Pete Maughan Blog Peter Maughan

So the other day I was thinking about weight loss surgery. Since bariatric surgeries are up across the nation and have also gained much wider acceptance and approvals from insurance companies to have the procedures done, it is something that should be addressed. Naturally, there are many reasons for and many reasons against getting these kinds of surgeries so I’ll discuss one of the major pro’s and a major con of weight loss surgery.

First, it is noted in a recent study that weight loss surgery may cure diabetes in many cases. I find this interesting especially because so many people suffer from diabetes which in the majority of cases is a preventable disease that has more to do with body weight than just about any other factor (unless you’re talking about type 2 diabetes which is the genetic condition that does not onset as a result of obesity.) So this would be a huge plus on the side of doing the surgery. You can find the article here: Weight loss surgery may cure diabetes.

Next, let’s talk about one of the major disadvantages of resorting to weight loss surgery…and I’ll put a caveat in here about how I think the disadvantage can dissipate and be turned into a strength. People might say, and they would probably be right that the danger of turning to weight loss surgery to fix your weight problems does not require major changes in lifestyle to get the weight down. This is true, but it’s not entirely correct. When you participate in a weight loss surgery, your weight is dramatically reduced which leads to a new found sense of self image. This is a fantastic shot of self confidence for those who have the surgery. They’re excited, have a new purpose for health, and are much more committed to keeping the weight off. The new challenge becomes keeping the weight off through a true change of heart in how they live and eat and exercise. It’s important to overcome the weight to be vigilant and by doing that and using this new found confidence and using a strong sense of commitment that people who have bariatric surgery can keep the weight off.

I’ll go through a few of the different experiences that have made me who I am. First of all, I was born in Montana to wonderful parents Mom and Dad who have always loved me and shown me that they care. They are wonderful examples of loving each other and although not perfect, they have really worked hard to be good examples, show me the right paths to follow, help me to understand God’s plan for us on earth and to realize that the Savior lives and wants to help each one of us.

I moved to a little city outside of Seattle in the 3^rd grade and I lived there for 4.5 years till I moved to Richland, Washington at the beginning of the 7^th grade. Richland is one of the tri-cities and I spent the rest of my childhood there, going to Carmichael junior high and then to Richland High School the home of the bombers. I graduated with a high GPA and as a disappointment to my current wife I did not earn my eagle lol.

From there, I went to work for various construction companies to earn up money to pay for my forthcoming 2 year mission that I had chosen to serve for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These months of construction were difficult but fulfilling. I got to live with my sister and her family during that time and enjoyed being close to them. I also earned much more money that I deserved because I was paid $29/hour as an 18 year old.

Next, I was called to serve a mission in Germany in several cities around Leipzig, Germany including my first city, Meissen. After that I moved to Cottbus for a bit, then on to Hof which is in Bavaria. After that I moved to Nordhausen, and finally landed in my last city in Germany in Annaberg-Buchholz. My mission shaped so much of my life and the following experiences that I simply cannot ignore its power. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has a brilliant missionary program and I believe that it is truly inspired by God to bring the message of his plan of happiness to his children all over the earth.

Once I graduated, I started up right away at Brigham Young University where I had been accepted and then deferred previous to my mission. I began with a plan to possibly do business because of an entrepreneurial bug that had sparked in my life early on when I sold a rock to another kid for $5 after successfully showing him that it could make fire. (I cracked it together with another rock to make a spark.) I played with the idea of medicine and did enjoy the health and wellness industry as a whole and settled on a degree in accounting because it had the best reputation of any of BYU’s programs.

After that I went on to start several businesses including being a founding partner of Junto Group which received $250,000 in startup capital and spun off several successful businesses including one that just received it’s next round of $8 million in capital.

Several years later, and several successes and a couple failures chalked up, and I am gearing up now to build value in my next opportunity. I am going into health and wellness in one of the best capacities that I know. I am preparing to enter the field of medicine.