As a veteran of the United States Army, Keith Speights had always been a relatively healthy, physically active person. But things changed in his mid-30s when he fractured his foot and hurt his back. Unable to play sports or hit the gym because of his injuries, Keith found himself living a more sedentary lifestyle. At the same time, mindless eating and snacking became part of his daily routine.
As the number on his scale gradually climbed, Keith would change his eating habits for a few days, weeks or even months to shed some unwanted pounds. He would lose 12 pounds, then gain 15. He would drop 20 pounds, then regain every ounce right back. It was a vicious cycle.
“I was pretty unhappy,” said Keith. “I couldn’t do what I wanted. I couldn’t even walk through the grocery store without having to sit down three or four times to rest.”
In fall 2017, tipping the scale at 346 pounds, Keith scheduled an initial consultation with Isam Hamdallah, MD, a bariatric surgeon at Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital in Baltimore. He feared the idea of surgery but wondered if it could be the solution he desperately needed to turn his life around.
A few months later, Keith and Dr. Hamdallah together decided that sleeve gastrectomy surgery was the right course of action, and the procedure was scheduled for May 1, 2018. The surgery went as planned, and during Keith’s recovery time in the hospital he made a new, personal promise to himself.
“I decided I was going to take this very seriously and follow the program to a T,” he said. “The surgery is a tool. It was up to me to make the changes I needed to, to get my life back.”
Eating smart and clean has become a daily priority for Keith. As his weight dropped, Keith’s motivation levels skyrocketed. He started running 5K races and is currently training for the Wildflower Triathlon in Bradley, California, and the Ironman 70.3, another type of long-distance triathlon, in Cambridge, Maryland, both in 2020.
“Through the process of losing the weight, I have learned so much about myself,” said Keith, who now weighs about 200 pounds. “It’s not about winning the race. It’s about getting into the race. It’s seriously a great feeling.”
“I no longer worry about whether or not I’ll be here to watch my kids and grandkids grow, and be part of all of the special moments in their lives,” Keith said. “I feel 20 years younger and have a new take on life. [Ascension] Saint Agnes gave that to me and I will forever be grateful for that.”
Click here for a recorded Facebook Live video discussion about bariatric surgery between Keith and Cathy Carr-Dadin, Bariatric Nurse Coordinator.
