Prior to gastric bypass surgery with Dr. Daniel Smith at St. Joseph’s Center for Weight Management in Park Rapids, MN, Sherry and Terry Peterson joined their local Grand Rapids, MN, YMCA to get moving. It was a struggle for them to walk their first quarter of a mile. Sherry weighed 342 pounds, Terry’s peak weight was 390. “Right then we knew that unless we could lose some weight, we would never be able to really exercise and get into shape again,” Terry says. “By shape at that time I would have been happy just to be able to not feel horrible after working all day in front of my computer.” Since the latter part of 2007, the pair have worked to shed 352 pounds, the equivalent of two adult people. Neither of them relish looking at their before pictures, although they wear the same great smiles and have the same vibrant personalities. The weight loss spurred their efforts to exercise. The same person who wrote the introduction above can now crank out a 30-minute workout on the elliptical machine. Terry, a youth football coach, runs with the kids during practice. They are planning to participate in the Northwoods Triathlon in Nevis, MN, now called “Leah’s Triathlon” by many Center for Weight Management’s participants who have answered the challenge posed by Leah Walters, RD, LD, CDE, the Center’s bariatric coordinator. Sherry says she “can’t wait” to participate. Both are training for their portion of the event.

In it together

Terry and Sherry exchanged vows four years ago, each considering gastric bypass surgery prior to getting married. They decided to have the surgery as a team and become a support system for one another. Terry struggled with excess body weight his entire life, but was able to keep it somewhat under control playing sports. Once he began working in the computer industry that changed. “My weight increased until it ballooned out of control,” he says. He came close to weighing 400 pounds. Blood pressure became an issue. While coaching kids’ sports, he could no longer demonstrate activities. Playing with his own children became taxing. Sherry, too, discovered weighing 342 pounds had its limitations. It was hard for her to walk. Working on her feet for eight hours a day hurt her feet and back to the point she could barely walk by the end of the day. Once they decided to have gastric bypass, they began shopping for a program since their home town of Grand Rapids no longer provided the service. “I can’t even begin to say how glad I am that Terry and I chose Park Rapids,” Sherry says. “The quality of care so far surpassed every expectation we had. I tell everyone how absolutely wonderful Dr. Dan Smith and his team performed.” Terry agrees. “We immediately knew this was the place for us.” In 2007, just before Thanksgiving, Sherry underwent her procedure followed by Terry two weeks later.

Partners on a mission

Sherry’s initial thought following the surgery was how surprisingly hungry her brain remained even though her stomach was not. That’s when having Terry by her side proved to be a great comfort and source of support. (Even though she jokes about how it initially drove her nuts to watch him lose weight at a faster rate.) “There is no better support than going through this with your best friend,” Sherry says. Prior to their surgeries the Petersons began their workout routine at the YMCA. “We weren’t in physical shape to do anything else besides walking,” Terry says. “I continued walking, and, as soon as I was given the go-ahead, I tried working out on the elliptical machine. His first attempt on the machine lasted 15 minutes and left him feeling pretty good. In college he played racquetball competitively, so he set a new goal to play the sport he loves so much once again. It had been 10 years since he last played, and he was excited to keep losing weight which eased the pain from his knees and ankles. As he shed the weight he started feeling better both on and off the court. Terry coaches youth football with friends, one of whom is notorious for encouraging a strenuous running program after practice to get the kids in shape. “I decided the first night of practice that I was going to run with the kids,” he says. “I made it and was able to do it multiple times without trouble. Prior to my surgery and weight loss, I wouldn’t have even tried to complete it.” Sherry’s energy level also went from being exhausted after five minutes on the elliptical machine to feeling good after a 30-minute routine. Terry has lost close to 175 pounds and wears the same sized clothing as when he graduated from high school. He’s back to playing competitive racquetball, something he thought he would never be able to do again in his life. “Dr. Smith and his fabulous team have basically given me a new life,” he says. He has energy, can play with the kids, and is no longer on any medications. Sherry is down 177 pounds and boasts a new spirit and positive energy about herself. She is training hard to carry her portion of the team triathlon in August; a quarter-mile swim in Lake Belle Taine. “I wouldn’t have been able to do this a year ago,” she admits. Terry will take on the 14-mile bike ride at the triathlon. No sweat for someone with a training buddy like Sherry at his side.