Craig "Big T" Thompson, a gastric bypass survivor, shares his incredible 8.5-year post-op journey. From being a 400-pound sumo wrestler to becoming a Sinatra-like big band recording artist, his story is one of transformation and triumph.
Standing on stage at St. Bart's Square in central London, gazing out over 14,000 cheering fans, I couldn't help but think, "How did I get here?" It was June 2001, and I was performing alongside legends like Tony Bennett and Paul McCartney for Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee. Just a year prior, I had started singing professionally, a culmination of an emotional and psychological journey that began in the spring of 1997 when I underwent gastric bypass surgery.
In a canary yellow zoot suit, I confidently strutted across the stage, singing big band classics. Five years earlier, those few steps would have left me gasping for air. At 400 pounds, my life had become unmanageable. I checked myself into the hospital, declaring "physical bankruptcy," and entrusted my body to a team of doctors and nurses who offered me a chance to start over.
Like many gastric bypass patients, I had been overweight most of my life. As a child, I was euphemistically called "husky" and used my weight to my advantage by playing football. However, by middle school, I was heavier than my peers and relegated to the bench. After high school, I joined the Navy, hoping to see the world. Stationed in northern Japan, I was recruited into sumo wrestling, serving as a goodwill ambassador while competing across the country.
One morning, while getting ready for work, I heard Charlie Gibson on Good Morning America discussing a new surgery for the morbidly obese. Intrigued, I researched gastric bypass surgery and qualified after being diagnosed with sleep apnea. Three months later, I was in the hospital undergoing the procedure.
The weight melted away post-surgery. I lost nearly 200 pounds in a year, shrinking from a 56-inch waist to 34 inches. The biggest challenge was not the physical changes but the lack of mental and emotional support. At the time, gastric bypass was a new procedure, and there were no support groups. I encouraged my surgeon to set up regular meetings for patients, which now draw 20 to 100 pre- and post-op individuals weekly.
I realized that my weight was a symptom of deeper issues. While grateful for the surgery, I understood it was a physical remedy for a mental, emotional, and spiritual problem. To truly heal, I needed to focus on my mental health. With the "fat suit" gone, I had to discover who I really was.
In the years since pursuing my dreams, I've performed on three continents, appeared in media, and mingled with celebrities. I established three 17-piece big bands in Dallas, London, and Tokyo and recorded a critically acclaimed CD. My journey from sumo wrestler to big band artist is a testament to the power of transformation.
Craig "Big T" Thompson lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife Leslie and their two cats. He performs regularly with his big bands in the U.S. and overseas and runs a website offering guidance and support for weight loss surgery patients at Renewed Reflections.
This article highlights the transformative journey of Craig "Big T" Thompson, from a 400-pound sumo wrestler to a big band artist, emphasizing the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of his gastric bypass surgery success.
