Author: Leslie Toldo
After 21 years in the Air Force, Herb Simpson retired. He also started putting on weight.
“I have always been a big, athletic guy,” Herb said. “I was accustomed to eating large quantities of food quickly when I was in the service- hurry up and get back to your job. When I retired, I kept that up, but I wasn’t as active. It caught up with me.”
Over the next ten years, Herb’s weight inched up from 228 pounds at retirement to 314 pounds. It was taking a huge toll on him.
“My body was breaking down. I needed a knee replacement, my feet hurt, and I was fighting multiple health issues at once,” Herb said.
Dieting wasn’t working for Herb. The Veterans Administration suggested Herb try a GLP-1 agonist shot for weight loss. These shots mimic your body’s natural GLP-1 hormone, which helps regulate blood sugar, slow digestion, and lower the appetite.
“I didn’t want to take the shots, lose weight, stop taking the shots, and gain all of the weight back,” Herb said. “I needed something more. My sister and one of my friends went through the McLaren Bariatric and Metabolic Institute. I decided to try that.”
In 2024, Herb met with Dr. Michael Kia to discuss bariatric surgery and its benefits.
“Although a lot of people are successfully losing weight with GLP-1’s, the research shows bariatric surgery provides greater weight loss, has more success resolving type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea, and offers a lasting solution to altering the body’s metabolic processes,” said Dr. Kia. “We offer patients the support they need to succeed not only before surgery, but after, when they need it the most.”
Herb had gastric bypass surgery. During the procedure, the surgeon creates a small stomach pouch and reroutes the small intestine to reduce calorie and nutrient absorption. This limits the amount of food the patient can eat afterwards, altering hunger hormones and digestion.
“The surgery went really well. Dr. Kia was down-to-earth, but very direct and honest. He was available to me and very accommodating,” said Herb.
Herb embraced a new way of life, and a new way of looking at his relationship with food.
“I began to understand why I was eating so much. I had PTSD issues, and I grew up thinking it was normal to eat large quantities of food,” Herb said. “The most helpful thing is the forced compliance. I can’t eat like I used to anymore.”
Herb’s scale is now hovering between 225 and 232 pounds, but the best part of life after bariatric surgery is how Herb feels.
“I am enjoying food more,” Herb said. “Because you are living in today, you really don’t see or feel the weight loss so much as you notice it is easier to get up and down stairs.”
The weight loss made it possible for Herb to get a knee replacement. He was not a candidate before bariatric surgery.
“I consider myself a success story, and I share my experience with others when I think it will be helpful,” Herb said.
To learn more about the McLaren Flint Bariatric and Metabolic Institute, visit mclaren.org/flintbariatrics.