Posted - March 6, 2025
NO MAGIC PILL – Supplementing Bariatric Surgery with Weight Loss Medications and Lifestyle Strategies
Bariatric surgery is an incredible tool, but long-term success requires an ongoing commitment to lifestyle changes, and sometimes, additional medical support. As a bariatric surgery clinic, our goal is to provide patients with the most effective, evidence-based strategies for weight loss and metabolic health. Whether through surgery, medication, or a combination of both, the ultimate objective is to empower our patients to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives because we know that everybody is somebody’s somebody. We invite you to experience our approach to weight loss - No blame, No shame. Just compassionate care that gets results. Learn More
Posted - February 3, 2025
How Bariatric Surgery Gave Dee a New Lease on Life
As Dee recounts, “Before surgery, I was resigned to a life of increasing limitations. My weight was impacting my health and mobility. I avoided going to the doctor out of fear of confirmation that my body was breaking down under the strain. Standing for just a few moments was painful, and walking any significant distance felt impossible.”
Emotionally, she felt trapped. Grief from losing her parents, guilt over her weight and shame about how others might perceive her kept me from living her life. Dee hid from the world and avoided cameras, unable and unwilling to face what she had become.
Despite trying every diet, exercise regimen and weight loss solution imaginable, she couldn’t keep the weight off. Her metabolism was failing and she began to see signs of obesity-related health conditions. It was at this point, Dee knew something had to change. Learn More
Posted - January 9, 2025
Not Sure How to Incorporate Fitness and Exercise Into Your Life After Weight Loss Surgery? Follow These 10 Steps.
After weight loss surgery, your body is still healing, so it's important to ease into exercise. Begin with low-impact activities like walking, gentle stretching, or swimming. These activities are easy on your joints and can help build stamina. Aim for 10 to 15 minutes a day, and gradually increase the duration and intensity as your strength improves and your surgeon clears you for more vigorous exercise. Learn More
Posted - December 10, 2024
Lessons I’ve Learned from Working with Bariatric Surgery Patients
Working with bariatric patients has shown me that their journey is one of resilience, transformation, and courage. It’s about much more than weight loss—it’s about reclaiming health, confidence, and self-worth. For anyone considering weight loss surgery or supporting someone on this path, remember: it’s a deeply personal process, and success comes from understanding both the challenges and the triumphs along the way. From a provider perspective, we do right by our patients when we meet them where they are. That’s why at Weight Loss Specialists of North Texas, we offer compassionate care, without blame and without shame. As Dr. Ayoola likes to say, “If obesity is part of your story, you don’t have to hide. You can lose the weight, regain your health, improve your quality of life and feel great about yourself.” Learn More
Posted - November 7, 2024
Understanding BMI and How it Determines Obesity Treatment Options
BMI serves as a valuable tool for categorizing weight status and guiding initial treatment decisions, but it is not the only factor in obesity management. Medications are typically suitable for individuals with a BMI of 27 - 35, but the individual’s weight loss goal needs to be considered. Surgery is generally reserved for those with a BMI of 35 or higher and serious health issues, or for individuals with a BMI of 40 or more. Each treatment plan must be personalized, factoring in the patient’s health status, previous efforts to lose weight, and their readiness for potential lifelong changes. Learn More
Posted - October 9, 2024
How Brandy Got Her Life Back
After watching her mother die at just 52 years old (she weighed over 600 pounds), Brandy could see she was headed for the exact same fate, “I was following the same path, with a heart doctor telling me I wouldn’t live past my 40s if I didn’t take drastic action. I had lost mobility, was on the brink of being bedridden and suffered from type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, neuropathy, and heart problems.” For Brandy, the choice was clear - lose weight or die. She decided that her only hope was weight loss surgery. Learn More
Posted - July 5, 2024
DOs and DONTs of Eating Out After Weight Loss Surgery
Food. It’s necessary for your survival, but if you’ve battled obesity, the thought of food can trigger all kinds of thoughts, reactions and emotions. For post-weight loss-surgery patients, food can no longer be used as a way to deal with stress or emotions, instead, it requires a disciplined and intentional approach to ensure you’re consuming the right amounts of the right kind of food. This is most easily accomplished through cooking your own meals, but let’s be real - it’s nice to take a break and let someone else do the cooking every now and then! Let’s take a look at how to successfully navigate the times when you aren’t eating at home.
Eating out at restaurants after weight loss surgery requires careful planning and mindful choices to ensure you adhere to your dietary guidelines and maintain your weight loss progress. Here are some tips for successful dining out post-surgery: Learn More
Posted - June 5, 2024
BMI Over 40? The Duodenal Switch is Your Best Option.
Knowing which weight loss option is right for you can be confusing, overwhelming and even a little scary. A quick Google search will provide you with a nearly unlimited list of the “best” ways to lose weight. But for those who continue to struggle and continue to put on pounds, there ARE options that can give you real results that last a lifetime. One of those is the duodenal switch. The duodenal switch typically results in greater weight loss compared to other bariatric procedures like gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy. Patients can lose up to 70-80% of their excess weight within two years post-surgery. Learn More
Posted - March 11, 2024
Worth the Fight
Faced with the harsh reality of either making changes or living a life of declining health, Alecia decided to fight. As she puts it “I have two young kids that I need to be here for.” So what did she do? The first thing she did was contact her insurance company to see what options she had, “They had this program and I wanted the top doctor in North Texas. The doctor that came up was Dr. Ayoola." Learn More
Posted - January 4, 2024
Getting Back to Her Best
Active and athletic. That’s how Mandy Crowell describes herself. She also remembers growing up in a house where both parents worked and most of the meals were quick, easy and not all that nutritious. But it was the 80’s and “clean eating” just meant you used a napkin to wipe your mouth! So she never really learned good eating habits, but it didn’t really matter because she was young and busy playing sports. Learn More
