Page 108 - South Mississippi Living - November, 2018

HEALTHY LIVING vertical sleeve gastrectomy BECOMING A
ROLE
Quentin Watkins inspires his son with help from South Mississippi Surgical Weight Loss
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster U photos courtesy of Quentin Watkins
nfortunately bullying Loss met me right at the center of is a common practice, my needs,” he said. “They offered
and one that negatively great customer service, an amazing affects children in reputation, excellent care and
particular. Quentin support that I’ll never forget.” Watkins had always struggled with After meeting with his doctor,
his weight, as has his son Isaiah. Watkins opted to undergo a vertical
However, when Isaiah started being bullied at school because of his weight, Watkins knew he had to show his son that weight was an obstacle that could be overcome, one that would not define him as a person.
“My son is the number one reason I ever considered weight loss surgery,” Watkins said. “He’s been my biggest motivation throughout this process. I realized that I needed to be better for him, and I wanted him to see me living this healthy lifestyle and know that anything is possible.”
Going into the process, Watkins knew he needed to find a place that understood him and could help him reach his weight loss goals. “South Mississippi Surgical Weight
sleeve gastrectomy, largely due to it being minimally invasive. “This was the perfect kick start to my weight loss journey and has produced many great benefits,” he said. “For one, I have lost over 150 pounds! This has definitely given me more confidence in myself and in my daily performance. I’ve also gained muscle mass and a more toned physique. Most importantly,
I no longer have to take blood pressure medicines or use a CPAP machine for sleep apnea.”
Watkins says that overall he had
a great experience despite facing a few obstacles. “One major challenge came from the fact that I didn’t have the support from my family and friends that I truly desired,” he said. “Instead, my support came from the
QUENTIN WATKINS has lost over 150 pounds.
108 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • November 2018 FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net