Hi, my name is Greg Fowler and this is my story.

Starting Weight: 225kg    12 months after surgery: 118kg

Since my surgery in October 2020, I have lost over 100kgs. It has changed my life.

A bit of background:

Like many blokes, I played sport when I was younger. Training during the week and going to the gym 5 times a week. I then got a job that kept me very active physically. I was always on the big side but considered myself relatively fit and strong and in control.

My career took a different path that saw my day-to-day physical activity decrease significantly and becoming more sedentary. Long work hours and family time became an excuse not to exercise.

Over the years, my weight ballooned. I was putting on about 10kgs a year without realising.

After seeing other people’s success with weight loss surgery and talking to them about it, I decided to do it.

My first visit with Dr Hatzifotis was an eye opener. I got on the scales (2 sets actually) and saw a number I never wanted to see. It added up to 225kg. I won’t say what my thoughts were.

We had a discussion and Dr Hatzifotis wanted me to lose 30kg prior to surgery (6 weeks). I set my mind to do the best I could. At my pre-surgery visit, I weighed 195kg.

I had the surgery, and it was very successful. I left hospital and started my journey towards a new life. I stayed true to the post-surgery diet plan and made sure I didn’t do anything to jeopardise my healing process.

It was sometimes difficult in the first few weeks after surgery, but knowing I had the support of the Surgery Brisbane team and my close support network at home and work made it easier.

After 6 months of steady weight loss, I began to get back into light physical training. My PT put me on a program that saw my mobility improve while also doing resistance training. I was feeling so good, I started doing longer and longer walks and even tried running a short distance after many years away from hard activity.

I was enjoying my new life so much that I joined a run club. I was up and running every Saturday with a supportive group that saw me enter the Bridge to Brisbane 10km fun run in 2021. I completed the 10km in 1hr 32mins. Not a record time, but a time I never thought possible 18mths ago.

With continued light exercise and easy to follow dietary requirements, I now weigh about 118kg. My life has changed. I’m back to being the happy, fun guy that I used to be.

I still see the team at Surgery Brisbane quarterly to make sure I’m on track. Dr Hatzifotis has been great. He monitors my nutrition to make sure I stay healthy. Simone monitors my diet and suggests ways to improve or offers solutions to any issues to arise. They have the whole journey covered. I don’t think my story would have been as successful without this team.