Breaking News

Learning to eat again: Man drops 130 pounds after surgery

By Jacque Wilson, CNN

Updated 1057 GMT (1857 HKT) May 17, 2013

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

Dale Benzine played football in high school and college. He says he steadily gained "five pounds a year for 30 years" after graduation because of inactivity and bad eating habits.
Photos: 'I was ready' for bariatric surgery
'I was ready' for bariatric surgery – Dale Benzine played football in high school and college. He says he steadily gained "five pounds a year for 30 years" after graduation because of inactivity and bad eating habits.
Hide Caption
1 of 8
Debbie Benzine lost her first husband to heart disease. "I did not want to lose another," she said.
Photos: 'I was ready' for bariatric surgery
'I was ready' for bariatric surgery – Debbie Benzine lost her first husband to heart disease. "I did not want to lose another," she said.
Hide Caption
2 of 8
At his heaviest, in January 2012, Benzine weighed 335 pounds. He was taking 10 pills a day for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and joint pain, in addition to insulin shots for his Type 2 diabetes.
Photos: 'I was ready' for bariatric surgery
'I was ready' for bariatric surgery – At his heaviest, in January 2012, Benzine weighed 335 pounds. He was taking 10 pills a day for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and joint pain, in addition to insulin shots for his Type 2 diabetes.
Hide Caption
3 of 8
Benzine underwent gastric bypass surgery in February 2012. This photo was taken two months after the procedure.
Photos: 'I was ready' for bariatric surgery
'I was ready' for bariatric surgery – Benzine underwent gastric bypass surgery in February 2012. This photo was taken two months after the procedure.
Hide Caption
4 of 8
Benzine quickly figured out what he could and couldn't stomach after his surgery. "I had to learn to eat again, like a baby."
Photos: 'I was ready' for bariatric surgery
'I was ready' for bariatric surgery – Benzine quickly figured out what he could and couldn't stomach after his surgery. "I had to learn to eat again, like a baby."
Hide Caption
5 of 8
By October 2012, Benzine had lost more than 125 pounds.
Photos: 'I was ready' for bariatric surgery
'I was ready' for bariatric surgery – By October 2012, Benzine had lost more than 125 pounds.
Hide Caption
6 of 8
Benzine used to have a 44-inch waist; now he has a 36-inch waist. His neck size went from 23 inches to 17 inches.
Photos: 'I was ready' for bariatric surgery
'I was ready' for bariatric surgery – Benzine used to have a 44-inch waist; now he has a 36-inch waist. His neck size went from 23 inches to 17 inches.
Hide Caption
7 of 8
Benzine still gets on the scale daily to make sure he maintains his weight around 195 pounds. He's no longer taking any medications and his Type 2 diabetes is gone.