Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/73202
How I got my back! move "I really needed to get a hold of myself," says Margaret, who weighed 459 Four years ago Margaret Carey was told by her doctors that she would be lucky to live another year. With the encouragement of her primary care physician, Dr. Michael Hoeman, Margaret took the first step and walked through the front doors of The Meyer Center. She started FitLife, a 12-week program to help people meet their fitness and nutrition goals. "FitLife is for people with various health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer or weight loss concerns," says David Dade, dietitian, who worked with Margaret on her nutrition goals. "David taught me calories in, calories out," she says. "He had me fill out calorie sheets and be accountable for what I was eating." Margaret met weekly with an exercise specialist. "In the beginning I felt like I was in the wrong place, but I kept going," she says. "I couldn't even walk halfway around The Meyer Center track when I started." Soon Margaret lost 40 pounds, but was dealing with chronic back pain. Her physician suggested the LAP- BAND® surgery. pounds at the time. "I was taking 39 pills a day for blood pressure, diabetes and my heart." Before photo of Margaret "Margaret was a good candidate because she had made the commitment to a healthy lifestyle, which is important to succeeding with the LAP-BAND®," says Jana Garde, registered nurse and surgery supervisor. "The procedure promotes a slow, healthy weight loss." During the surgery, an adjustable silicone ring is inserted through a small incision and placed around the upper part of the stomach, like a belt. The surgeon can adjust the tightness of the ring through a port placed under the patient's skin, essentially making the patient's stomach smaller. The patient is able to feel full while eating less. "The LAP-BAND® is just a tool. I still had to continue my healthy eating habits and exercise program," says Margaret. Margaret exercises five days a week and enjoys classes at CoxHealth Fitness Centers, especially Zumba®, the GTS pilates classes and step aerobics. "Movement has helped with my chronic pain and fibromyalgia," says Margaret, whose first class at The Meyer Center was AFEP (Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program). 4