Jennifer’s Story: 100 Pounds Less, and Happier Than Ever

By September 2024, Jennifer Powell was at her highest weight ever. Her back hurt. Her knees hurt. She was getting out of breath doing simple things around her house. She knew something had to change — for herself, and for her kids. 

After her initial visit with Dr. Shauna Costinett at GBMC’s Comprehensive Obesity Management Program, Jennifer didn’t wait. She picked a Sunday and started changing her diet that very day. 

“I decided since I couldn’t do too much exercise, that changing my diet was the best way for me to really concentrate on weight loss,” she said. 

Every month, she showed up for her nutritional counseling sessions, not just to check a box, but to demonstrate she understood the program and was already putting it to work. By March, she was ready for her pre-op appointment. By surgery day in May 2025, she had already lost 35 pounds on her own. 

“Everyone is so helpful and encouraging throughout all of COMP,” Jennifer said. “I wish all of my healthcare providers worked so well.” 

Jennifer has now lost more than 100 pounds. She’s down to the weight she was in high school, wearing nearly the same size clothing. She can stand for longer periods, walk up to two miles in an hour with her walker, and move around her house with an ease she’d forgotten was possible. The medical changes have been just as dramatic: her blood pressure medication has decreased, she’s taking less nerve pain medication, and she’s stopped taking acid reflux medications entirely. 

“I’m just an overall happier person, and it shows,” Jennifer said. 

Jennifer’s story is about a woman who didn’t just show up for surgery, she showed up for herself, month after month, pound after pound. And a program that made sure she never had to do it alone.