New Patient Advocate to Speak Up for Weight Loss Options and Good Health

LOS ANGELES, March 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- After losing 90 excess pounds and keeping them off with the help of a sleeve gastrectomy, Lancaster resident Nicole Jones will be spreading the word that there is hope for obese people. It's all part of her new role as the Patient Advocate for Dr. Feiz & Associates, the clinic founded by renowned weight loss specialist Michael Feiz, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Ms. Jones, who has already served as one of Dr. Feiz's monthly patient ambassadors, will be dispensing health tips and information on weight loss procedures on a variety of social media platforms. It's clear her information will be very much in demand.  While people who are already well versed in bariatric procedures may understand what a lap band revision is and how a sleeve gastrectomy differs from a gastric bypass, the public as a whole is largely confused. Ms. Jones will be offering her personal experiences and the first-hand knowledge she's gleaned as she attempts to help others learn how they can seek out a better life.

"A lot of what I'll be doing is just sharing the good experience I had with Dr. Feiz and talking about how different things are now. Before, food was kind of ruling my life. Now I feel like I am the boss of food," Ms. Jones said. "I'll also be talking about the real pluses I've experienced. There's the actual weight I've lost – I used to feel almost like I was going to die if I walked any distance at all – but also the figurative weight being lifted from my shoulders.

"I reached my goal weight about 15-16 months post-surgery. A lot of what I'm going to be talking about will be sharing how I'll be maintaining this. In my case, that means a diet mostly of proteins and greens, avoiding carbs almost completely, and very strictly limiting sugar. I don't drink soda or coffee, only tea and water. I also walk and hike a great deal. I've never been a runner but I find that consistently walking a great deal keeps me in shape. Obviously, of course, other people are going to be doing things differently, but the basic idea of limiting food and increasing exercise is going to be the same. The surgery obviously makes it far easier to keep up this kind of pattern," Ms. Jones said.

Ms. Jones will also be discussing how her treatment went and why felt she made the right decision with her choice of a physician. "Dr. Feiz and his staff have been incredible. They've been very supportive and helpful since the day I first stepped in their office. The support didn't stop after the surgery either. They are very thorough and really care about their patients. At the same time, though, I understand that some people may not be candidates for an operation and others might not feel ready to go the surgical route. For them, I basically say that diets don't work because you go off of them and it's hard to stay in control then. For me, the surgery was what I needed."

"I tell people that it gave me a new lease on life.  We don't get too many opportunities like that in life. I feel blessed that I was able to start over. I hope I can share that idea with a lot of other people now," Ms. Jones said.

For more information on weight loss and such procedures as lap band and sleeve gastrectomy in Valencia, Thousand Oaks, Lancaster, Beverly Hills, and throughout Southern California call (800) 868-5946 today. You can also visit www.DrFeiz.com.

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SOURCE Dr. Feiz and Associates