Local Program Helps People Lose Weight
Taking care of two boys, a husband and her mother left Lynelle Denapoli of Cranberry Township with no time for herself.
She packed 20 to 30 extra pounds onto her petite five-foot-two frame.
The extra weight affected her self-esteem and how she spent time with her family, that's until she shed more than 20 pounds in just a few months.
"It was the best summer this year because I didn't fear. [I've got to] put that bathing suit on or [I've got to] try on bathing suits. I dreaded it every year for the last four or five years," said Denapoli. "This year was the first year that I can go shopping for it, or taking the kids swimming or going to any functions that we had during this summer. I wasn't embarrassed or wasn't afraid."
For Bill Rogel, the scale tipped 400 pounds. As 30 approached, he knew it was only going to get harder to take it off.
He lost 75 pounds in less than three months and is still dropping.
"I noticed once the weight came off, how my knees, how my back felt a difference. How much easier it was to get around," said Rogel. "I can get into normal size cars and sedans now without feeling like I'm imposing upon the person sitting next to me. I got this outfit at a normal non-big and tall clothing store for the first time in about three or four years."
Although Rogel and Denapoli are on opposites sides of the weight loss spectrum their success stories have a common factor - Bariatric Weight Loss.
Bariatrics combines an appetite suppressant, a mild diuretic and a meal plan with injections of B6 and B12, which work with the metabolism to break down fat and carbohydrates.
Nurse Linda Schu says it's about more than just looking good. It is a medical program - only doctors and nurses work here.
"A lot of patients come into us with high cholesterol, high blood pressure," said Schu. "We had a young girl that came to us about 19 or 20 that lost about 75 pounds and she's kept it off. She has still kept it off over a year. It's really great to see that happen."
The results also motivated Denapoli to make major lifestyle changes in order to keep the weight off.
"I do make a lot of time for myself actually," said Denapoli. "I have a little dog and every morning as soon as the kids get on the bus, we take our morning walk rain, shine, it doesn't matter."
Rogel urges others also struggling with their weight to not be afraid to fail.
"I see fast food, man, that stuff's calling to me. It's really easy to come up with ways to stay big by saying things to yourself like, 'Well, I can always lose the weight if I have to. I can do it later,'" he adds. "If you find people you trust, a support system and finding a program that I trust and that I'm willing to listen to, all of that helps a lot."
All of the medication at the Bariatric Weight Loss center is FDA approved and they've been using them for many years.
After hitting your goal weight, many patients stay on a maintenance program for a few months which helps them keep the weight off.
