WHEN BARIATRIC SURGERY AND EXERCISE ARE THE BEGINNING OF A NEW HEALTHY LIFESTYLE!

We are all aware that the rate of obesity in Québec (as well as throughout the world) is steadily on the rise, which results in a significant increase in the rate of severe obesity, often called morbid obesity. Severe obesity is when a person’s body mass index is equal to or exceeds 35 (to find out your body mass index [BMI], read the article Do I Need to Lose Weight?).

Many people with severe obesity resort to medical assistance to help them better manage and regain a healthy weight. Bariatric surgery is, in some ways, a surgical solution that helps the body reduce the amount of food ingested, thereby leading to weight loss.

That is what Pierre-Alexandre Bazinet, a loyal Éconofitness member, did. His bariatric surgery is really what triggered the change and pushed him to regain control of his life and health. Pierre‑Alexandre was keen to share his story to inspire as many people as possible who wish to undergo a process similar to his.

Since he was young, Pierre-Alexandre had always been overweight. At the age of 12, he weighed 225 pounds. At 28, he had reached 504 pounds. Junk food and physical inactivity were his lifestyle and Pierre-Alexandre quickly accepted and got used to living with his obesity.

The more years passed, the greater his weight problem became and the worse his bad habits got. Very early on he developed several health problems due to his excess weight: sleep apnea, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and testosterone deficiency. That is what he dealt with every single day.

Other than his health problems, Pierre-Alexandre also had a lot of difficulty finding a job as an IT technician. This type of job required him to travel frequently from place to place, and Pierre‑Alexandre could not do this.

📷Pierre-Alexandre in August 2014.


📷Pierre-Alexandre in April 2017, a few months before his surgery.

In 2015, at the age of 27, Pierre-Alexandre decided that he had had enough with this lifestyle that was completely destroying him. His life needed to change, but he needed a helping hand. So he put his name on the waiting list for bariatric surgery.

It was on August 2, 2017, after two years of waiting, that Pierre-Alexandre underwent this surgery, the event that allowed him to regain control of his life.

After the surgery, Pierre-Alexandre had to learn to eat all over again. As he knew absolutely nothing about healthy eating, he decided to read as much as possible on the subject. Thanks to all this new knowledge, he slowly began to be able to make healthy food choices and to maintain a balanced diet.

Unbelievable but true! Pierre-Alexandre started losing 20 to 30 pounds a month! For the first time in his life, he knew it was possible. Only three months after the surgery, Pierre-Alexandre no longer had high cholesterol, his high blood pressure had significantly fallen, and he no longer needed his device for sleep apnea. Wow!

In the summer of 2018, Pierre-Alexandre developed tendonitis due to too much working out (6 times a week plus playing his favourite sport: baseball). It was then that he understood that he had to listen to and respect his body and its limits. That is also part of taking care of yourself!

Pierre-Alexandre now works out four times a week and regularly plays floor hockey. Following his injury, he now advocates balance.

Pierre-Alexandre works out at Éconofitness Mascouche Extra, a gym he is particularly fond of since he has never felt judged or criticized there. Also, the gym’s atmosphere and the manager’s encouragement have always motivated him to continue making progress.

Pierre-Alexandre is still working toward losing weight. He can be extremely proud of himself and declare VICTORY. He has:

He is aware that there is still work to be done, as he still has difficulty seeing himself as he is. He still sees the obese man he was two years ago… Nonetheless, he is serenely pursuing his weight loss process and hopes to take part in a fitness competition one day. Healthy eating habits and an active lifestyle are now part of his daily routine.

👍Congratulations Pierre-Alexandre! Éconofitness is proud to count you among its members! Continue to help others with your beautiful, contagious energy!