Name:  Juan Agudelo
Age:  30
Date of Surgery:  June 4th, 2007
Procedure:  Gastric Bypass   
Starting Weight:  320
Current Weight:  185
Medical Conditions Before Surgery:  High triglycerides 

I decided to go through with gastric bypass surgery because nothing that I was doing on my own was working.  Name a diet and I’m sure that I’ve tried it.  I would always lose weight, but inevitably I would gain it back again and then some.  What I needed was something more drastic that would change my mindset too.

My experience with the Surgical Weight Loss Institute has been great…I would do it all over again in a blink of an eye, without even thinking twice about it.  Dr. de la Cruz-Munoz is an incredible doctor and his staff is amazing.  In fact, they’re so wonderful that both my mom and sister got their surgeries done there as well…thanks to them we’re a whole new family. 

After going through the surgery, I made sure to take all of the doctor’s advice.  I waited two weeks, but then I hit the gym…hard.  Within two months, I started working with a personal trainer on my weight lifting.  I also had to change everything about my eating patterns – the portions, how much I eat, how I eat, the quality of the food, etc.  I’m on the road a lot so fast food used to be a staple for me because it’s so convenient…I realize now that fast food makes you fat really fast too.  All of this greasy, unhealthy food I used to love now repulses me.

My life since the surgery has changed drastically.  I have a ton of energy and I’ve become quite athletic.  Physically, I’m in the best shape of my life.  On January 27th, I ran the Miami Marathon.  Since then, I’ve done a 5K at least once a month for different charities and I’m currently training for the South Beach Nautical Triathlon…I never dreamed that I could accomplish all this!

I tell anyone that needs to get this surgery done to go ahead and do it.  For me, it’s been the best thing that’s ever happened to me physically, mentally, and emotionally.  It’s been a big, big change that has set the course for the rest of my life.