Felicia Singh “gets her life back” after bariatric surgery

After years of struggling to lose weight and keep it off, Felicia Singh, 35, began to feel that she was faced with a decision: undergo weight loss surgery or risk damaging her health.

Singh started gaining weight after her first child at age 20, which continued as her two girls got older — even though Singh stayed active with fitness classes and hiking.

“With school, soccer, and other activities, we were running around all the time,” she said, “So I went for fast and convenient when it came to food. I would lose a lot of weight by doing something like Boot Camp, then gain it all right back and then some.”

Even though her husband was unconditionally supportive, Singh felt that her weight was getting in the way of doing everything she’d like to with her girls. And she also knew that she wanted to be as healthy as possible for them as well as for herself.

“I knew that I had to take my life back,” Singh said. “I didn’t want to show my girls that burning yourself out and putting yourself last was normal. I needed them to know that life is about balance. I just really wanted to be a role model for them, and the only way to do that is to lead by example. So eventually I went to my husband and said, ‘You know what? I think I need help. I think I need surgery.’”

Up until then, Singh had resisted surgery.

“I thought it was giving in,” she admitted. “But eventually I knew in my heart that I wouldn’t be able to lose weight without it. So, I decided it was time.”

Decisions and tests

Singh’s insurance company referred her to Kelly Blair, MD at MultiCare’s Puget Sound region Center for Weight Loss & Wellness. Singh liked him right away.

“Dr. Blair told me, ‘We’re in this together,’” she said. “He could tell my husband was supportive. He said, ‘You’ve got a team. We got this,’”

Dr. Blair explained the two different options for bariatric surgery: gastric sleeve and gastric bypass. Singh opted for gastric sleeve surgery

Next, she underwent a number of tests, including a physical exam, a chest X-ray, blood work and nutrition and psychological assessments. Singh’s primary care doctor then approved the surgery, which was scheduled for January 2020.

Moving ahead

Singh’s gastric sleeve surgery was performed by Dr. Blair using a laparoscope, requiring only small incisions in her abdomen. It went well and she experienced minimal pain afterwards.

“I stayed just one night at MultiCare Covington Medical Center and the nurse was amazing,” she said. “She would ask me every two hours if I wanted to walk and I’d say, ‘Let’s do it.’ That’s what allowed me to go home as soon as I did.”

The first few days after surgery went smoothly. Singh ate popsicles and drank clear protein drinks while watching shows on Netflix.

But her biggest challenge during recovery came when it was time to start eating soft foods.

“My family and I are very close and we like to sit down at the table together for dinner,” Singh said. “The first night I joined them after the surgery, they all had beautiful, lovely food and I had watered-down pudding. I wasn’t hungry, but when I saw their food, I wanted it.”

In the beginning, she would have to leave the table to be by herself in the bedroom, sometimes in tears. But as the weeks went by and Singh learned how to portion her meals, things got better. She was able to eat a wide variety of foods up to 900 calories a day and began joining her family again for meals.

Restructuring eating habits

Adjusting her food habits took some time, Singh says. For a while she found herself struggling with food choices which limited her ability to eat more nutritious food. She wasn’t losing weight as quickly as she wanted and had to take a look at why.

“When I went to my dietitian appointments, I tried to be as honest as I could be, because how could she help me if I’m not telling the truth?” Singh says.

Her dietitian would listen without judgment and gently help her correct course. The biggest turning point in Singh’s diet came when the dietitian gave Singh a form listing healthy foods on one side and “treat” foods on the other. Singh used the form to structure her grocery shopping and meals, learning how to eat foods that nourish her body. Soon she began to feel better, have more energy and lose weight faster.

Six months after surgery, Singh was able to start exercising more seriously and raised her caloric intake from 900 to 1,000 each day under the guidance of her dietitian.

Today, Singh has lost a total of 180 pounds. She exudes vibrancy, with a clear-eyed strength and an easy smile and laugh. She has more energy for herself, her kids and the rest of her life.

“I have my life back and now I want to encourage people to take that next step, whether it’s surgery or just going to a dietitian,” she said. “Have faith in yourself, because I didn’t. But once we learn to believe in ourselves, we’re unstoppable, all of us. We can do whatever we put our minds to.”

Learn more about the MultiCare Center for Weight Loss & Wellness and our Puget Sound region surgical and medical (non-surgical) weight-loss programs to begin your journey to better health today.