SYRACUSE -- For the first time since the surgery that changed his life, morning radio host Ted Long is opening up to CBS 5’s Michael Benny in a live, extended interview. Long will appear Wednesday evening during CBS 5 at 5:30 to share his story of losing more than one hundred pounds thanks to weight loss surgery.
For years, you have listened and laughed with Long, who is one half of the morning duo Ted & Amy on radio station 93-Q in Syracuse. In September 2011, Long took what would be the final step in his years long battle with obesity. He had tried dieting, gym memberships and suffered with the lasting symptoms of being far too heavy: sleep apnea and high cholesterol. At this point he has lost 110 pounds and says he’s feeling great. "I've never felt better," said Long, adding that he's off his cholesterol and blood pressure medications for the first time in years.
Long had his surgery at Crouse Hospital and when he announced his decision to his listeners on the Ted & Amy blog he knew he would take some criticism because gastric bypass is a controversial procedure.
Ted wrote on the blog: “I've weighed all the consequences, had several meetings with doctors and folks who've had the surgery and, yes, I realize my life will change and all the dangers there are and blah, blah, blah! I'm ready and this is how I've decided to do it. And not only that, but my wife is having the surgery, as well.”
His wife Bobbie has recovered from her surgery as well, and has lost 50 pounds.
Gastric bypass surgery makes the stomach smaller and causes food to bypass part of the small intestine. Patients who have the procedure feel full more quickly than when their stomach was its original size. Ted Long says he is back to eating regular food, just less of it than ever before.
Have you had weight loss surgery? Would you ever consider it? What questions do you have for Ted? Leave your thoughts below.
