THE NEWFULL
The New Full, book cover, by Marcio & Renata Cavalcanti

We lost over 200 pounds together since our heaviest, and this is everything nobody told us.

Marcio and Renata had bariatric surgery two weeks apart. This is the whole story, in both their voices: the decision, the surgery, the first months and the years after.

The New Full, by Marcio & Renata Cavalcanti.

Marcio and Renata.

Our road so far. The ups, the downs, and everywhere in between.

August 2021Arches, Utah
Marcio and Renata, Arches, Utah, August 2021
October 2021Alaska
Marcio, Renata and their kids, Alaska, October 2021
January 2022Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Marcio and Renata, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, January 2022
February 2022San Francisco
Marcio and Renata, San Francisco, February 2022
March 2022Los Angeles
Marcio and Renata, Los Angeles, March 2022
May 2022Hoover Dam
Marcio and Renata, Hoover Dam, May 2022
July 2022Atlanta
Marcio and Renata, Atlanta, July 2022
September 2022San Diego
Marcio and Renata, San Diego, September 2022
January 2023On a plane
Marcio and Renata, On a plane, January 2023
July 2023Dahlonega, Georgia
Marcio and Renata, Dahlonega, Georgia, July 2023
December 2023Brooklyn Bridge
Marcio and Renata, Brooklyn Bridge, December 2023
March 2024At home
Marcio, Renata, their kids and their dog, at home, March 2024
July 2024Atlanta
Marcio and Renata, Atlanta, July 2024
December 2024Surgery day
Marcio on surgery day, December 2024
December 2024Surgery day
Renata on surgery day, December 2024
December 2024After surgery
Marcio and Renata, After surgery, December 2024
January 2025Nashville
Marcio and Renata, Nashville, January 2025
March 2025Miami
Marcio and Renata, Miami, March 2025
May 2025Liberty Island
Marcio and Renata, Liberty Island, May 2025
September 2025Holly Springs, Georgia
Marcio and Renata, Holly Springs, Georgia, September 2025
January 2026Mount Hood
Marcio and Renata, Mount Hood, January 2026
June 2026Atlanta
Marcio and Renata in Brasil jerseys, Atlanta, June 2026
September 2026Atlanta
Marcio and Renata, Atlanta, September 2026

Swipe through the years.

From our personal photo albums. Places and brands appear as they were that day; none of them sponsor or endorse this book.

“Back in 2019, I took our kids to Six Flags. I love roller coasters, and so do they.”

“I didn’t fit in the seats.”

June 2025, about six months after surgery

“As a family, we rode every single one.”

Chapter 26

Marcio with their two kids at Six Flags, Father’s Day, June 2025
Father’s Day, June 2025.

“Renata spent the day holding the bags and everyone’s phones, and to be clear, that had nothing to do with whether she’d fit. She’s just always been afraid of roller coasters, and no surgery was ever going to fix that particular problem.”

“I was always afraid I’d have to ask for a seatbelt extension. I never needed one. Some flights, the belt was just tight.”

Marcio

Marcio in an airplane seat, September 2024, before surgery
Then. September 2024, about three months before surgery.
Marcio in an airplane seat with his seatbelt on, April 2026
Now. April 2026.

Marcio, before and after bariatric surgery. His experience with his care team, not a promise of results.

What we got back.

“I stopped doing that thing where you angle your body to take up less space at a conference table, like you’re trying to apologize for attending your own job.”
Renata, Bonus Chapter
“Parties stopped being something we survived from a safe spot near the snack table, and started being something we danced at, badly, on purpose, in public.”
Bonus Chapter
“I would make the same choice again without hesitating, but I won’t pretend that part didn’t cost me something.”
Renata, Chapter 27

Swipe for more.

Where are you in this?

Pick the one that sounds like you, and we’ll show you where the book starts.

The New Full, book cover, by Marcio & Renata Cavalcanti

We stopped shrinking. In rooms, in photos, in our own heads.

Bonus Chapter

30 chapters, two voices, one kitchen table.