meet jason & nicole

Summary

Nicole Burdett and Jason Williams have been friends for over 20 years. In 2017, they made the life-changing decision to undergo the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy. Prior to surgery, Nicole, a 38-year-old mom and lawyer, weighed 215 pounds. Jason, a 46-year-old father and lawyer, weighed 266 pounds. As a result of the surgery and their dedication to a healthier life, Nicole and Jason now weigh 126 and 193 pounds, respectively.

The best decision of their lives

Like many of our patients, Jason researched the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy a lot prior his first appointment. He feared the surgery would cause extensive gastric distress or change his biology. Nicole was more familiar with the surgery and, like friends do, helped Jason understand the surgery simply made “your belly smaller.” Both Nicole and Jason refer to weight loss surgery as the best decision of their lives.

Research

We love positive feedback from our patients. Listen to hear why Nicole and Jason chose our team for their weight loss procedures.

Eating Habits

Nicole and Jason live in New Orleans where food is a way of life. In New Orleans, people make lunch plans at breakfast. After Nicole and Jason underwent the Laparoscopic Sleeve, food became more of a health sustaining feature and less of a social necessity. This isn’t to say Nicole and Jason stopped socializing over food; it is simply less food and more conversating now. Moreover, Nicole and Jason started working through lunch rather than, like most New Orleanians, going out for a three-course lunch. Instead of feeling bloated and exhausted after lunch, Nicole and Jason feel energized and ready to conquer the afternoon.

These kinds of eating habit changes lead to the incredible weight loss that Nicole and Jason have experienced. After the procedure, Jason immediately began to notice the mass of his body shrinking. In addition, he finally began to see the results of his workouts. For Nicole, it was less than a month before she needed to shop for new, smaller clothes. She immediately began to feel more confident.

More confidence

Prior to surgery, Jason would wake up feeling tired. His fatigue would follow him throughout the day, worsen after an unhealthy lunch, and leave him feeling bloated and unhappy at the end of each day. He attempted to cure his unhealthy eating habits and fatigue with long workouts and crash diets, but the results never lasted. Jason knew he could feel and look better, but something had to change.

Likewise, Nicole felt discouraged every time she went to the gym. One day in particular really sticks out to her – the day Jason invited her to a yoga class. The reality of her limited physical capabilities was never clearer than when she couldn’t even stretch the way the yoga class instructed her.

The Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy has allowed Nicole and Jason to take back control of their lives. Now, Jason wakes up feeling energized and ready to tackle a day in the courtroom. He’s achieved long-term sustained results from his healthy eating habits and workouts. Similarly, Nicole has regained her confidence. Rather than always remaining behind the scenes at work, Nicole now enjoys taking more of a driver seat approach in the courtroom. The Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy didn’t change Nicole and Jason, it simply gave them the confidence to be who knew they always knew they could be.

shopping after bariatric surgery

Many people struggling with obesity will dread shopping or getting dressed in the morning. Clothes serve as a constant reminder that we aren’t the size we want to be. No matter how many different styles or colors Jason would buy, he still felt uncomfortable and disappointed. Today, because of the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy, Nicole and Jason enjoy buying new clothes. The dressing room isn’t the same miserable place. According to Nicole and Jason, clothes look and fit better giving them more confidence.

cravings

For Nicole and Jason, cravings do not exist anymore. Because of the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy, their relationship with food has changed completely. Nicole used to love sweets at night before bed. She frequently ordered dessert after dinner. Now, Nicole eats to sustain her health, not to satisfy cravings. Rather than eating until she feels overly full and sluggish, Nicole fills her life with things that make her feel more confident and happier. Jason used to crave pizza and fried food. He loved those famous New Orleans fried shrimp po’boys. Rather than indulge in an entire pizza or two po’boys for lunch, Jason will eat a small, but satisfying portion. Like Nicole, Jason eats to sustain his health, not to over-indulge.

recovery

As attorneys and parents, Jason and Nicole do not have the luxury to take extended vacations, so recovery time from the procedure needed to be quick. Initially, Jason and Nicole feared the recovery time would be weeks. They were pleasantly surprised to learn the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy recovery time is minimal. Both returned to work and normal activities within a couple days. Nicole event went furniture shopping with her mom within three days of her procedure. According to Jason and Nicole, recovering from the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy is easier than recovering from the flu.

their to-do list

Nicole and Jason are attorneys, parents, colleagues, etc. Their to-do list is probably longer than most. Prior to surgery, their list of errands and work seemed daunting and exhausting. Nicole recalls times when she dreaded just getting out of the car, grabbing the kids, and running those errands. Everything felt like a burden. Now, they find it much easier to keep going throughout the day. They don’t experience the same “crashing” as they would before surgery. Despite the extreme New Orleans heat. They tackle errands, work, tee ball games and everything else life throws at them with more energy and positivity.

portion sizes

Nicole and Jason live in New Orleans where food is a way of life. In New Orleans, people make lunch plans at breakfast. Prior to undergoing the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy, Jason’s dinner consisted of an appetizer (or two), a salad, soup, entrée, and dessert. According to Jason, his weight reflected the amount of food he was consuming. Now, rather than over-indulging, Jason spends more time socializing at the dinner table. He consumes the same delicious New Orleans food, but in much smaller portions.

Growing up in Louisiana, Nicole and Jason were taught to finish their plate before leaving the family dinner table. This same lesson has carried onto in adulthood; however, the biggest difference is the portion sizes. In America, our portion sizes have increased significantly. For example, in 1916, a Coca Cola was served in a 6.5 fluid oz. bottle containing 79 calories, but today, a 16 oz. bottle of Coke has 194 calories. In 1955, McDonald’s French fries were 210 calories for a 2.4 oz. serving and in 2004, McDonald’s fries were 610 calories for a 7 oz. serving. For Nicole and Jason, the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy allowed them to reset their portion sizes, spend more time socializing with friends and family, and spend less time over-indulging with food.

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