Colleen’s Journey: “Literally Everything About My Life Is Better”

Colleen Darney worked hard to manage her weight on her own. From 2009 to 2012, she came close to reaching a healthy weight. But like so many others, the pandemic disrupted her progress. “I slowly gained weight over the years,” she recalls. “And then the pandemic hit—and I gained very quickly. I tried losing it again on my own, like before, but it just wasn’t working.”

Feeling like she was out of options, Colleen turned to GBMC’s Comprehensive Obesity Management Program (COMP) at the recommendation of a friend. “It felt like a last resort—but from the moment I started, I felt supported. The nutrition classes and support groups were exactly what I needed.”

Colleen had surgery with Dr. Timothee J. Friesen on March 28, 2023. Since then, her life has changed in ways she never imagined.

“Literally everything about my life post-surgery is better,” she says. “I’m healthier, more active, and just... happier. I sleep better. I can move in ways I never thought I could. And I feel like I fit into society more effortlessly.”

Travel, once a source of stress, is now a joy. “I don’t need a seat belt extender anymore when I fly,” she says. “It’s the little things that make such a big difference.”

One of Colleen’s proudest accomplishments? Running her first marathon on November 30, 2024. “I’m so proud of the hard work I’ve put in. The surgery wasn’t a shortcut—it was the tool I needed to build a truly healthy life.”

Colleen didn’t just change her body—she changed her life.

Start your journey today. Schedule your COMP consultation now!