A lot can change in six months—and Travis Shewmaker, a 37-year-old welder from Savannah, Missouri, can attest to this in a multitude of ways.
In July, Travis weighed 412 lbs. By February, he had lost more than 130 lbs. with the help of bariatric weight-loss surgery at Saint Luke’s Center for Surgical Weight Loss.
As he began to lose weight post surgery, Travis said he witnessed a complete life transformation in ways beyond his expectations—from dramatically improved labs and overall health, to a passion for physical exercise, and even improved social interactions.
“I’m 6 foot 5, so I was a big guy and could be intimidating,” Travis explains. “Now I have people coming to talk to me and ask me questions—I am still the same person I was, but people treat me differently.”
His journey began with an initial consultation with Saint Luke’s general surgeon, Todd Moore, MD, about treating his umbilical hernia. When Dr. Moore advised weight loss for safer and more effective treatment, he referred Travis to Brent Sorensen, MD, at the Center for Surgical Weight Loss.
After meeting with Dr. Sorensen, Travis decided to opt for a gastric bypass surgery. The operation works by creating a small pouch at the top of the stomach that limits its capacity and rerouting your digestive system to decrease absorption.
Travis underwent a successful gastric bypass surgery in July 2024 after completing pre-surgery nutrition and exercise education classes.
“I was nervous going into the surgery, but the team at Saint Luke’s Center for Surgical Weight Loss was great,” Travis said. “I was super happy with the whole process.”
The surgery was successful, but his journey was far from over. Achieving his health goals meant persistent dedication to a healthier lifestyle and regular follow-up visits.
Dr. Sorensen says the best thing patients can do to achieve healthy weight loss post-surgery is to return for scheduled postoperative appointments, which occur at two weeks, then six weeks, 12 weeks, six months and so on before switching to an annual visit. Each visit includes built-in time with a dietician and exercise physiologist.
Post-surgery, Travis says he was supported by a team of clinicians who provided a personal plan and tips for diet and exercise regimens.
“Having a compassionate dietician and physical trainer who never made my questions seem like a bother made all the difference,” Travis said.
Now, Travis says he makes it a priority to work out four to five times a week—adding that this is his favorite part of the week.
This big lifestyle change has led to victories beyond the number on the scale. As he started to see weight drop, Travis also watched his labs—including cholesterol, blood pressure, and insulin—drastically improve.
Dr. Sorensen says this is a common and sought after result of weight loss surgery, as obesity is associated with a swath of medical complications and reduced life expectancy.
“A lot of health issues can arise when you gain extra weight, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes,” Dr. Sorensen says.
He explained that weight loss surgeries have about a 70% overall success rate for effective weight loss, and gastric bypass in particular is considered an effective treatment for Type 2 diabetes by the World Diabetes Federation. This is especially true when a person’s diabetes is still in its early stages, such as in Travis’s case.
Prior to his gastric bypass, Travis was Type 2 diabetic and on three medications to help control insulin and cholesterol. Today, he is off all medications and no longer diabetic.
“If you’re Type 2 diabetic and just on maybe one or two pills to control it, about 75% of the time immediately after surgery your diabetes resolves,” Dr. Sorensen explains.
Beyond his health, Travis adds that he is happy to report many other small victories in his life that are huge strides for him.
One of the biggest ones, Travis says, is the ability to sit at a booth at a restaurant—an obstacle he has faced since he was 18 years old. The magnitude of this transformation hit him the first time he didn’t need to request to be sat at a table.
“I went to dinner with a couple friends before Thanksgiving and it was packed,” he said. “I saw we were getting sat at a booth, so I sat down and slid in. I had like 4 inches in-between me and the table—and I almost cried.”
As he reflects on an incredible six-month journey, Travis champions weight loss surgery as an effective treatment and rewarding experience. He also wants people to know that this is not an “easy” fix to health challenges—the surgery doesn’t work unless you do.
“I hear a lot of people say it’s the easy way out,” Travis said. “But you have to want it. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done—losing 130 lbs. in six months. The surgery is just a tool. You have to create a lifestyle change.”
If you are interested in pursuing weight loss surgery, visit Saint Luke’s Center for Surgical Weight Loss to learn more and get to know our team of experts. You can also kickstart your own journey by watching our three-minute online educational seminar.