Meet Ariana

Deciding to have weight loss surgery at 25 years old was not an easy decision, but it was the best decision I could have ever made for my life. I had the duodenal switch procedure on September 28, 2020 with Dr. Pullatt through the MUSC Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Program. Over the past year, I have lost 160 pounds.

Over this year, I have learned so much about myself and what I am capable of doing. I have fallen back in love with moving my body and working out. Going to the gym is not a chore for me, but something I look forward to every day. Around 2 months post op, I started at O2 Fitness and met some of the most incredible people - shout out to Kate, Chris, Brantley and Zach. I started my regimen with just walking a mile and doing light lifting. I worked my way to more intense and intentional lifting with the help of personal training, and from there, started lifting 4 times a week and increasing my cardio. To switch it up, I also started taking some of the group fitness classes, my favorite being Zumba. The gym has become a staple part of my progress and was the game changer for building a strong physique.

Being in my mid-twenties, I thought this surgery would change my social interactions in a negative way because most gatherings center around food, but I am more social and confident than ever. I just make smarter decisions in those environments. I am so grateful to the team at MUSC who were so kind and gentle during the beginning stages of this process and continue to champion me being a year and a half post-op. If you are just beginning your process or are a year into it and need a gym buddy, I'd love to connect and workout with you! My Instagram handle is asnowww_.