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44-year-old Jüri stands out in a crowd as he is 192 cm tall. His weight, which tended towards obesity, began to rise significantly after he quit smoking, eventually reaching 155 kilos. Jüri tried various weight loss methods, which did not work. This led him to make the decision to undergo bariatric surgery at Health Clinic. Eight months later, he had lost 50 kg!
How long had your weight been like this?
I have been overweight for a long time, but when I quit smoking four years ago, my weight started to increase very suddenly.
How much did you watch your diet?
I had been to a nutritionist and monitored my weight. I was given a diet plan with what to eat and how much. I managed to stick to it for two to three months, losing some weight, but eventually gave up and the kilos came back.
What complaints did you have about your weight?
I had no direct health reasons for having the surgery, although I was taking prediabetes medication. It was because of the weight that there was a high risk of this happening. Despite this, life had become hell: I am rather active, but for example, I could no longer do things at work, climb or jump. The extra kilos affected my joints. It was difficult to find clothes that fit. I was sweating excessively. I could not even clean the room without leaving a trail of sweat behind me.
How did you end up having bariatric surgery?
I had previously tried various weight loss methods and they failed. My weight fluctuated wildly. I could easily put on 10 kilos a week and then slowly lose it again. Since dieting did not work, I searched for solutions on the internet and found bariatric surgery. It is easy to say, look, I did not bother to deal with nutrition. Today, I know that every body is different and what works for one person may not work for another. After the surgery, I have been able to follow the diet plan without any problems.
Jüri before and 8 months after mini-bypass surgery Starting weight 155 kg, 105 kg in the picture on the right.
Did you have any fears about the surgery?
I was not afraid of the surgery. I trusted the doctors and I was convinced it would work. Everything went very well. I had a very positive experience with the clinic staff, the surgeon, the nutritionist and the clinical psychologist, all of whom are part of my recovery from surgery.
How was the recovery from the surgery?
The first week it was a bit painful to eat and drink, but after three weeks it was all gone. After three weeks, I met again with Dr Rein Adamson, who also said that initially the body needs to get used to the new normal. My brain has retained the old eating mentality and large quantities, but after the surgery my stomach was full even with small quantities. A few sips of water also quenched my hunger. I lost 15 kilos in the first three weeks.
After three months, I also had a blood test to check if all the indicators were within the normal range. I was feeling very well, so I had nothing to discuss with the psychologist.
What is your life like after bariatric surgery?
The changes are noticeable. I lost about 1.5-2 kg per week. There were a few weeks where the weight stayed the same and a few weeks where I gained a little, but overall the weight went down consistently. I weighed 155 kg before the surgery; three and a half months after the surgery the scale showed 118 kg. Now, eight months later, I have lost a total of 50 kilos. Since weight loss continues for about 1.5 years after the surgery, I might lose a bit more.
The sweating has stopped, it is easier to walk up and down the stairs and I feel better. In general, I move more and I understand that from a health perspective, I need to move. I have little tricks to keep myself moving – I walk when I can, if I have a car I park it further away so I can walk some of the way.
I have started swimming and walking more regularly. So far, everything has improved. Such a surgery can truly be a lifesaver.
What have friends and acquaintances said?
People do not fail to recognise me. But yes, the change has been very noticeable.
How's the clothes shopping going?
I have had to change my wardrobe. Where I used to be a size 4XL, today I buy size XL.
Today I can easily wrap my old belt around my waist three times. It is shocking to think about…
Why did you fail at dieting before, but now you are able to follow your diet?
Previously, I made huge efforts to stick to diets, but a small weight loss often ended with me gaining 10 kg in a week out of frustration. My weight fluctuated up and down. After the surgery, I could not overeat and my body adapted. Of course, the motivation was completely different. Even if I sometimes sin, I can quickly correct myself and there are no more weight fluctuations.
