{"id":16399,"date":"2017-12-01T15:42:44","date_gmt":"2017-12-01T20:42:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/?p=16399"},"modified":"2017-12-01T15:42:44","modified_gmt":"2017-12-01T20:42:44","slug":"weight-loss-surgery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/weight-loss-surgery\/","title":{"rendered":"What It\u2019s Really Like To Have Weight-Loss Surgery\u2014And Drop 140 Pounds"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">I\u2019ve always been chubby. Food was comforting, sentimental even. When my grandmother cooked cakes, brisket, and roast beef, she\u2019d cut off tiny \u201cah-ahs\u201d and feed the kids like an aquarium seal trainer. I learned early to associate food with comfort.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Before I was 10, my parents separated and I started packing on the pounds. Food was there when no one else was, literally. I gained most of my serious weight over the course of hundreds of afternoons while my mother worked the night shift at her second job. The first thing I\u2019d do after school was put on a pot of water to boil. I\u2019d make rice or pasta as an afternoon snack, then later, more rice or pasta with a steak for dinner. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">I was proud of my cooking. I thought it showed that I was self-sufficient and Mom wouldn\u2019t have to worry about me. I could take care of myself. But as I kept cooking, my clothes stopped fitting. I had to start shopping at big and tall stores. There, I discovered that overweight people apparently aren\u2019t allowed to live in the same fashion conscious world as everyone else. Everything was loud, obnoxious colors with elastic waistbands and illustrations of dogs wearing sunglasses.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">I got called names like \u201cFatboy\u201d by other kids. Adults called me \u201cBig Guy,” which is kind of the Diet Coke of fat shaming. Note to adults: The sting doesn\u2019t hurt any less, in case you were wondering.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span class=\"s1\">When my grandmother cooked cakes, brisket, and roast beef, she\u2019d cut off tiny \u201cah-ahs\u201d and feed the kids like an aquarium seal trainer. <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">When I first heard about bariatric surgery I was in my early 20s. It felt inevitable\u2014a looming certainty in the distance. I\u2019d researched it and read success stories online, bringing myself to tears looking at before & afters. I was a walking \u201cbefore picture.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><noscript><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"16401\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/weight-loss-surgery\/josh\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh.jpg?fit=1512%2C2016&ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1512,2016\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"josh\" data-image-description data-image-caption data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh.jpg?fit=225%2C300&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh.jpg?fit=740%2C987&ssl=1\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" class=\"wp-image-16401 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh.jpg?resize=461%2C615&ssl=1\" alt width=\"461\" height=\"615\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh.jpg?w=1512&ssl=1 1512w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh.jpg?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh.jpg?resize=272%2C363&ssl=1 272w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh.jpg?resize=740%2C987&ssl=1 740w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"16401\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/weight-loss-surgery\/josh\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh.jpg?fit=1512%2C2016&ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1512,2016\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"josh\" data-image-description data-image-caption data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh.jpg?fit=225%2C300&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh.jpg?fit=740%2C987&ssl=1\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" class=\"wp-image-16401 alignleft lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20461%20615%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt width=\"461\" height=\"615\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20461%20615%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 461w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh.jpg?w=1512&ssl=1 1512w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh.jpg?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh.jpg?resize=272%2C363&ssl=1 272w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh.jpg?resize=740%2C987&ssl=1 740w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh.jpg\">I\u2019d even gone as far as scheduling the surgery twice. I cancelled both times after seeing older, heavier people in doctors\u2019 waiting rooms and convincing myself, \u201cI\u2019m not as bad as that guy.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">By the time I hit my 30s I\u2019d ballooned up to more than 300 pounds, though. And in early 2016 I was heavier than I\u2019d ever been before. My joints ached, I had sleep apnea, and because I wasn\u2019t sleeping right I had no energy throughout the day. My boss was even threatening to fire me for falling asleep in meetings. I had a three-year-old boy I couldn\u2019t keep up with and my self-confidence was at an all time low. Something had to give.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">It was about 140 pounds ago that I sat in my car at an Exxon gas station, sweating as I struggled to lean over far enough to pull the lever that opened my gas tank. In that moment, I made a decision that changed my life forever. <i>That<\/i> was the day I decided to get weight loss surgery (WLS). <\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><strong><span class=\"s1\">Surgery Prep <\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">There are a some practical matters that need to be sorted out before this type of surgery. First off, the finances. I\u2019d heard a lot of horror stories about the insurance approval process, and mine was difficult\u2014but not impossible. My carrier (Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield) covered the procedure at 80 percent, which meant my out-of-pocket came to about $2,500 altogether. