Dr. Houston. They supported each other throughout the process and were both so successful. We asked Nathan and Brittany all about their experience with surgery, and what it was like going through the process together.
Q: Do you have any words of wisdom for those who may be nervous about choosing weight loss surgery?
A: I would say if you have thought about it then do it. I wish I had done it 10 years ago. It has honestly changed our lives. It was definitely the hardest thing we have ever done but so worth it. We prayed about it, talked to people who had the surgery, and asked all the questions we could at our appointments with Dr. Houston.
Q: How did you know that Dr. Houston and the team at Nashville Weight Loss Solutions were the right fit for you?
A: He came highly recommended by our PCP and a friend who also was a patient of his.
Q: Was there anything that surprised you about weight loss surgery?
A: Nathan- I was surprised at how quickly the weight came off and not being hungry when you have been so used to being hungry all the time.
A: Brittany- the thing that surprised me most about the surgery was how much my taste buds have changed. Things that I liked before surgery now taste so differently which is not totally a bad thing!
Q: How has your life changed since having weight loss surgery?
A: Nathan- Work has changed for me in that I can do my job much easier. I have a physical job and have to crawl in and out of tight spaces a lot and climb stairs. I have more confidence in myself and my looks and my mood is much better.
A: Brittany- I gained a lot of self-confidence after losing weight. For once, I was actually proud of myself for accomplishing something that for so long I thought was impossible. My mental health has improved greatly and I no longer need medication for depression or anxiety.
Q: Have you achieved anything that you’re really proud of since having surgery?
A: Nathan- I was able to get my mental health under control and to a healthy place.
Q: How has your health changed since having surgery?
A: Nathan- my mental health has improved greatly, less body fatigue, more energy, and drive to get out of the house and do things even after working a whole day at work.
A: Brittany- my mental has greatly improved. I was able to come off of all of my depression and anxiety medications since having the surgery, way less joint pain. I can actually take a walk outside and not be out of breath and climb the stairs in my house without being out of breath.
Q: Did you have any misconceptions about weight loss surgery prior to having surgery?
A: Nathan- I didn’t think that I qualified for the surgery. I always thought the surgery was for people who are much more overweight than I was.
A: Brittany- I had heard some horror stories of people that had the surgery but then either didn’t lose weight or gained it all back. I just assumed that the surgery just didn’t work but it was that they didn’t follow instructions and went off plan.
Q: What was it like going through this journey with a partner?
A: Nathan- I believe that going through this with my wife made things easier because we were going through the same thing. It made it easier knowing that she understood what I was going through.
A: Brittany- I believe that doing this with my husband made me more successful. It created a healthy competition between us and helped keep me on track and not want to stray from the plan.
Q: What advice would you have for partners of those choosing weight loss surgery? How can they be supportive?
A: Brittany- I think just letting them know that they are there for them and supporting their decision. I also believe that making sure that open communication is made a priority in the relationship and letting that person tell you what they need. I also think that making sure that food and drink that they cannot have is not kept in the house. This leads to being successful in both losing weight and supporting your partner.
Q: Has your relationship changed since having weight loss surgery?
A: Yes, communication is better. We also used food as a comfort for both of us and now we lean on each other for that instead of food.
Q: Are there things you enjoy doing together now that you didn’t do prior to surgery?
A: Definitely! We go on more dates now and even go shopping together. Sometimes we even go out on weeknights even after working a long day and that never happened before we lost the weight!
Q: What do you notice about each other that’s changed/improved since surgery?
A: Nathan- her mental health has improved and she has more energy.
A: Brittany- Nathan’s mood has changed a lot since losing weight but also he has life back in his eyes. Before losing weight he was always very tired and wanted to stay home all the time and now he always wants to be out and about with family or friends.
Q: In what ways are you able to support each other by going through this journey together?
A: Understanding where we are and what we are going through I think is a big factor. We also had a bit of healthy competitiveness that helped to motivate us. When one of us would plateau the other would encourage and vice versa.
Q: What’s the thing that your partner has done to support you that has made the biggest impact?
A: Nathan- She would acknowledge the physical differences that she would see and that helped to keep me motivated.
A: Brittany- Nathan is and has always been my biggest encourager. He always has a positive outlook on everything and always makes me see the bright side of things. He always made sure on the journey to tell me how proud he was of my weight loss.
All of us at Nashville Weight Loss Solutions are so proud of you, Nathan and Brittany. We are grateful to have gone on this journey with you, and can’t wait to see what you continue to accomplish!
At Nashville Weight Loss Solutions, we offer the 3 main bariatric surgeries available today including the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and duodenal switch, as well as bariatric revisions. Bariatric surgery can be a good option for those who have a BMI of 35 and up. It is sometimes offered to patients with a BMI of 30 on a case-by-case basis. If you’re interested in learning more about weight loss surgery, you can contact us here to learn more.
