Finding Real Solutions

Shannon Greene had struggled with weight management since puberty, yo-yoing back and forth in a vicious cycle.

“I counted calories, cut out fat, did intermittent fasting, keto, starvation diets, a cabbage soup diet, water pills, appetite suppressants—you name it, I tried it,” says Shannon, 52, a resident of Marysville, near Port Huron. “I also went through a formal medical weight loss program somewhere else. Twice.”

Nothing stuck, not even when she decided to have surgery.

“In 2003, I was married and we had a 3-year-old son,” Shannon says. “I was up to 310 pounds, and I decided to do something about it, so I had a gastric bypass procedure. I lost 160 pounds.”

But over the years, Shannon gained back most of the weight.

“It was a vicious cycle,” she says. “I would begin to lose weight, start feeling good, then stop losing even though I was doing the same things. I would ask myself, ‘why am I bothering? My husband doesn’t care, my kids don’t care, my friends don’t care, why am I going to starve myself for the scale?’”

She had also been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which limited the types of activity she could do. It would take several more years before Shannon found hope.

“In 2022, a friend of mine who I call my ‘weight loss friend’ recommended that I see Dr. Suki Singh at the Plymouth Medical Center, which is 75 miles away from me,” she says. “I hadn’t found any doctor in my area who is good for weight loss, so I reached out to set up an appointment and we met virtually.”

A Fresh Perspective

Suki Singh, M.D., is the Medical Director for Weight Management at Henry Ford Health. In their first video visit, Shannon felt a real connection.

“I could tell she was going to be different,” she says. “Dr. Singh truly cared, and she was so approachable. I was used to being judged by healthcare professionals and made to feel like it was a ‘me’ problem. In the past I was told I needed to exercise more or stop eating. I was told I was lazy, and I would be accused of overeating. But since the bypass surgery, I couldn’t tell you the last time I cleared my plate. It wasn’t about overeating, and Dr. Singh believed me. She took the time to ask the right questions, digging into what was really causing my weight issues.”

Dr. Singh started by ordering a series of baseline tests, including blood work that showed Shannon was borderline prediabetic. And she explained to Shannon that another medical issue was playing a part.

“I have polycystic ovary syndrome, and she was the first person to tell me that this can affect metabolism and weight management,” she says.

They also discussed Shannon’s weight loss goal.

“I wanted to get back to the weight I was at after I had bypass surgery,” Shannon says. “I knew I would have to work hard to reach this, but I was motivated, and I felt like I had the right person to help me get there.”

They worked together on a personalized care plan, which included weight management tools such as tracking food and calorie intake, exercise and medication options. Dr. Singh started Shannon on Trulicity, a type 2 diabetic medication that stimulates the release of insulin from the pancreas, helping to control blood sugar and appetite. She also gave Shannon information on other support resources, including the free weight management virtual orientation offered through Henry Ford Health.

“This introductory class was very informative,” Shannon says. “There was a small group of us who attended, and the staff was helpful. I was able to email and talk to them afterward, and get my weight loss questions answered.”

Convenient, Personalized Care

Shannon continued to see Dr. Singh at the Plymouth Medical Center through virtual appointments, scheduling them through her Henry Ford MyChart account.

“It was very convenient,” she says. “I could set up appointments that worked around my schedule and even do them at my office. I did travel to Plymouth once, and I loved having the opportunity to meet her in person. But I feel like I made the same connection in our video visits.”

After a few months of treatment with Dr. Singh, Shannon started to see results. And this time, she didn’t hit a plateau.

“It was so positive every week,” she says. “Even if the scale only moved 8 ounces, it was still something, and it gave me the incentive to keep going.”

Part of this was the medications, which ultimately included another type 2 diabetes medication, Mounjaro. But Dr. Singh also helped Shannon change her mindset by learning to eat a different way, and by helping her recognize when she’s actually hungry—and not just her mind telling her she is.

Support Throughout the Journey

In addition, they’ve worked on strategies for how to deal with the inevitable weight management setbacks.

“None of this is easy,” Shannon says. “One time, a bag of chips looked good right after lunch, and I ate it. I criticized myself, ‘Oh no, I blew it.’ But Dr. Singh helped me to see that I don’t need to go to extremes and use something like this as an excuse to completely fall off track.”

Shannon’s strong support network of family and friends have also encouraged her.

“My parents never told me I needed to lose weight, but they saw I was miserable,” she says. “My husband is borderline diabetic, so he gets it. And my son lost 80 pounds all on his own. We’ve learned to control our environment at home. Certain things like cookies just don’t go on the grocery list.”

Yet, Shannon recognizes that it was Dr. Singh that made the difference.

“I am fortunate to have such a great support system, but all that support did not help me lose the weight in the past,” she says. “Finding a physician that supported me like my family and friends did and who gave me the right tools made all the difference.”

“I’ve never had a doctor treat me with so much respect when it comes to my weight management,” Shannon says. “She was genuinely concerned with finding out what was going to work for me and didn’t just give me a standard exercise prescription or diet.”

After a year of working with Dr. Singh, Shannon has reached—and even surpassed—her goal weight. They’ve also started to discuss the next phase.

“There’s a misconception that when you reach your goal weight, everything is perfect,” Shannon says. “But maintaining it is important, and this includes dealing with negative thoughts. ‘What are they going to think of me if I gain 10 pounds back?’ I also get self-conscious when people notice how much weight I’ve lost, and they worry I’m sick.”

Dr. Singh has asked Shannon to think about where she wants to go next as she transitions to the next phase in her weight management.

“I’ve never had that conversation with any other doctor,” Shannon says. “It was always, ‘Congrats, you lost the weight, now just go eat right and exercise.’ But Dr. Singh wants to know my thoughts before we make any decisions. I know I don’t want to be on medications for the rest of my life, so easing back on those will likely be part of it. I feel like she’s given me the tools and mindset so I can continue to be successful, no matter what the next phase looks like.”

Making Good on Her Goals

Shannon’s life is much different now that she doesn’t face the same limitations.

“We have stairs in our house,” Shannon says. “It’s much easier for me to walk up or down them, and my joints don’t crack anymore. I can also walk further without being winded.”

Shannon also has more self-confidence.

“In the past, I would get down on myself,” she says. “I would see vacation photos and I couldn’t believe it. ‘This is me? I’m not really that big, am I?’ Even trying to fit in an airplane seat was embarrassing.”

Now, Shannon can indulge her love of travel without feeling self-conscious, and she’s looking forward to making good on some lifetime goals.

“There are three things I’ve always wanted to do that I couldn’t before,” Shannon says. “Ziplining, skydiving and bungee jumping. I knew they would ask my weight and I would be embarrassed when they would refuse to let me do these.”

This year, Shannon’s planning a trip with friends to Mexico—and she’s planning to try ziplining for the first time.