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">There are a few different types of WLS, but the common ones are called Lap Band, Gastric Bypass, and Gastric Sleeve. Most of the people I met along the way were getting the Gastric Sleeve surgery, which is what my doctor recommended for me. The procedure, he explained, involved <i>removing<\/i> a part of my stomach, creating a \u201cpouch\u201d about the size of a small banana. This forcibly limits your food intake, leaving you feeling full after eating much smaller portions.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span class=\"s1\">I\u2019d researched it and read success stories online, bringing myself to tears looking at before & afters. I was a walking \u201cbefore picture.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">I was required to sit through multiple seminars and meetings with nutritionists, psychologists, and doctors, who tracked my weight over a six-month period as I attempted (unsuccessfully) to lose the weight on my own. After jumping through all the hoops (and not losing weight), I was finally approved with a surgery date. I was ready.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The day of the surgery, my wife took me to the hospital and she and my father stood at my bedside until the moment the nurse wheeled me away. This was it. It was really happening. I thought I\u2019d be nervous but I wasn\u2019t. It was more like standing outside the gates of Emerald City, knowing something incredible waited for me inside. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The doctor administered the anesthesia and as I counted backwards from 10, the world faded away.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><strong><span class=\"s1\">After the Surgery<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><noscript><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"16402\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/weight-loss-surgery\/josh2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh2.jpg?fit=1512%2C2016&ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1512,2016\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"josh2\" data-image-description data-image-caption data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh2.jpg?fit=225%2C300&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh2.jpg?fit=740%2C987&ssl=1\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" class=\"wp-image-16402 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh2.jpg?resize=433%2C577&ssl=1\" alt width=\"433\" height=\"577\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh2.jpg?w=1512&ssl=1 1512w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh2.jpg?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh2.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh2.jpg?resize=272%2C363&ssl=1 272w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh2.jpg?resize=740%2C987&ssl=1 740w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 433px) 100vw, 433px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"16402\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/weight-loss-surgery\/josh2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh2.jpg?fit=1512%2C2016&ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1512,2016\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"josh2\" data-image-description data-image-caption data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh2.jpg?fit=225%2C300&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh2.jpg?fit=740%2C987&ssl=1\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" class=\"wp-image-16402 alignleft lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20433%20577%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt width=\"433\" height=\"577\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20433%20577%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 433w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 433px) 100vw, 433px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh2.jpg?w=1512&ssl=1 1512w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh2.jpg?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh2.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh2.jpg?resize=272%2C363&ssl=1 272w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh2.jpg?resize=740%2C987&ssl=1 740w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/josh2.jpg\">Just a few hours after I regained consciousness, the nurses were encouraging me to get up and start walking around. This helped to relieve the gas pressure caused by the anesthesia. (A weird side effect: The anesthesia caused blood vessels to burst in my right eye. My son would call me \u201cBlood Eye Daddy\u201d for the next week and a half.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">There were five small scars from the incisions but they didn\u2019t hurt very badly. The hardest thing was drinking water. I just couldn\u2019t take in much as my newly smaller tummy got its bearings. Just a few small sips at first. I was able to drink about a cup by the time they discharged me.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">I got home, sat on my couch, and let it sink in like a new tattoo. I\u2019d followed through. This was a Decision with a capitol D. Irreversible. But it\u2019s not like you have the surgery and suddenly life is a bunch of fluffy ducks.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span class=\"s1\">I\u2019ve heard people say that weight loss surgery is \u201ctaking the easy way out.\u201d In my experience, that\u2019s the furthest thing from the truth.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Here\u2019s what it really feels like: You\u2019re still 300 pounds but the weight feels impermanent\u2014like it doesn\u2019t belong to you anymore. You begin to think of your body as a temporary shell from which the real you will eventually emerge. You obsess on everything you need to do to reach your goal. It\u2019s all you think about. It\u2019s all you talk about. For a while, it\u2019s all you are.