Samuel T. Stanley

Samuel T. Stanley is a pseudonymous reporter living in Washington, DC. More +
  • Preparing For Gastric Bypass

    Getting ready for surgery requires work from doctors and the patient. Not everyone has access to good care.

  • When Junk Food Cravings Disappear

    After gastric bypass surgery, the author finds himself able to resist the temptation of fast food for the first time.

  • New Clothes for a New Body

    Having lost 55 pounds after gastric bypass surgery, the author finds himself looking for a new wardrobe.

  • Sugar: From Sweet to Sickening

    Before gastric bypass, the author ate only sugary, starchy foods. Now, a spoonful of sweetness is too much for his body to bear, and consuming enough calories to live on is a challenge. An exploration of how a radical operation changes the way a person tastes and interacts with food.

  • For the Obese, Alone Even in Public

    After gastric bypass, the author realizes he spent daily life expecting to be shunned. Now he has to adjust.

  • Saying "No" to Life With Obesity

    When banal scenes like airplane seats become places of shame and dread, making a difficult choice. But not all the results to a drastic lifestyle change can be anticipated, and, once you've gone under the knife, there's no going back.

  • Post-Op, Learning to Use a New Stomach

    Avoiding laughter, giving up Smart Water (too sweet), and pureeing chicken--life after Gastric Bypass surgery is no picnic. Relearning how to do simple things like eat and laugh is a daily struggle, but little triumphs along the way--not to mention a little love and support--make it easier.

  • When Every Diet Fails, the Radical Solution

    The story of a man's complicated relationship with food and the radical surgery he had to undergo. The bio-psycho-social model of obesity is something people who aren't obese don't spend much time thinking about. Here's a diary of the experience in near-real time -- with all of its emotional, psychological, and gastronomic effects.