Craig Thompson, founder of the Weight Loss Surgery Channel and host of 90 Seconds to Success, underwent open Roux en-Y gastric bypass surgery in May 1997. At the time, he weighed 400 pounds, but within 18 months, he dropped nearly half his body weight and began a brand new life post-WLS. Although the changes to his body were both dramatic and empowering, Craig discovered that weight loss surgery only addressed a physical symptom of deeper issues. He founded the Weight Loss Surgery Channel to help those who are considering or who have had weight loss surgery — as well as their loved ones and healthcare providers – address the mental and emotional issues that can lead to severe and morbid obesity. His vision is to provide information, guidance and support for the millions of Americans who struggle with their weight and their self-image, to help them find new hope and live a healthier, happier life after weight loss surgery.

With more than 20 years’ experience as a bariatric surgeon, Dr. David Provost has helped thousands of patients begin a new and healthier life after weight loss surgery. Dr. Provost was previously the Medical Director for the Surgical Management of Obesity at UT Southwestern Medical Center and has taught weight loss surgery procedures to hundreds of medical students and doctors. He is an active member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and sits on the Board of Directors for the ASMBS Foundation.

Dr. Provost believes strongly in the benefits of patient support both before and after weight loss surgery. He joins the Weight Loss Surgery Channel as an advisor and expert commentator on the surgical treatment of obesity.

With more than 13 years of practice as an laparoscopic surgeon to his credit, Dr. Adam Smith is experienced, having performed more than 2,000 procedures.

Dr. Smith is Associate Clinical Professor in bariatrics at the University of North Texas, and is a member of  the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons, the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association, the Texas Medical Association, the Tarrant County Medical Society, and many other professional organizations. As a successful Lap-Band patient himself, Dr. Smith is highly committed to the total treatment of the bariatric patient and is a strong proponent of ongoing post-operative care.

Yvonne McCarthy, known by many as “Bariatric Girl”, is a public speaker, co-founder of RYD Obesity, and an active member of the WLS community. She joins the Weight Loss Surgery Channel as host of the talkshow WLS Journeys, speaking from the heart to guests who share how bariatric surgery has changed their life. Yvonne’s mission is to bring a message of hope to the millions of people who struggle with their weight, having experienced the challenges firsthand since childhood. Although merely “stocky” in her teens, Yvonne gained close to 30 pounds while in college, and another 60 pounds several years later after a bitter divorce. She continued to battle the scale for close to two decades, losing hundreds of pounds through diet and exercise, only to gain back the weight and more. When her mother died of cancer in 2000, Yvonne gave up the fight. But, the following year, she discovered new hope when she underwent Roux en-Y gastric bypass surgery and lost 130 pounds. Today, Yvonne is living the life she always envisioned. She is married to Texas radio personality Kevin McCarthy, her husband of six years and host of the Car Guy Show on WBAP News/Talk 820, and is happily pursuing her passions for animals, music and photography.

Leslie Thompson, Executive Producer of the Weight Loss Surgery Channel and host of WLS News, is a veteran journalist with more than 15 years’ experience writing about the medical and financial industries.

Being married to a WLS patient, she has a personal passion for helping people in the weight loss surgery community. Together with her husband Craig, she co-authored the book Weight Loss Surgery Insurance Secrets to provide people who struggle with morbid obesity with the fundamental concepts, strategies and terminology they need to know for an insurance carrier to approve their request for bariatric surgery. Now, Leslie is bringing her knowledge of medical research in the bariatric field and her interview skills as a journalist to deliver the latest news from the world of weight loss surgery.

She’s wise. She’s irreverent. She is one of the most visible members of the WLS support community through her limitless blog and YouTube video posts, as well as her appearances at Obesity Help events. Now, we’ve given Beth Sheldon-Badore, a.k.a., Melting Mama, a brand new show on the Weight Loss Surgery Channel. As the star of Melting Mama’s Reality Bites, Beth uses her trademark humor and caustic wit to share the lessons she has learned throughout her weight loss surgery journey, including the impact of weight loss surgery on her self-image. Each episode of her dynamic one-woman show includes pearls of wisdom about adjusting to WLS, helpful reviews of nutritional products targeted to bariatric patients, and a “rant” from Beth with hilarious anecdotes from her home life.

After having weight loss surgery in 2002, Chef David Fouts quickly realized bariatric patients had no good resources for cooking advice. As a classically trained chef with a a degree from the Florida Culinary Institute, Chef Dave decided to put to use the information his dietician was giving him and develop pouch-friendly recipes to make mealtime enjoyable again for other WLS patients.

Chef Dave was previously Director of Food Services at Hippocrates Health Institute, one of the premier vegan/vegetarian resorts in South Florida, and Executive Chef for Omni Hotels.  He also worked for several years at the prestigious 5 Star Diamond Hotel “The Breakers” in West Palm Beach. He currently is the Executive Chef for Sage Gourmet Café and Market, located in the Deep Deuce District of Oklahoma City, and the corporate chef for Bariatric Partners and iMetabolic, and is a regular columnist for WLS Lifestyles magazine.

Laura Preston — lifestyle guru, former cosmetics executive, and motivational speaker — always felt like the “big girl”. Standing 6′1″ and weighing more than 300 pounds, she did not let her size stop her from rising high in the ranks of Manhattan’s beauty and fashion industry. But when she eventually topped the scales at 365 pounds, she new she had to make a change.

After a gastric bypass in March 2005, Laura dropped more than 165 pounds, and discovered a new way of living. Now, she brings her wit and wisdom to viewers as host of The Big Do-Over, a new show featuring fresh advice on beauty, fashion, fitness and living well after weight loss surgery! In each episode, Laura will offer viewers a program full of practical and fun advice on how to create a new road map for themselves and embrace life as if they had never been seriously overweight at all. Stay tuned for the debut this spring, as Laura provides step-by-step instructions to keep you looking and feeling your best!