Donny Rippberger, and Christina Rios are a father/daughter weight-loss surgery success story. Both had tremendous success thanks to
Dr. Marc Zerey and his bariatric surgery team. Donny and Christina rely on each other, and the bariatric support group services at Sansum Clinic for their continued success after weight-loss surgery.
Donny Rippberger Lost 80 pounds
I have been overweight my whole life and began to experience some health issues. My daughter underwent weight-loss surgery a year prior and it had been very successful. I decided it was time to go for it!
Since the surgery, I am no longer pre-diabetic, and both my cholesterol and blood pressure are down. My knee pain has decreased and my overall health is much improved. My confidence is up and I find being active is much easier, and I enjoy it so much more now that the weight is gone. My self-confidence is up too!
This surgery has been an excellent start to changing my lifestyle and eating habits. It has given me the opportunity to lose the weight and re-educate myself how to eat. Everyone is different at losing weight — don’t set your goals too high, and by all means, don’t get frustrated. You are still going to have to continue educating yourself for the rest of your life to maintain success.
Everyone involved in the Bariatric group at Sansum Clinic — from Dr. Zerey and his amazing medical team, to my nutritionist and the support group — has all been fantastic. It has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Christina Rios Lost 140 pounds
I decided to have weight-loss surgery because I wanted to be healthy and I knew one day I wanted to start a family. I couldn’t imagine not being able to keep up with kids because I was so unhealthy and out of shape. After I attended Dr. Zerey’s orientation, I knew what I wanted and what I needed to do to achieve my goal. Since the surgery, my life has changed 100% for the better. I married my high school sweetheart and recently gave birth to our first child – and I am happy and healthy! I can go on hikes, cross my legs, tie my shoes and sit comfortably in a restaurant booth. Life has definitely changed for the better and I am a much happier person than I was a few years ago.
Most of my success comes from my support system. I have an amazing support system that has helped see me through some tough times. All of my family has been extremely supportive, especially my dad. He had weight-loss surgery a year after I had mine, so having him know what I went through has been a lot easier. He helps me with food, working out and goes to support meetings with me. My dad gives me that extra push because he has been down the same road. We help each other out! The other part of my support system is the people in the support group meetings. This is a group of people that have had weightloss surgery, or are thinking about weight-loss surgery. Everyone is there to support one another and to give advice, share recipes and provide general support. The nutritionist, Emily Luxford, MS, RD, is amazing! She knows her stuff and is there for us in the support meetings or any other time we might need her.
If you are looking into weight-loss surgery, make sure it’s something you want to do, and remember that there is so much support from the Bariatric Department and the support groups. Take some time to think about it, because it is such a big lifestyle change. To those considering weight-loss surgery, I recommend going to orientation and coming to a support meeting to get some answers directly from people who have had weight-loss surgery.
The Bariatric Surgery Department at Sansum Clinic is amazing! I have to thank everyone in this department for making this wonderful journey that much easier and wonderful.
Learn more about the Bariatric Surgery Center >