Benjamin's Story | Choosing Weight Loss Surgery as a Parent
Benjamin Parish says he’s been the biggest kid in his class since middle school, struggling with weight almost as long as he can remember.
It resulted in a more introverted nature and kept him on the couch more than he wanted to be, instead of engaging more actively with people in his life – including his 3-year-old son.
And realizing he wanted to be there for his son in a more hands-on way – to create memories with him that included play and activity and adventure – was a big part of the reason Mr. Parish, age 39, said “yes” to bariatric surgery when an orthopedic doctor recommended he explore that option.
“I’d thought about weight loss surgery for years but never knew where to start,” Mr. Parish recalls. “I’d seen this orthopedic doctor for the longest time for a bad back and ankle issues, and finally he had the conversation with me about weight loss surgery. He said the process could start with a referral from him and from my primary care doctor.”
Mr. Parish had gastric bypass surgery on February 28, 2023 through Cone Health’s bariatrics care program. The surgery was performed by Paul Stechschulte, MD. He says the surgery went well and recovery was far easier than he’d anticipated.
“I would absolutely recommend Cone Health to anyone considering weight loss surgery,” said Mr. Parish.
At the time of his surgery, Mr. Parish weighed 355 pounds. Now, just eight months later, he is down to 214 pounds.
“For the first five to six months, my weight was going down really quickly – about five or six pounds a week,” he said. “In the past month or two it’s slowed to about two pounds per week, but I’m still losing weight and haven’t experienced any stalls in weight loss since the surgery.”
Mr. Parish credits the work he did with his Cone Health nutritionist prior to surgery with helping to jumpstart his weight loss and make the post-surgery phase as successful as it’s been for him. He says his diet before working with a nutritionist was poor, but following her guidance has been a game changer.
“I’m eating pretty well now, and seeing the nutritionist before my surgery really helped me learn how to eat post-surgery,” he shared. “We worked on things like taking small bites, chewing well, prioritizing protein first, followed by veggies and complex carbs and watching water consumption around meal times, so by the time I had the surgery those habits were already in place.”
In fact, before he even had his gastric bypass surgery Mr. Parish had lost 80 pounds thanks to these food- and meal-related habit shifts.
These days, in addition to a better diet, Mr. Parish says he has “100 times more energy” than he did before his surgery. He no longer needs medication or treatment for issues he dealt with before, including sleep apnea, high blood pressure and GERD. He’s also going to the gym five days a week and has seen improvement in his work life.
“I work in aviation, and it’s a very hands-on, demanding career,” he said. “I’m not having to struggle with trying to keep up with the physical demands of it anymore.”
But the best part? According to Mr. Parish, it’s being able to show up for his son as the dad he always wanted to be. He’s helping with his son’s t-ball team and is keeping up with him in a way he wasn’t able to before.
“One of the biggest reasons I wanted to do this surgery was to keep up with my son and be there for him, and now I’m able to do those things,” said Mr. Parish. “It’s been life changing.”
Tips for Managing Weight for a Healthier You
When is it time to consider bariatric surgery? How can I manage my weight with diet and exercise? Get tips for healthy weight management from Eric Wilson, MD.
Bariatric Surgery at Cone Health
Take control of your weight — and your well-being — with weight loss surgery at Cone Health. When you choose Cone Health for your surgery, you can be confident you’ll receive the highest-quality bariatric care. Learn more.