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\"> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The next few weeks were the most radical in terms of dietary changes. For 14 days I could only have clear liquids as my pouch began to heal. Water, protein shakes, and chicken broth (I couldn\u2019t stand the beef broth\u2014ugh, gross). Then another two weeks of soft solids and mushy foods like sugar-free Jell-O, cottage cheese, and loosely scrambled eggs. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">It. Was. Miserable. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">If I had to pinpoint the hardest part of the whole experience, it would be those first few weeks after surgery. That\u2019s when I realized that I didn\u2019t have a problem with food but an issue with my <i>entire lifestyle<\/i>. I\u2019d built routines that gave me comfort. Tough day? Eat heavy and watch TV late at night. Feeling bad about myself? Drown my sorrows in candy and root beer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/search?search=nu%2Blife%2Bbariatrics\">Check out Nu Life’s new line of bariatric support products<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Now, without those crutches, I was forced to deal with my issues head-on. I can only imagine this is similar to what drug addicts feel when they go cold turkey. There were nights I laid in bed, crying because I physically couldn\u2019t eat the way I wanted to. There were days I sobbed to my wife on the phone, cursing the doctors and regretting my decision. Sometimes I dealt with it by taking bites of the foods I missed, savoring the feel of them in my mouth and then spitting them out.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">But the weight started coming off.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Then, slowly, I began introducing more solid foods: fish, hard-boiled eggs, sliced meats. I found ways to mix it up. Eventually, I was cleared to start eating normally and healthier patterns took root.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><strong><span class=\"s1\">Through the Looking Glass<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">It\u2019s been 16 months since the surgery and the world I live in today bears little resemblance to the one I grew up in. When someone laughs, I don\u2019t assume they\u2019re laughing at me. If people are nice, I don\u2019t assume they feel sorry for me. My clothes fit and I don\u2019t have to shop at big and tall stores anymore. I can chase around my toddler and play on the floor with my new baby boy\u2014and feel no pain. I\u2019m more confident, I smile in pictures, and I\u2019m not embarrassed to eat in front of other people. I can even wrap a bath towel all the way around my body.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>For those of us who have battled with weight issues all our lives, it\u2019s difficult not to tie our self-worth into how we perceive our appearance.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Are there negatives? Sure. I miss eating a juicy hamburger and a mound of fries. But I\u2019ll still eat about half a burger and a fry or two. I don\u2019t deny myself the things I love\u2014it\u2019s more about moderation and making better choices consistently.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Nowadays, I\u2019ll have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/search?search=%20protein%20shakes\">protein shake<\/a> for breakfast, turkey and cheese roll-ups for lunch, and then I try my best to eat a balanced, normal-sized dinner (that\u2019s protein, vegetables, and a small amount of carbs). Switching to smaller plates helps control portions and makes it look like you\u2019re getting more. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/c\/multivitamins\/N-cp99ig\">Multivitamins<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/c\/calcium\/N-cp99i5\">calcium<\/a> are a must to get in the nutrition I need due to the reduced amount of calories I take in. (Every day is a struggle to take in the 65 grams of protein and 64 ounces of water my doctor recommends.) I work out at least three days a week and now that my body doesn\u2019t creak and groan with every step, I actually enjoy it. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Last Thoughts<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">I\u2019ve heard people say that weight loss surgery is \u201ctaking the easy way out.\u201d In my experience, that\u2019s the furthest thing from the truth. It isn\u2019t a cure\u2014it\u2019s a tool. Total body transformation requires discipline, struggle, and support. My diet\u2019s not perfect. I don\u2019t always get to the gym and I\u2019m still searching for those elusive abs (they\u2019re in there somewhere!). <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">For those of us who have battled with weight issues all our lives, it\u2019s difficult not to tie our self-worth into how we perceive our appearance. Whatever shape you are, my hope is that you have the courage to love yourself\u2014whether that means taking pride in the person you are or working to transform yourself into who you\u2019re meant to be. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">My journey is far from over. I\u2019ve got a long way to go and my goals are always evolving. Today, I feel better than ever before and every day I\u2019m one step closer to my best self.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"s1\"><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\"> <!-- Shortcode [rr-products] does not match the conditions --><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Total body transformation requires discipline, struggle, and support. <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/weight-loss-surgery\/\">Read More <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">What It\u2019s Really Like To Have Weight-Loss Surgery\u2014And Drop 140 Pounds<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":165,"featured_media":16403,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5,8,9,10],"tags":[929,578,92,113,257,367],"class_list":["post-16399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","category-stories","category-the-latest","category-weight-loss","tag-bariatric-surgery","tag-eating","tag-fitness","tag-health","tag-weight-loss","tag-weight-management"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- 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