I am an alumnus of the OPTIFAST program at the Sparrow Weight Management Center. A former high school and college athlete, over the years I had turned into an obese couch potato.

At the beginning of the program, I weighed 393 pounds. I had a lifestyle I had grown accustomed to, but it wasn't the lifestyle I really wanted.

My blood pressure, controlled with medication, was about 140/90. I had occasional chest pain and difficulty breathing with even minor exertion. I had no energy to do much of anything physical. My knees were giving me a lot of problems, and I was in consultation with a surgeon who suggested surgery for those problems. I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs without getting out of breath. I had trouble fitting in the seats at the theater or on an airplane, especially knowing what the person who had to sit next to me must be thinking. And yes, I always had to ask for one of those seat belt extenders. I couldn't successfully play golf or participate in other activities I used to love. Even rolling over in bed was a chore and led to problems related to lack of sleep.

My self-esteem was at an all time low. I had become a spectator in life - forced to be content with watching it pass me by.

I started the 24-week program in June - 12 weeks on liquid OPTIFAST and 12 weeks phasing food back into my diet. The program worked very well for me and was relatively easy to follow. We all know no weight loss program is easy. But trust me, the OPTIFAST program is a lot easier than it might sound. I lost 110 pounds over the 24 weeks.

I have stayed true to what I learned during the initial program and have been actively working on the maintenance program. Maintenance is vital to my continued success. Those of you who have lost weight know that losing weight might be hard, but not finding it again is even harder!

I lost an additional 25 pounds during the first five months of maintenance. The weight loss is great, but while the numbers sound good, it isn't what is really important. The real proof is the improvement in my lifestyle and health. My blood pressure is now 100/70. I no longer have knee problems or chest pain. My energy level much better and my self-esteem is improving, allowing me to participate in life.

The staff at the Sparrow Weight Management Center is great. They are knowledgeable, friendly and, above all, very helpful and supportive. They will do everything in their power to help you lose weight and change your lifestyle so you can be the person you want to be - the best person you can be.

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