Richard Richard is a New Reflections Success Story!

During the fourteen months after surgery he lost 170 pounds.

His name really is Richard Richard!

"My mom liked the name so much, when I was born, she used it twice," he laughs.

Richard is one of the happiest people you'll ever meet. He's got a positive outlook, he's full of energy and he's in great health.

But his earlier life wasn't so pleasant. He battled weight problems his entire life and as he grew to 370 pounds, his health began to deteriorate. His blood pressure was high, he was borderline diabetic, he had pain and swelling in his knees and ankles, and he couldn't stand on his feet for long periods.

According to Richard, "Diets didn't work and I was just disgusted. It was a chore to do anything, my self-esteem was in the gutter and I wasn't happy with life."

However, his life began to change when he called New Reflections and talked with Program Director Jana Hanson.

"She listened to what I had to say and I could tell she understood what I was going through. I made an appointment to see Dr. Martinez and after we talked about my options, I knew that weight-loss surgery was the right thing for me."

Richard came to New Reflections for gastric bypass surgery. During the fourteen months afterwards, he lost 170 pounds. His blood pressure is now normal, he's no longer borderline diabetic, the joint pain has disappeared and he has the energy to lead a normal life.

"I can bend over and touch my toes, I can mow the lawn, I can pull weeds, I can walk without getting out of breath, and do things I couldn't do before. I'm in better condition now at age 55 than in my whole life, except maybe high school when I played football," he says with a smile.

Keep in mind that everyone is different; individual weight loss varies and all patients don't receive the same health benefits. The outcome of weight-loss surgery greatly depends on your determination to follow a healthy diet and lifestyle as well as your willingness to follow doctor's orders.

You'll have a much better sense of what to expect from weight-loss surgery if you come to one of our support group meetings and talk with our surgeon, our staff and our patients. Then you can make an informed decision on your next steps.