Losing weight and gaining new life: Nathan Ripple's Story

In 2022 Nathan Ripple found himself at his lowest point in life. Health issues, on top of family issues, and working 100+ hours a week coming out of the pandemic in 2020 took a toll on him. Feeling down and stressed, Nathan turned to unhealthy coping mechanisms where he found himself at his heaviest of 490lbs. 

“Honestly, I’m surprised I’m alive after everything,” Nathan said, as he reflected on his coping mechanisms and habits.

The turning point in Nathan’s life came when he was diagnosed with myocarditis and his only choice for treatment was to receive a pacemaker. “The doctors told me there was nothing they could physically do for my heart,” he shared. “I was essentially told I was going to die.”

Nathan kept this diagnosis and the severity of his health from his children. As the primary provider for his kids and caring for his sick mother after his father passed, he could not bear the thought of his family losing him and not being there for them. 

“Everything you do effects those around you that are important in your life,” said Nathan. Motivated by his family, Nathan made changes to his life — both spiritually and physically. “I turned to my faith and started going to church, walking every day, and quit the drinking and diet habits I had coped with,” he added. 

Over the course of a little more than a year, Nathan lost 110lbs on his own. When a change in his insurance covered weight loss surgery, Nathan met with the team at the Methodist Hospital Landmark Bariatric and Weight Loss Center.

“I feel God blessed me with meeting this team,” Nathan said. “Everyone was so supportive and helpful throughout the entire process.”

Nathan went on to receive a sleeve gastrectomy — a weight loss surgery that involves removing about 80% of the stomach. Today, Nathan makes the most at what he feels is a second chance at life. Nathan says he has learned to cherish the people around him. He enjoys being able to spend more quality time with his family in ways he physically could not before his weight loss journey.

“I had trouble just walking to my car and getting in it to drive,” shared Nathan. “Today, I can go out and play with my kids, we dance, we go out shopping together, we can just do so much more together.”

Dr. David Thomas, Bariatric Surgeon at Methodist Hospital Landmark Bariatric and Weight Loss Center who performed Nathan’s surgery, says that surgery is a powerful tool, but it’s only one piece of the journey. “The real change happens when patients commit to changing their habits, nutrition, activity level, and mindset,” added Dr. Thomas.

Nathan said he walks at least 10,000 steps a day and follows a healthy diet to make the most of his weight loss surgery. Nathan has also been able to stop taking all diabetic medications he was on before his surgery.

“Seeing a patient like Nathan take full advantage of the opportunity surgery provides is one of the most rewarding parts of being a bariatric surgeon,” said Dr. Thomas. “When someone embraces that process the way Nathan has, the results can be truly life-changing — not just on the scale, but in overall health, confidence, and quality of life. As surgeons, we can perform the operation, but patients like him are the ones who do the real work every day after the surgery, and that’s inspiring to witness.”