Through thick and thin

Wayne and Tiffany Cain do everything together, but having bariatric surgery at the same time wasn’t on their bucket list. Now they can’t imagine going through their weight loss journey any other way.

When the couple got married 11 years ago, they were always on the go, juggling the busy schedules of their blended family’s four active sons. Between baseball, football, swimming, band and karate, it was hard to find time for a healthy meal.

“We were always taking the kids from one activity to the next,” said Tiffany. “Grabbing food at the drive-through was our norm and the pounds started piling on.”

Ten years later and a combined 150 pounds heavier, Wayne and Tiffany knew they needed to make a lifestyle change to enjoy the next phase of their lives.

“We were empty-nesters, looking forward to traveling and playing with grandkids, but our weight was causing serious health problems,” said Wayne. Tiffany was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and Wayne was pre-diabetic. Both of them struggled with sleep apnea, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Wake-up call

Though a friend of hers had bariatric (weight loss) surgery and lost more than 100 pounds, for years, Tiffany dismissed the idea and tried to lose weight on her own.

“I thought I could do it myself, but being diagnosed with diabetes was my wake-up call,” she said. “Nothing was working for either of us.”

“I had given up,” Wayne added. “I figured I would be the size of a blimp for the rest of my life.”

Wayne and Tiffany Cain before surgery.

Tiffany wasn’t going to let that happen. She started researching bariatric surgery and eventually made an appointment for both of them to see Steven Hodgett, MD, a surgeon at Baptist Center for Bariatric Surgery.

“We were both hesitant at first,” said Wayne. “It felt like admitting failure, but at the same time we had no success losing weight on our own, and the numbers on the scale just kept getting higher.”

“Only 5% of morbidly obese patients – or those who are at extreme risk for serious health issues – are able to achieve long-term, meaningful weight loss on their own,” said Dr. Hodgett. “Having bariatric surgery greatly increases the likelihood of success.”

In fact, bariatric surgery is the most effective weight loss solution for morbid obesity, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Searching for a solution

To qualify for weight loss surgery, patients must have a body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat based on height and weight, greater than 40, or greater than 35 with weight-related medical issues. Patients also must have attempted weight loss through behavioral modification or medical treatment and be committed to long-term lifestyle changes.

“The more we learned, the clearer it became that surgery was our best option,” said Wayne.

The couple scheduled sleeve gastrectomy surgeries on the same day, just two hours apart. With this procedure, stomach size is reduced by about 80%, leaving a banana-shaped sleeve. The surgeon removes the portion of the stomach that produces the hormone responsible for feelings of hunger. The procedure is minimally invasive, with small incisions and quick recovery.

“I was being rolled into the operating room and saw Dr. Hodgett, who had just finished up with Tiffany. He told me she did well,” said Wayne. “I started counting backward from 10 and then I woke up in recovery next to my wife.”

Life after surgery

Five months after their surgeries, Wayne and Tiffany have each lost 70 pounds. They are both dedicated to living a healthy lifestyle, eating small, high-protein meals and walking 1-3 miles most days.

“It’s not a magic wand, but now our goals are attainable,” said Wayne. “We both have to work hard, but doing it together makes it so much easier.”

The couple recently took a trip to Disney World, where they walked an average of 10 miles a day. Wayne recalls visiting a theme park with this son years prior where he was asked to get off of a ride due to his size.

“Those days are gone now,” he said. Also gone are the health conditions that threatened to shorten their lives.

“We got heavy together, and now we’re getting healthy together,” said Tiffany. “We never thought we’d experience this quality of life again.”

The Baptist Center for Bariatrics is a nationally accredited center of excellence. For more information, visit baptistjax.com/weight loss or call 904.202.SLIM.