When Ronald’s father passed away in 2017, Ronald weighed 370 pounds. That’s when he knew he wanted to make a permanent lifestyle change. Ronald saw how much his father struggled later in life and he wanted something different for himself. In February 2018, Ronald underwent bariatric procedure, a form of weight loss surgery through TriStar Centennial Center for Weight Management. His journey is a true example of how committing to a better version of yourself can lead to a happier and healthier life.

“My life has been totally different since my surgery. I would say I now have a life. I am much more active. My eating habits have changed completely. I am happier and I can do things I would have never thought of before. I have more confidence in myself and am not as self-conscious as I used to be.”

Thanks to the physicians at TriStar Centennial Center for Weight Management, Ronald says his bariatric surgery allowed him to really start living. When he steps into a room he is confident others see him as a person and not for his weight.

“I do not have to look for a certain chair when I enter a room. I can wear clothes that fit and not clothes that just cover me up. If you want to stop simply being alive and start living, I would highly recommend bariatric surgery.”Now, Ronald is confidently riding roller coasters, hiking mountains, exercising regularly and feels like a better version of himself. He was able to accomplish this by working with the doctors and staff members at TriStar Centennial Center for Weight Management.

RonaldDate of Surgery: February 2018

At the age of 47 I found myself with not much hope. I had gained 100 pounds in the last decade and had tried everything I could think of to stop and lose the weight. Nothing worked and I decided that I was just going to be obese for the rest of my life and die young as my parents both did. I even made sure my will and estate were in order so that my young kids and husband would be okay. I knew diabetes was right around the corner for me. My blood pressure was high and rising, resting heart rate always over 88, developed asthma, and I was on a CPAP.

I’m an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi Nation and so our trust of the medical field is not that high. Going to get help from our primary care physicians is trying enough but getting help from a weight loss specialist is super low on the list. Then a friend of mine shared her weight loss journey with me through gastric-sleeve procedure with Dr. Dyer. I watched her journey and then decided that I needed to go on this journey as well. I contacted Dr. Dyer’s office the next morning and my journey began.

At the time I called the office I was weighing in at 246 pounds on my 5’2” frame. I decided on gastric-sleeve and weighed in at 230 the day of surgery. I was terrified but excited. I don’t want to die young or be on a plethora of medications for the rest of my life. I wanted to have an active life for my children and my family. It was time to choose and take charge of my life.

I immediately felt so comfortable in Dr. Dyer’s office. The staff is incredibly supportive, and the atmosphere is a nonjudgmental one. Dr. Dyer is straightforward and that’s exactly what I needed. The manual they gave me was the type of instruction I needed to keep with me, and my husband often refers to it when he wants to cook a meal or take me out to eat. The day of surgery went so smoothly. Dr. Dyer and his team checked in with me often prior to surgery and then afterwards. The dieticians gave me great nutritional information and answered all my questions about vitamins, shakes, and other questions I have had.

Right after the surgery it was rough. I questioned everything but kept in mind that after a couple of weeks I would feel better. I just stuck with the plan and followed the manual given to me from the office to the letter. Don’t deviate! Keep your end goal in mind all the time and know that after the first few weeks you will feel so much better and start seeing the results!

I’m now five months out, with normal blood pressure without medication, I’m off cholesterol medications, I’m off the CPAP, resting heart rate is now 62, no signs of asthma, and I have lost a total of 76 pounds! I feel so much better in so many ways. I can keep up with my kids and even out “show” them at the gym now.

The major personal goal for me was to be able to slalom water ski again. This is something I absolutely loved in my younger years but because of the weight I couldn’t do since I was 38. I’m so proud to say that I got up and had a blast! I felt like I was in my 20’s again.

Jody Gzhadawsot MattenaDate of Surgery: 2022

In October of 2020, I started my journey to fitness. I fell in love with the TN hiking trails but was so out of shape that I could not complete them. My knees and hips were so sore that the pain would wake me up at night. At a consultation visit at Centennial’s Center for Weight Management, I was given the advice to try a Medical weight loss option. I was hesitant because I don’t do well with medications and was very worried about side effects. I was given diet instructions and the opportunity to ask questions and meet with dieticians any time I needed. Luckily, I had no side effects. The medication helped me lose 100lb the first year and an additional 35lbs the second year, dropping my BMI from 43 to 24. I gradually progressed in my fitness and now run up a skyscraper every morning. My pain is gone and my clothes size dropped from a 22 to a 4!

AmberMedical Weight Loss%%Start Date: October 2020

My entire life I have struggled with my weight. I was never able to share clothes with my girlfriends, I had trouble keeping up in the sports I played, and couldn’t even enjoy the fun things about being a kid/teenager because my weight prevented me from physically participating, or I was too embarrassed to be involved. Three years ago, I became the mother to a beautiful baby boy, and decided that it was time I made some changes and work towards becoming a healthier woman and mother. I tried a few diets, including Slim Fast and Weight Watchers, but nothing ever seemed to help me do anything but lose a couple pounds, and it was hard to stay consistent. In July 2011, I was offered a job working for Dr. David Dyer at the Centennial Campus in Nashville, TN. It was wonderful to see all of the transformations and hear the wonderful testimonies from post op patients who came in each day. On many occasions, I did research and asked questions about the different kinds of bariatric surgery, but never quite felt like it would be right for me. After all, I was only 23 years old, I had my whole life ahead of me to work on losing weight and getting healthy. After working for Dr. Dyer for about 9 months, I noticed that I had gained extra weight and my health was slowly declining. My back and legs ached and throbbed all day, I couldn’t walk up and down the stairs at my house, I couldn’t fit in any of my clothes, and worst of all, I couldn’t play with my son for more than a short period of time without feeling like I could pass out. I had hit 300 pounds and this was the final straw. I began the process of going through the insurance approval and spoke with Dr. Dyer about my interest in Gastric Bypass surgery. My insurance changed its guidelines about the time I finished my third month of my 6 moth diet prep, and I was able to get an approval after 3 months instead of 6! I had my surgery on July 2, 2012. For the first few weeks, I had a hard time with regret and depression and really was not sure that I had made the right decision. Anytime I felt down, I always had a great support system to help me back up. Between my family and my co-workers, I was able to keep pushing on. One morning, about 6 weeks out of surgery, I woke up and I felt like a new person! I had energy again, there was no pain or regret anymore, and I was HAPPY for the first time in years. It has been 4 months since my surgery, and as of today I have lost 80 pounds! I weigh 227 and this is the first time since I was in the 8th grade that I have been under 230 pounds. I look great, I feel great, and I could not be happier with my decision to undergo Gastric Bypass surgery and to have Dr. Dyer perform it for me!

Holly CarnellDate of Surgery: 07/02/2012