Dennis - before
Dennis after
Inspiring Cousins WITH THE URGE TO BECOME HEALTHY, DENNIS AND HIS COUSIN MAHIR SPURRED EACH OTHER ON IN THEIR WEIGHT-LOSS JOURNEYS. DENNIS WAS THE FIRST TO SEEK THE ADVICE OF THE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY EXPERTS, AND HIS COUSIN, MAHIR SAW THE RESULTS AND DECIDED TO UNDERTAKE HIS OWN ODYSSEY, INSPIRED BY DENNIS AND WITH THE SUPPORT AND LOVE OF HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN. HERE, THEY SHARE THEIR STORIES WITH SLIM IN THE HOPE THAT OTHERS WILL BE MOTIVATED TO CONSIDER TAKING THE ACTION THEY NEED TO FOR A HEALTHIER, HAPPIER LIFE. NAME: DENNIS N. MEHACEVIC
What was your relationship with food?
AGE: 38
I was on a 'see-food' diet or indulging or comfort eating. I did and do love food, but it came to a point where I needed help to reign it in.
OCCUPATION: SHOP OWNER FAMILY: SINGLE HEIGHT: 172CM CURRENT WEIGHT: 89KG HEAVIEST WEIGHT: 172KG DAY OF SURGERY WEIGHT: 150KG HOW MANY KILOS DID YOU LOSE? I LIKE TO SAY I AM LITERALLY HALF THE MAN I USED TO BE, AS I HAVE LOST HALF MY BODY WEIGHT. 83KGS TO DATE.
What motivated you to go on your weight-loss journey? Hernia, diabetes, high blood pressure and in some cases, it had affected my confidence with myself and the ladies. I realised I needed to make some changes. The biggest motivator was my niece. Also, it is an awesome feeling to be such a motivation to my cousin, Mahir to go through his weight-loss journey too. It’s great to see others proud of what I have achieved and have wanted to do the same for themselves.
What made you decide on weight-loss surgery and which procedure was the right one for you? Overall, over the yo-yo dieting to lose weight and knew I had to make a change. I tried dieting or working out but for such a big person, it never moved as much as I’d hope. I heard great things about the surgeon, so I went for a consultation and he made me feel very comfortable about my decision and helped me choose the right option for me. Post-surgery, what have been some of the challenges? One of the biggest challenges for me has definitely been, shortly after surgery the self-doubt started to kick in and hard: ‘What if I made the wrong decision, should I have done this, what have I done?’
How long had you battled with weight issues?
But I had a strong support network with my family and my friends. I had to remind myself of why I chose to do it in the first place. I found it hard with such a big and fast change from what I was eating to what was left of eating. It was a huge change but I wouldn't change that for the world. I'm much more comfortable now, more than ever.
Give or take a few, but about 15 years.
Any regrets?
What health problems did you face as a result?
The only one is I wish I’d done it sooner. I wish that I had heard of the surgeon and his team earlier. I tried to do it without surgery. I gave it my all, but for some people surgery is the best option.
Hernia, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol. 28 slim magazine Winter 2022
