I am 57 years old. And three years ago, I weighed 240 pounds. I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs. I had severe restless leg syndrome, as well as sleep apnea. And I was taking two different blood pressure meds, two statins, allergy meds, and using a sleep apnea breathing machine at night. I wasn't living at all; I was just existing. MORE

I asked my doctor if I could try bariatric surgery and he recommended a stress test first. So I went to see a cardiologist and the results revealed cardiac obstructions. I needed a cardiac catheterization.

I said a prayer and swore if I made it through the cardiac cath, I would get bariatric surgery and I wouldn't look back. Sure enough, my obstructive issues were not life threatening, and my surgery for gastric bypass was approved.

While I was recuperating from the gastric bypass, I made a list of all the reasons I had failed other programs – there were 40 total – and I had friends help me tackle the list one by one so I would not fail this time.

I had the surgery in October 2006, and by January 2007 I had lost 30 pounds. I showed up at White Rock Lake for Luke’s Locker running club and that first morning, I lasted 20 seconds. But by the end of the 15th week, I had lost 50 pounds and was running 5Ks without stopping. So I decided to take up triathlons and took first or second place in every one in my age group. At that point, I was down to 140 pounds. Next, I tackled half marathons and got down to 130 pounds – from a size 18W to a 4 and now a 2.

Last summer, I did my first actual marathon and now I am a coach for Luke’s Locker running club. My nickname is the BUTR coach, or “Bring Up The Rear,” because, like me, I believe the people in the back sometimes need the coaching the most.

As of this year, I have 11 grandkids and am truly happy – completely alive. I just finished boot camp with my 30-year-old daughter, which has helped me get down to my lowest weight yet in the 120s. I am on zero medications and have lowered all my risks for cancer. I owe it all to Dr. Nick. He is truly phenomenal. And he took me through it all so beautifully. I even went on to become a certified bariatric nurse, so now I can assist surgeries and support Dr. Nick’s patients in their own personal journeys. Thanks again, Dr. Nick.
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I had LAP-BAND surgery two years ago. I was 248 pounds and my daughter was a very active 7-year-old. I couldn’t walk from my house to my car because the weight was pressing on my lungs. I had asthma, sleep apnea, migraines and severe high blood pressure. And at the time, I think I was on 12 different prescription medications. MORE

When I talked to my doctor about having bariatric surgery, he would not even let me have it unless I used Dr. Nick. That is how highly esteemed he is in his field. So I went to a seminar and took my husband, who was against me having the surgery. Because Dr. Nick was so personable and available to answer all of our questions and concerns, my husband left that day and said, “You have my blessing.”

Now I can not only walk to my car, but I run, play soccer with my daughter and even help coach her basketball team. My health problems are virtually gone. And I have lost a total of 92 pounds. Being overweight damaged me a great deal, not only physically, but emotionally as well. My self-confidence and self-esteem were non-existent. And now, I feel like a different person. I love to go shopping and actually enjoy looking in the mirror and trying on clothes.

I think of my LAP-BAND as a built-in babysitter. It watches over me, especially when I don’t know what is best for my body. And I owe it all to Dr. Nick and the Nicholson Clinic.
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I was a Division I athlete in college. I'd always had a trainer and a nutritionist, so even though I was 350 pounds, I was only 17% body fat. But after I left college that all changed. I got married. Had two kids. And I found myself suddenly ballooning up to 427 pounds. At only 27 years old, I couldn't play with my kids and was on prescription meds for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high triglycerides, not to mention I was well on my way to type 2 diabetes. I made my mind up: it was time for a change. MORE

When I first met Dr. Nick, I felt like he immediately understood me. At the seminar the energy was absolutely electric. It was motivating. And everyone was so nice and made it seem so easy. The thing is, it actually was easy. Everyone at the Nicholson Clinic is so helpful. No one is stuffy, which made me feel comfortable right from the start.

I decided to have the gastric bypass surgery. And I ended up losing 10 pounds every week for the first 13 weeks. Now, three years later, I weigh 207 pounds, having lost a total of 220 pounds. And everything is gone – the health conditions, the weight, the medications – gone.

The best part of losing the weight is that I feel completely reborn. I can go down the slide with my kids. And something I never even thought of – my sex life with my wife is amazing. Our physical and emotional connection has skyrocketed because of the surgery.

Three years ago, I was well on my way to dying. And now, my biggest goal is having a six-pack. I owe Dr. Nick my life. I love that guy.
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