How do I love thee? Let me count the pounds lost – Shaw Local

Like many couples, Bolingbrook’s Susanna and James Elekson feel that their greatest gift to each other is their own.

So, for their 25th anniversary on July 15, 2020, they decided to give less.

On July 13, 2020, Susanna and James underwent weight loss surgery at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox. At that time, each weighed about 400 pounds. As of February 8, Susanna weighed 204 pounds and James weighed 210 pounds.

Both suffer from weight problems for most of their lives and have tried various diets, such as weight watchers, over the years with little success. She said Susanna lost only £ 5 when she tried her prescription diet pills.

Then one day, Susanna’s family doctor suggested that Susanna might attend a free briefing presented by the surgeon at Silvercross’s BMI surgery. Susanna said, “Will we continue on this path or will we try?”

Susanna was afraid that she would die if she didn’t try it. The couple has four children aged 22, 19, 11, and 9. So when Susanna arrived at her house, she said to James, “Where are you going on Wednesday?”

And they left.

Susanna’s story

Susanna said part of her problem was that she liked to eat and “carbohydrates were my main food group.” The McDonald’s staff said she would ask if she wanted to do “usual” when she saw her.

“Even if I try to eat healthy, it’s hard to have children and a family,” Susana said. “And it was much easier to eat out than to prepare a meal at home.”

Over time, Susanna became “pathologically obese,” she said.

“I couldn’t … it was very hard to get into the store from the parking lot,” Susanna said. “I was late. I couldn’t run with the kids. I just watched my life pass by.”

James’s story

James said he had considered weight loss surgery 10 years ago and it was a long and long process at the time. In the middle of the process, he changed jobs and changed his insurance, so he had to restart the long process.

“I was like’forget’,” James said.

However, insurance in 2020 was different again, and weight loss surgery was only accepted 10 years later.

“That’s basically like,’OK, let’s try this and see what happens,'” James said. “And, obviously, we’re happy with what we’ve done.”

Road to surgery

The couple decided on gastric sleeve surgery to change both the size and shape of the stomach. They took lung, heart and psychological tests, and James also took stress tests and echocardiography.

Both were healthy. James was taking low-dose medications for mild hypertension, but he said he was discontinued when he had surgery.

Dr. Christopher Joyce and Dr. Brian Rahman, who have since retired, have performed more than 10,000 weight loss surgeries on Silvercross, according to a news release from the hospital. Their program, according to the release, is the only program in Will County that has been designated as a Metabolism and Obesity Surgery Certification and Quality Improvement Program Certification Center and a Comprehensive Blue Identification Center for Obesity Surgery.

In this release, Joyce said the tests would confirm that the patient’s body could handle the surgery and rule out problems that could compromise the surgery. In fact, surgery alone can restore a patient’s weight. Therefore, SilverCross obesity surgery care services include inpatient and postoperative care, as well as outpatient follow-up and patient education.

“Surgery is just one aspect of an interdisciplinary approach to changing their lifestyle,” Dr. Joyce said in a release.

Part of the eligibility to have surgery means changing your lifestyle before surgery.

For two weeks before surgery, James said he drank a protein shake for breakfast and lunch, and ate five ounces of protein and a quarter cup of vegetables for dinner. He and Susanna each lost £ 20 this way, he added. And they stuck to that necessary diet.

“It’s come to the point where we were trying to do this,” James said. “I have never had any kind of surgery before, and we’re going to follow the rules so that someone can get in and cut out three-quarters of your stomach. did.”

According to James, the couple started vlog – Ellexsons Adventure – on Facebook, recording their journey and being accountable. In this way, his family and friends knew the depth of their commitment and how to support them, James said.

“Everyone was very supportive,” James said. “And that helps.”

New lifestyle

After the surgery, Susanna and James stayed overnight at Silver Cross in separate rooms in the hallway. They continued on a liquid diet for the first few weeks, gradually adding 2 ounces of protein three times a day, followed by small amounts of vegetables, and occasionally fruits. The fruits delayed their weight loss a bit, so they retreated the fruits for a while, James said.

According to James, the couple gradually moved from liquid foods to puree foods to soft foods. Only decaffeinated tea and coffee were allowed in those early weeks, he added. To date, he said, the couple ate no sugar and little carbs.

According to James, a high-protein diet is essential, so you won’t lose muscle mass. The couple also take special vitamins three times a day “for the rest of our lives,” James said. When eating out, he said, the couple demanded a substitute and / or split the pieces.

James, who loves to watch cooking shows, has adapted many of the recipes he sees, including desserts, he said.

“We eat what we eat more selectively and intentionally, instead of eating what is in front of us and what looks good,” James said.

Susanna, who had a knee surgery in April 2021, now feels she loves shopping. James looks forward to flying without a seatbelt extender.

But for those considering weight loss surgery, James said sticking to the program and following the rules is essential to success. Weight loss surgery makes it easier for people to change their habits, he said. But that doesn’t make them disappear, he said.

For example, James recently said he went to Panela for lunch. Instead of ordering a sandwich (“Face it, Panera Bread is nice,” James said), he ordered the soup.

“And I didn’t get the noodle soup,” James said. “I got a broccoli cheese soup.”