Shana’s Story: How to nourish a life worth living

Shana Davis' best friend had gastric sleeve surgery, and the results were incredible. Shana watched the transformation and started asking herself: what if? 

At the time, Shana was prediabetic. She had high cholesterol. She was on hypertension medication. Walking up stairs left her winded. And she’d stopped taking full-body photos because she didn’t like what she saw. 

“I didn’t feel like myself anymore,” Shana said. 

She attended an informational meeting with GBMC's Comprehensive Obesity Management Program via Zoom and was immediately impressed by the nutrition team and inspired by the post-op patients who shared their stories. Then, she met Dr. Emily Watters. 

“Meeting with Dr. Watters sealed the deal,” Shana said. “She told me I was an ideal candidate, which motivated me even more.” 

In August 2024, Shana had surgery. Her highest weight was 268 pounds. She’s now in the 180s, and the health improvements have been profound. Shana is off her blood pressure medication, no longer prediabetic, and her cholesterol has improved significantly. She works out regularly. She runs and plays with her kids without gasping for air after a few minutes. But the change that runs deepest is the one that happens three times a day, at every meal. 

“One of the most meaningful changes has been my relationship with food,” Shana said. “I now understand what my body needs. I have the tools to eat in a balanced way without being overly restrictive. I’ve learned that I don’t live to eat, I eat to live.” 

Shana’s story is about reclaiming control, over her health, her body, and her relationship with the thing that sustains her. GBMC’s COMP didn’t just help her lose weight. It taught her how to nourish a life worth living.