When Freya Cedeño Marin turned 50, she celebrated the milestone exactly the way she wanted: surrounded by eight close friends in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. It was a dream the Montville resident thought was impossible before weight-loss surgery four years ago.
Before gastric-bypass surgery, Freya avoided theme parks because she needed a lap extender to enjoy the rides. But with support from her bariatric surgeon Omar Bellorin-Marin, MD, friends, and family, she’s maintained a 117-pound weight loss and was able to experience the magic of Disney with lifelong friends.
Finding a Doctor Who Understood Her
Freya’s journey began when her endocrinologist urged her to meet with Dr. Bellorin-Marin (no relation). At the time, her diabetes was dangerously uncontrolled and threatened to affect her vision. A medical doctor herself, Freya had considered weight-loss surgery before but never felt ready. However, the moment she met Dr. Bellorin-Marin, everything shifted.
“With a couple of words, we just clicked, and he was able to tell me why surgery was going to be beneficial for me,” she recalls. “He spoke like a regular, humble Hispanic person, not like a doctor.”
As a Dominican woman, she wanted a doctor who respected her culture and could communicate with her Spanish-speaking husband. With Dr. Bellorin-Marin, she felt understood, not judged. Freya also connected deeply with his staff, who helped her rethink her relationship with food without shame. That approach—kind, culturally aware, and realistic—helped Freya finally move forward with surgery after years of hesitation.
An Emotional Weight-Loss Journey
After losing more than 100 pounds, the clinical changes were dramatic, but the physical and emotional ones were harder. While her blood sugar levels and acid reflux improved, Freya also experienced hair loss, excess skin, fatigue, and a loss of libido. She struggled to recognize herself in the mirror. She even found herself wandering into plus-size stores out of habit, unsure of how to shop for her new body.
“At one point, I was depressed because I couldn’t recognize the person in the mirror,” she shares. “I spent 47 years as this person, and then all of a sudden, I was a completely different one.”
But with time, support, and patience, she found her footing. She began exercising: hiking, running 5Ks, paddleboarding, and walking, sometimes up to two miles every day. She learned to enjoy shopping again.
She also changed how she thought about food. Instead of the heavy, carb-filled meals she grew up with, she learned to choose smaller portions and balance her plate. She still enjoys Dominican favorites like maduros and rice and beans, but now measures them in a four-ounce container. She also discovered new foods she never imagined adopting, like protein shakes, yogurt with low-sugar granola, and eggs with avocado. Most importantly, she learned moderation, not restriction. Dr. Bellorin-Marin and his team helped her understand that healthy living doesn’t mean giving up joy.
“I’m not saying I don’t eat a piece of cake here and there,” she said with a laugh. “You have to enjoy those things. Every day, I make choices to help me not gain weight. If I gain some, then I try to lose it by walking or doing something active.”
Her transformation also reshaped her son Henry’s habits. He now joins her on walks, hikes, and paddle-boarding trips, and makes healthier food choices.
“My new good habits are trickling down to him,” she said. “I didn’t want my son to go down the same path I did.”
Still Supported, Still Grateful
Today, Freya continues her follow-up care with Dr. Bellorin-Marin at Holy Name Medical Center. She sees him annually and still feels encouraged by her “cheerleader.”
“I thank Dr. Omar every single day of my life,” she says. “I know there are a lot of people out there who feel stuck like I did. Even when I was feeling low, I didn’t regret having surgery because I’ve learned so much about myself from this journey.”
