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The best care possible
Nick Limberopoulos
Feb, 2022
Physicians: Teri Peak, NP
If you are struggling with obesity and other health-related problems because of your weight, you are not alone and it’s time to get help. Take the first step to living the life you have always imagined.
Visit lakelandweightlosscenter.com/onlineseminar to watch a free, online seminar and complete a short evaluation.
Nick Limberopoulos couldn't recall a time in his life when he wasn’t overweight. Even as a young child, his parents were concerned with his consistent weight gain. Over the years he had tried to lose weight, and would be successful for a period, until he eventually fell back into his old habits. At his heaviest, he weighed 345 pounds. In addition to sleep apnea and high blood pressure, Nick’s weight also kept him from spending time with his five children.
“It was hard to see my parents able to keep up with their grandkids better than I could,” said Nick. “I just didn’t have the energy.”
Nick also suffered from a hernia which occurs when an organ or tissue pushes through a weak spot in a surrounding muscle or connective tissue. To have the hernia surgically repaired, he would need to lose weight first.
“I knew in order to lose the weight, and keep it off, I needed to find a more permanent solution,” said Nick.
The 46-year-old Niles resident decided to seek bariatric care at the Spectrum Health Lakeland Weight Loss Center. After an initial consultation, Nick began six months of shared medical appointments to prepare him for surgery.
“The support I received from everyone at the weight loss center was integral to my success,” said Nick. “I really enjoyed the shared medical appointments because it made you realize you weren’t alone.”
With the help of registered dietitians and nurse practitioner, Teri Peak, NP, Nick also learned a lot about how his eating habits and portion control played into his weight gain.
“I was surprised to learn how much your mental state impacts your weight,” said Nick. “I had to reprogram my brain to eat five to six small meals throughout the day as opposed to one or two really large meals like I used to. I also discovered many different foods that I enjoyed that actually filled me up.”
After discussing with his care team, Nick decided a vertical sleeve gastrectomy was the best procedure for his health. The surgery is done using a minimally invasive approach that removes a large portion of the stomach, approximately 60 to 80%, leaving a banana-shaped “sleeve.” With a smaller stomach, patients feel full a lot quicker.
Nick recently celebrated two years since his surgery and said his only regret is not having it done sooner. He is down 165 pounds, no longer needs to use his CPAP machine, and is taking a fraction of the medications to manage his blood pressure. And most importantly, he’s able to keep up with family again.
“I look better, I feel better—overall my life has improved in so many ways,” said Nick. “My activity level has increased dramatically and I’m in an entirely different space mentally. I never knew life could be this good.”