Heather’s Journey To Losing 83 lbs With The Sleeve Clinic

Heather lost 83 lbs after receiving life-changing bariatric surgery by Dr. Scott Gmora at the Sleeve Clinic in Toronto, Ontario.

Before sleeve surgery, looking in the mirror was difficult for Heather. She struggled with her weight all her life, and after having a baby, she was ready to try something different. “I was sick of being the fat mom on the playground. I wanted to be able to run after my kid. I wanted to do all the things that someone in shape and in control of their eating could do. And I definitely wasn’t.”

Our team sat down with Heather to ask her a few questions about her weight loss journey with the Sleeve Clinic:

What fears did you have about undergoing gastric sleeve surgery?
“Two days before surgery, I lost it. I got into my head, and the fat kid inside me was like, I’m never going to be able to enjoy the foods I was obsessed with eating. But on the day of surgery, I was not scared at all. I’ve had a C-section; I’ve had my gallbladder taken out. So if you can have a C-section and your gallbladder removed, you can do a sleeve, no problem. I had the surgery on a Sunday, and I was walking my dog by Wednesday.”

Why did you choose the Sleeve Clinic?
“What I liked about the Sleeve Clinic is that you have a five-year program, so I have that constant reassurance. I have someone to kick my butt if I get off track in those five years. That’s what I liked, and that’s what I needed. I also liked the fact that I got to meet with a dietitian. I got to be held accountable. If I have a problem, I’ve got no problem reaching out to the team. They gave me so many tools in the beginning for each stage. It’s all laid out step by step. You can’t mess it up. And if you do, you call and say, “I screwed up on my pre-op. What do I do now?” And there’s a plan in place for those mishaps because nobody’s perfect. “

How has your life changed since having a gastric sleeve?
“I started at 253 lbs, which probably wasn’t my highest weight ever. Now I’m over 18 months since having surgery, and I’m at 170 lbs. I’ve lost a total of 83 lbs. Going out in public and doing everyday things is easier. I can go into a store without getting looked at because I bought a chocolate bar.”

What does it feel like to have a gastric sleeve?
“I feel full after every meal. I can eat a decent-sized meal and get that full feeling afterward. I’m less hungry throughout the day. My stomach doesn’t crave as much as before. And I still get to eat the foods I enjoy. Like today for lunch, I had chicken souvlaki, which was delicious. I go out at least once a week for dinner, and I can still enjoy a cheeseburger. I don’t miss carbs. I don’t eat bread because I’d rather eat a steak, some chicken, or something really yummy.”

Was it worth the cost?
“Instead of trying a fad diet that works for two months, and then you regain it all, this is something that I now have for the rest of my life. If you divide the total cost by every year you’re going to work the program, it comes out to pennies. So, of course, it’s worth it. I wanted to be skinny before turning 40 – I turned 40 in April, and I did it!”

To learn more about the Sleeve Clinic, find Dr. Gmora on:
YouTube:    / @thesleeveclinic3555  
Instagram:   / sleeve_clinic  
Web: https://sleeveclinic.ca/gastric-sleev...
Email: [email protected]