Tom's Story

The choice that saved his life

CIBO Clinic founder Tom Saridis is a smart, successful, highly driven entrepreneur who has a unique understanding of the struggles of people who are overweight; a few short years ago, he weighed over 500 pounds. Being overweight affected everything in his life: his health, his relationships, his everyday intereactions with people, even his career. “When you’re obese,” Tom says, “your confidence level is pretty much zero.”

He found himself spending a lot of time and effort compensating for the limitations of his weight. Forgetting the car keys meant a trip back up the stairs, so he became careful never to leave them behind. He was always punctual, too, since he never wanted to be the last one to walk into a meeting, or be the one left with the folding chair. He chose restaurants based on whether the chairs had arms or not, and whether it was easy to get up and go to the bathroom. “Friends just thought I knew the best places to eat,” says Tom. “When you’re obese, you learn to change the things around you so you can function. You become regimented and you really rationalize your behaviour.”

Tom Before and After

Tom has had a successful career, but it was severely limited by his weight. At his heaviest, he avoided face-to-face contact with clients and partners, running his business by phone rather than going out in public.

His weight affected his health as well; Tom suffered from obstructive sleep apnea.

His everyday enjoyment of life suffered too – Tom loved cars, but was starting to get too big for them. He was afraid driving might soon become a thing of the past.

The tipping point

Tom knew he had to lose weight. But he had gotten so heavy that he wasn’t physically able to exercise. He got to his “tipping point” at a family function. “I overheard a comment that really opened my eyes. Someone said that the last time they saw someone my size was on a stretcher – that’s the moment I decided that I needed to do something to save my life.”

Tom did a lot of research, and decided to have the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band procedure. He worked hard to get ready for the procedure, working closely with a psychotherapist for a year and a half before undergoing surgery. After his procedure, he changed his eating habits, his lifestyle, and his entire approach to living. “I realized that having the band put in wasn’t a cure for my obesity – nothing is – but it was a great tool for helping me change the way I eat. I worked hard to make the changes the band required. Working with my psychotherapist made a big difference; it’s not something I could have done alone.”

When he had his procedure, Tom had to go looking for the support services he needed to succeed. To help others like him, he decided to open a clinic with a built-in support team.

“I realized that other people could also benefit from having a team of nurses, nutritionists, therapists, chiropractors and psychologists to help them through their weight loss,” he says. “Anyone who has ever struggled with their weight like I have knows losing it is a lot more complicated than just cutting back on food and getting some exercise. It’s about changing the way you eat, the way you think – and the way you live your life. I couldn’t have made those changes without help.”

CIBO Clinic: an innovative idea takes shape

CIBO Clinic is the realization of Tom’s total-care vision. Staffed with top specialists in the field of laparoscopic gastric banding surgery, the unique clinic offers comprehensive support for each patient. Before undergoing the procedure, patients go through a qualification process that includes counseling and psychological assessments. After the surgery, experts work with each patient on meal planning, emotional adjustment, physical therapy and more.

Psychological counseling is a big part of the program. “The band may help control the quantity of food I eat,” says Tom, “But it’s the psychological adjustment that empowers me to control the gluttony.”

Tom understands the challenges of losing a large amount of weight – he’s still going through it. He knows about the sagging skin that happens with weight loss. That’s why he has a plastic surgeon as part of his team. He knows about the chronic conditions (and, often, the accompanying depression) many seriously overweight people suffer from. And he’s very aware of the way the people around you can react to significant weight loss; it can change the dynamics of your relationships. So the clinic offers a psychological support program for both the patient and their family.

A healthier, easier, better life.

Tom couldn’t be happier with the results of his procedure. To date, Tom has lost 260 pounds and continues to get slimmer and healthier. The out-patient surgery was simple and reversible. He recovered quickly, and was out riding his motorcycle a couple of days later. Today, he has adjusted the way he thinks, eats and lives. “These days, life has become about quality, not quantity,” he says.

Today, Tom is in the driver’s seat in more ways than one. He cruises the countryside in his cars, sitting comfortably and getting in and out with ease. Before losing weight, he often parked illegally so he had enough room to get around the vehicle in case someone parked too close. “When you’re obese, there’s so much you do to prepare for each situation that no one ever sees. Now, I don’t have to give those things a second thought.”