My City February 2023

ADVERTORIAL

IS IT TIME TO GO ALL IN? Hurley Bariatric Center Can Help BY JASON HARROD, MA | PHOTO BY DOUG PIKE

A ndy Holmes, 37, has been a Flint resident for four and a half years. Living right downtown, it was common for him to be outside and active with his friends. For the majority of his life, he had felt overweight and his highest weight was 325 pounds. A bigger concern than his weight, though, was how he felt. On one excursion walking around Downtown Flint with his friends, Andy felt out of breath, as though he couldn’t continue walking. He had been busy, both working and going to grad school. Graduating in late 2021 was a huge accomplishment, and it also gave him the room to consider his health. After trying various diets and exercises over the years and finding it very difficult to lose even a small amount of weight while putting in maximum effort, Andy had been looking into bariatrics. Reassured by a conversation with a friend who was a resident at Hurley Medical Center, and his knowledge of Hurley’s reputation in the community, he made his first appointment with Dr.Wong at Hurley Bariatric Center for March 7, 2022. “I’m glad I chose Hurley because people there helped me make a decision that’s had such an important impact on my health,” he explains. “There was no pressure – Dr.Wong was very kind and straightforward. He was generous with his time and answered all of my questions so that I could make my own decision.”Andy decided that it was time to be “all in” and follow Dr.Wong’s treatment plan. For him, being all in meant seeing bariatric surgery as the first of many healthy lifestyle choices. There were no complications with the outpatient procedure – Andy was home later that same day. “The surgery, I think, is a tool to aid diet and exercise,” he says. “I had to be all in, or the surgery alone wasn’t the answer. It was a big adjustment afterward, especially getting used to portion control; but alongside my friends and family, Hurley offered a lot of support through education and group meetings.” Andy’s resilience and commitment to following post-surgery guidelines have resulted in dramatic improvement of his overall health. Besides losing 160 pounds over nine months, he no longer needs medication to maintain a normal blood pressure, and feels much better day by day. “I’m sleeping much better and have a lot more energy,” he shares. “Even little things like cleaning the house;

I used to have to vacuum part of the house and sit down for a few minutes to catch my breath. I don’t have to do that anymore. I’m able to physically do more things and much more comfortably.” Andy’s spending a lot of time with his friends and they’ve started going on hikes. He’s even bought a rowing machine for his home. Andy hopes his story inspires people to pursue this process. “Being overweight can be so hard on your physical and mental health,” he states. “It’s easy once you make the decision to be all in.” Designed to be a 12-week plan, Hurley Bariatric Center’s Medical Weight Loss program is customized to the individual’s needs, but it’s also meant to equip them with education needed to maintain success beyond program completion.This approach extends to all of the services offered at the Center, both surgical and non-surgical options.The bariatric professionals help patients choose the appropriate procedure and afterward, they monitor progress and offer support such as nutrition and exercise counseling to help patients have a sustainable weight loss outcome.

The Hurley Bariatric Center is located in Flint at 6140 Rashelle Dr., and can be reached at 810.262.2330 or hurleymc.

com. The team offers seminars that cover bariatric surgery and medical weight loss options – sign up to attend either in person or online at: hurleymc.com/services/bariatric-center/attend-a-seminar/