How César Lost More Than 100 Pounds Through Bloodless Bariatric Surgery

César Mauricio was traveling a risky road when it came to his health. Gastric bypass surgery provided an off-ramp. 

For César Mauricio, a 58-year-old swimmer and travel enthusiast, being overweight for nearly two decades brought daily challenges and limited his ability to enjoy life. 

“At my heaviest, I weighed 279 pounds,” César says. “The weight not only affected my ability to participate in my hobbies but also to complete everyday tasks, like tying my shoes, taking a shower, and riding a bike. I always felt tired when I walked.” 

Committed to Change 

The excess weight began to take a toll on César’s health. He developed prediabetes, heartburn, gallstones, and a hiatal hernia—a bulging of the upper stomach into the chest cavity—that can cause reflux. On the advice of his gastroenterologist, César met with Jingjing Sherman, MD, bariatric and general surgeon at Englewood Health, to discuss bariatric (weight loss) surgery. Dr. Sherman deemed him a good candidate. 

Dr. Sherman set a goal for César, who weighed 264 pounds when they met, to reach 250 before the surgery, which would help reduce César’s risk of complications. César worked with a dietitian for three months. In the end, he surpassed Dr. Sherman’s goal. 

“César lost 26 pounds while we worked with him before the surgery to reach a weight of 238,” Dr. Sherman says. “That’s very impressive.” 

‘Improved in Every Way’ 

Prior to the procedure, César, like all patients at Englewood Hospital, had blood work performed to check for anemia. With Dr. Sherman confident in his blood health, she performed a gastric bypass and fixed his hiatal hernia at the same time on April 30, 2024. She reshaped César’s stomach so that food would enter a small pouch and then move into the intestines, where it would bypass most of the stomach and a portionof the intestines. The result: a reduced appetite, feeling full more easily, and feeling more satisfied after eating. 

Thanks to the operation and his post-surgery commitment to a healthy diet and exercise, César had lost 106 pounds nearly a year later. The treatment has been life-altering. 

“I’ve improved in every way,” he says. “I eat healthy now, and my fitness is where I want it to be. The main thing is that my health has improved a lot. I don’t take any medicines now.”

Published June 2025