Page 57 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2016

Cates was able to have her pre-operative work done in Meridian, the city where she works. She is employed as a registered nurse at Cardiovascular Institute of the South.
“I would be embarrassed when my doctors asked me to tell patients they had to lose weight. I always felt out of place being so big, and being a cardiology nurse,” she said. Before her surgery, she would arrive home from work exhausted with aching legs and feet. She now has energy to spare, and exercises regularly.
Cates had Gastric Sleeve surgery done in April 2014 at Singing River Hospital. It is a restrictive type of bariatric surgery that permanently reduces the size of the stomach.
“I had the surgery on a Monday, and I ended up at the hospital for two nights instead of one because there was really bad weather at home, and the surgeon said he would prefer I stay where I was safe,” she said.
She is 5 foot, 1 inch tall, had weighed 262 pounds and wore a size 26 pants at the time of her procedure.
LEFT: ANGELA CATES after losing nearly 90 pounds with help from South Mississippi Surgical Weight Loss Center. RIGHT: Cates before her weight loss.
She lost 50 pounds in the first six months. Her big- gest adjustment was getting on a schedule with eating, drinking and taking vitamin supplements. She makes healthier food choices for her family, and when they sit down for a meal, she eats off a saucer instead of a din- ner plate. She will order an appetizer or share a meal when they go out to eat.
Today at age 44, she weighs 175 pounds and is a size 12 pants.
“I have a 22-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old son. I love it when they refer to me as ‘when you were the old Mama,’” Cates said. Also living with her is a 15-year-old stepson.
One of her patients was so amazed at her weight loss, that he also had the surgery done at South Mis- sissippi Surgical Weight Loss Center, and has lost 90 pounds.
“My surgery was 100 percent textbook. I did not have one complication. I had a wonderful experience with the center,” Cates said. “My life does not revolve around food anymore — food is simply fuel.”
THE STAFF at South Mississippi Surgical Weight Loss Center
South Mississippi Surgical Weight Loss Center
1124 Oakleigh Road, Ocean Springs 228.872.7277 • www.smsurgicalweightloss.com
FREE INFORMATION SEMINAR Tuesday, Dec. 13, or Tuesday, Dec. 27 both at 5:30 p.m.
FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net
December 2016 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 57