Art: Total weight loss, 50 lbs. and counting

In January of 2008 my New Year's resolution was to lose weight.  I was slowly approaching 300 pounds and I knew I had to change my lifestyle.  Given my family history of heart disease, obesity and diabetes, I decided to enroll in the Optifast program.  I knew this would be difficult at first, but I needed to do this.   When I first started the program, my blood pressure was 150/92 which was high.  I also was winded walking upstairs, playing golf, or getting out of the chair.  At the beginning of the program, my blood work and EKG came back normal which was a surprise to me.  

Over the course of the past eleven months, I have lost 50 pounds, 2 1/4 inches off my waist, raised my HDL to 60, and lowered my blood pressure to 110/64.   I am now able to exercise well over 200 minutes a week which includes 6 miles a week on the Eliptical as well as lifting weights.  Dr. Tony and Aileen helped me achieve my goals not only of weight loss but maintaining a healthier lifestyle.  I have learned that it is important to lose weight, but it is even more important to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  As a physician, I now know the importance of weight loss and exercise and making changes that wil impact my health for the rest of my life.  Optifast to me is much more than losing weight.  It is a lifestyle change.