Via Christi Weight Management Success Stories

David Dean
Address: Wichita, KS
Medical Weight Loss Treatment Plan: HMR Low Calorie Diet
Total pounds lost: 90

Body Mass Index before HMR: 37.7
Body Mass Index after HMR: 26.1
Physical activity before HMR: 1000-2000 burned per week
Physical activity after HMR: 5000-6000 burned per week
Triglycerides before HMR: 216
Triglycerides after HMR: 96
Blood pressure before HMR: 138/88
Blood pressure after HMR: 120/80

"My name is David Dean. I started the HMR program in August 2003. The reasons were pretty typical. My weight at the time was 256 lbs. I had high blood pressure medicated, no energy, and generally depressed. My wife and I were in the midst of an adoption process and I knew I could not care for a child the way I wanted to in the condition I was in."

"I began the HMR Core Program as an intermediate risk patient. Core began the education process that has me where I am today. Attending classes and learning from each other, it became very apparent that I would not be able to "diet", but that I had to make a lifestyle change. I am a "numbers" person and it became obvious that success would depend on my calorie input vs. calorie output. I would have to replace my high calorie empty nutrition food with lower calorie higher nutrition options. I needed to increase my intake of fruits and vegetables as well as my physical activity."

"The only way I knew I could be successful was to be diligent and honest in documenting what food I took in and my physical activity. The first thing I did in the Core portion of the program was environmental control. I got rid of almost everything in the pantry and refrigerator. After I finished the Core phase of the program and went into Ongoing, I knew to make the lifestyle change I would have to increase the following: my accountability, fruits and vegetables, portion and calorie control, water, physical activity, and goal setting."

"The hardest is accountability and being true with myself. By documenting intake and physical activity I can easily see what does and does not work for me. By doing the above I have been able to maintain an 85-90 lb. weight loss. After accountability, goal setting was critical. By setting physical activity goals, it forced me to put a detailed plan in place to meet those goals."

"I started the Core program by walking and as I lost weight, I began running short distances very slowly. This past fall I was able to run the Pike’s Peak Ascent, the Wichita Half Marathon, and the Wichita Marathon within 90 days of each other."

"The benefit of the HMR program at Via Christi Weight Management is not the physical events that I have accomplished. The true benefit is the education that I have gained to make the lifestyle changes. As a result of the program I am healthier at 45 years old than I have ever been my whole adult life. This will enable me to be an active part of my daughter’s life for a long time."