Weight Loss Success

Lane Regional’s Scale-Down Program Helps Zachary Residents With Battle of the Bulge

Courtesy of Christine Danburg
Lane RMC

Summertime seems to remind us of those extra pounds we’ve accumulated since the holidays, and when as we find that wadded up bathing suit in the depths of our closets. And finding weight-loss methods that actually work can be more frustrating than Baton Rouge’s traffic.

But thanks to Lane Regional Medical Center’s Scale Down program, several Zachary residents have not only lost weight but have managed to keep it off too. Here are a few stories from some of your fellow neighbors about their scale down success:

Ron Chapman

Medically Supervised Very Low Calorie Diet
Pounds lost: 88.2 and counting

I am a Vietnam Veteran combat Hospital Corpsman (1966-1967) awarded two Purple Hearts and other ribbons and medals while serving in the U.S. Navy Marine Fleet Service. My career started as a cook for a seafood restaurant in Charleston, S.C., then as an inside salesperson for an industrial sales company. In January 1995 I was forced to retire because of an eye disease.

In addition to the eye disease, which started in 1993, my medical history includes a heart attack, left and right knee joints replaced, various bronchial illnesses, repair to the right knee, and corporal tunnel syndrome operations in both hands.

In October 2005 I made the decision to stop smoking cigarettes after 43 years. The next week I was in Lane’s Emergency Room, unable to breathe. I was treated for chronic asthma, which I never knew I had. Then I discovered I had an enlarged heart. I was then diagnosed with congestive heart failure, high blood pressure and a high cholesterol level. The cardiologist told me if I didn’t change my lifestyle of eating and exercise, I wouldn’t see Christmas 2006. I was 356 lbs. and at least 150 lbs. overweight. I was so overweight that I couldn’t put my socks on without help.

For the first time in my life I was scared out of my mind.

While on one of my many doctor appointments I picked up a brochure about the HMR program. I attended an orientation meeting and it was that night that I was sent two lovely angels, Melissa Landry and Christie Danburg, and later, a third one named Dr. Michelle Cosse. I knew my lifestyle was going to change.

My program began March 16, 2006. At the first meeting I met people with some of the same health and dieting problems, with the guidance of my new angels everything started to fall into place.

I’ve lost 88 lbs.and now can put my socks on and tie my shoes. When I lost 40 lbs. I stopped taking medicine for high blood pressure and high cholesterol. My heart is doing better and getting stronger every day.

The doctors are amazed with my weight loss in such a short period of time. The sacrifices I’ve gone through for a healthier body is not always easy but I’ve got a great support family - Christie, my wife and daughters.

Danny Edwards

The emotional aspects of being overweight were always hard to overcome, especially weighing 270 lbs. in high school. When I graduated and started working I happened to meet a young lady and fell in love. As we were dating I lost 50 pounds and that is my first success story.

After we were married the good cooking and bad eating habits led me to start the yo-yo syndrome of losing a little and gaining more and this trend kept going. I have tried all of the fad diets, weight loss clinics, diet books by all of the famous doctors, pre-packaged ready to heat meals; I have even been a guinea pig for research clinics.

One day I decided to step on the scale and was startled to see what I actually weighed. I ballooned up to 371lbs., plus I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and acid reflux and taking Protonix for the acid reflux.

Right then and there I knew it was time to do something about it. I was 55 years old and grossly overweight. I didn’t want to start having weight-related illnesses or have to sleep with a CPAP machine, and even the thought of dying frightened me.

On Feb. 1, 2006, I happened to be talking to a good friend of mine that has always had the same problems with his weight that I have had. He told me that he had started a wonderful weight loss program that seemed to be what he and I had been searching for all these years.

My friend informed me that the program is HMR weight loss and it is an affiliate of Lane Memorial Hospital called Scale Down Weight loss. My wife and I started the diet on Feb. 9, 2006 and from there on it has been the greatest thing that we have ever done.

One of the best things about the program is not only the food that I will continue to eat after I am off of the diet but what you learn at the motivational classes and the statistical data that you are given. The staff always takes time to answer any questions that you may have. Christie is always pleasant and always greets you with a smile and a word of encouragement.

As of July 7, 2006, I have officially lost 100+ pounds and feel great. I can do things I could not do before (bend down to tie my shoes instead of bringing my shoe up to me). My wife and I will start maintenance shortly and we know now what we must do to keep our weight off. I am so impressed with this program that I will highly recommend it to anyone.

Kathy Oufnac

As a mother of four grown children and with our first grandchild on the way, I started to examine my health a little more closely.

I began gaining weight in my 40s following four births and a gall bladder surgery. Life was hectic. My husband and I own our own businesses and with a full-time schedule at home, my health and well-being took a back burner to my family life. I had tried many diets over the years. Weight Watchers was a program I adopted for about 10 months, but all I lost was 12 lbs., and a lot of confidence in my ability to lose the weight. I also tried the South Beach diet, but the meals became boring, and there was no guidance to help me out along the way. The weight loss on these diets quickly returned, bringing a few friends with them.

Around May 2006, I injured my knee while gardening in my yard, an activity I have always enjoyed. I thought it would heal on its own, but to my dismay it didn’t. The doctors kept telling me to exercise it, but how do you exercise when your knee hurts, and you get tired due to extra weight? I was finally diagnosed with a torn meniscus and underwent surgery July 13, 2006.

While visiting Lane Hospital for a pre-surgery visit, I picked up a brochure about HMR, and on July 21, 2006, attended my first meeting and began my journey on HMR. For some people the financial commitment of such a plan like HMR seems outrageous, but I quickly realized that it would be money well spent to improve my health and well-being for the future. I would rather know that I spent the money to improve my life and health for the long term, than to be spending it on medical bills and drugs later on.

My starting weight for HMR was 186lbs. I was a little skeptical at first, since I had tried to “cut-back” on my own for so long with few results. I had tried eating salads, but found out through HMR that between the cold cuts and the cheese, I was defeating the purpose of eating vegetables. I also realized that I had been eliminating the most important meal of the day – BREAKFAST!

Basically, I needed a lot more structure and coaching, which I was thrilled to find in the HMR program. Having a coach for me was very important, just like a teacher or a professor for a student. The coach kept me on track for what I was to expect now and in the coming times, so that I could stay the course. My coach helped me to realize that I had a portion control problem as well, but this was easily remedied with HMR because you can eat a minimum of three times per day, and as long as you follow the recommendations, it’s hard to get hungry.

I have had a slow rate of actual pounds lost, but the inches have melted away faster than I could have imagined. I have so much motivation to see how many more inches I can make disappear. I have gone from a size 14-16 to a size 10 in eight months. Friends and family members are amazed at my results when they see me, and are always curious of what I have done to be looking so youthful and thin. I can’t wait to see what more things I can accomplish with the HMR program.