‘It was a tool to turn my life around’
Mother of two lost 57 kilograms after procedure, reducing her risks of developing diabetes and cancer, which run in her family
Sahar Al Azri had always maintained a healthy weight. But new motherhood changed things, and the 33-year-old Emirati gained more than 40 kilograms in just three years.
“At my heaviest, I weighed 103 kilograms. My knees couldn’t handle the weight, and I was terrified when a scan revealed pre-cancerous cells in my ovaries. I didn’t want to become diabetic, and I knew I had to do something,” Al Azri, a homemaker, told Gulf News.
The mother of two was even beginning to get depressed, not liking her reflection in the mirror.
“I began to consider surgery as a tool to turn my life around, and although my husband was initially opposed to the idea, he saw how important effective weight loss became to my wellbeing,” Al Azri recounts.
Once she decided that bariatric surgery was an option, Al Azri had to undergo a series of psychological consults …. while sticking to dietary requirements. In May 2016, Al Azri underwent a gastric bypass at Healthpoint.
Liquid diet
“I was dazed when I regained consciousness after the surgery, and there was definitely some pain and discomfort. I also had to adhere to a liquid diet for a few weeks, and I was exhausted during the first few weeks because I was eating so little. All in all, though, the discomfort eventually passed,” she said.
Most encouragingly, the weight loss was quite rapid and within a year and a half, Al Azri had lost 57 kilograms.
“What I learnt was that the surgery was a tool. It was not responsible for the weight loss entirely, and I myself had to make lasting changes,” she said.
For instance, Al Azri now ensures that she does not opt for fast food for more than one meal a week, and she has replaced her carbohydrate-heavy meals with portions of vegetables and fruits. She also avoids indulging in desserts, and spends an hour at the gym four days a week.
“I am definitely far less tired now, given that I can fit in a gym session after finishing all my household chores. And I am more comfortable with myself,” Al Azri said.
She added that she had heard of adverse outcomes after bariatric surgery, and her own mother-in-law had had to remain in intensive care after a weight-loss procedure.
“But my family has a history of diabetes and cancer. Knowing obesity is a contributor to these risks, I am glad I was able to use surgery to get my life back on track,” Al Azri said.