After losing 154 pounds, Scott Ledford now bicycles over 5,000 miles a year, yet just two-and-a-half years ago, Scott weighed almost 350 pounds and struggled with both high blood pressure and sleep apnea.
Read Scott’s story below.
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“As far back as I can remember I had been overweight,” Scott said. “I remember being 7 or 8 years old and playing football and already having stretch marks on my skin. I had basically been trying for 20 years to do something about my weight.”
At one point, Scott even dropped 70 pounds – only to watch as he regained every ounce of it.
“I just got sick of dealing with all my health issues, and I realized I had to do something drastic – not only for my health but for my family,” Scott said.
Scott cast a wide net in search of answers, scouring web databases and talking with acquaintances. And it was those discussions that supplied him with life-changing advice.
“I have two friends who are actually patients of Dr. Richard’s and spoke very highly of him,” Scott said. “So, I decided I would go meet with him and see what I could find out. In that first meeting he made me feel comfortable and answered all the questions I had. Really, Dr. Richard and the staff at Longstreet made it a breeze for me. Whenever I have a question, they are there for me.”
“I went ahead and stopped eating sugars and breads when I filled out the paperwork for my surgery, six weeks ahead of time,” Scott said. “It is an adjustment, but when you make that decision to do something like this you have to go all the way with the commitment. And I was trying to follow the manual. I know a person who had the same surgery at the same time and has not put the same effort into it. She’s not done as well.”
Scott, meanwhile, stuck to the task so well that he could be his own success manual at this point.
“For the first time in my life I’m considered an athlete!” chuckled Scott, who has lost 154 pounds since his operation, took part in the Bike Ride Across Georgia (BRAG) and competed in numerous races, including three duathlons. “I’m doing things right now that I would never had thought possible in a thousand years. I picked up this habit of riding bicycles. On weekend rides I’ll leave my house in Clermont and be gone for four-five hours straight. I hope to get in at least 6,000 miles this year.”
Scott no longer requires blood pressure medication or the aid of a CPAP mask in order to sleep properly, and he actually weighs less now than he did in high school. Yet for all the gains, Scott knows he must stay on the path he began with Dr. Richard months ago.
“It’s been an interesting, exciting journey, but you have to put your whole effort into it,” Scott said. “Even though I have had to modify my diet because of all the exercise I do, I still eat off a saucer-sized plate. I have to keep taking my vitamins, and I have to work to make sure I get enough water.
“But it’s a life-changing decision I’m definitely glad I made.”
No surgery is without risks. To learn of all the potential risks with weight loss surgery, click here.
The decision to have weight loss surgery is more than just a quick fix – it’s a lifelong journey. But for many who make the decision to change their lives, the long-term effects mean more than just a smaller number on the scale. We invite you to explore just a few of the many tremendous stories we witness each day.
Our specialized bariatric care team is here to answer your questions and help you achieve your weight loss goals.
Our bariatric team includes experienced surgeons, medical weight loss specialists and a registered dietitian.
Longstreet Clinic Center for Weight Management has three convenient locations across Northeast Georgia plus telehealth options making appointments available across the U.S.