Jay Hunt, the BBC TV presenter, writer and lifestyle expert, had battled with her weight for several years, trying endless failed diets. Her sweet tooth tormented her, and her weight crept up after yo-yo dieting to a BMI of 35, with her health starting to suffer. In July 2008 she finally accepts that a different long term solution is the only way and opts for a gastric bypass, which was performed in August 2008. She recalled Hala El Shafie, Vita Clinics London based Dietician who also runs the Harley Nutrition Clinic, telling her that her pre-op liver-shrinking diet would be her last ever diet!
Since her surgery Jay has kept a diary of her ups and downs, detailing the ongoing support and advice she has had from Hala. She especially recalled how Hala helped her to understand her (temporary) feelings of ‘head hunger’ a week or two after the gastric bypass operation. Hala in particular helped Jay come to terms with the different reactions from friends and family, one friend questioning why she didn’t opt for the “less drastic option” of a gastric band. Few people realise that whilst gastric bypass is a technically more difficult operation, the aftercare and follow-up is less complicated and risky, with no band adjustments (also known as ‘band fills’) to worry about.
Jay has a great and interesting theory about the reaction to her weight loss from females, saying “my theory is that women are supportive until you get to their dress size, then it’s war”. At christmas time, she talks about how her noticeable weight loss and the attention she recieved proved quite difficult to deal with. It is clear as well that Hala was to work closely with Jay over the following year to help her adjust to a lifelong dietary change as a result of the surgery, especially to avoid weight gain which can still happen! This emphasises the importance of specialist aftercare – few patients can do it on their own even after ’successful’ weight loss surgery.
Twelve months after her gastric bypass, Jay has lost 5 stone 2 pounds. It’s certain that without the surgery she wouldn’t have done it, and likely that without Hala’s expert help she wouldn’t have succeeded either. Jay says “..I cry with gratitude about my weight and the fact that I’ve got my head straight about food…. I know surgery is a tool and I will always have to keep an eye on what I eat. For the first time in my life, I feel in control of food, rather than it controlling me, and I don’t feel like I’m on any kind of diet…. living in ‘thin world’ for the first time ever is just as wonderful as I ever thought it would be”.
To read more about Jay’s journey click here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-1210699/TV-presenter-Jay-Hunt-gastric-bypass-Fat-longer-ruin-life.html?ITO=1490
For more inspiring patient stories see our Patient Stories page. To see how we can help transform your life and health and take you to the ‘thin world’ contact us now.
