"While many patients choose the Bariatric Surgery track, I entered the Medically Managed Program at the Goshen Center for Weight Reduction in the spring of 2017 realizing that what I hoped to accomplish would be a two or three year journey to reach my ultimate goal. I entered the Medically Managed program because I wanted to develop life-changing habits in eating and exercise.
What I have found here is a staff that is incredibly dedicated to ensuring that I do all of the things necessary to meet my goals, though the ultimate responsibility is mine. Lisa, our Receptionist, is always ready with a smile and a funny story, and she instantly puts you at ease and makes you feel like family. Oliver, the Office Manager, is a constant source of encouragement and as a former patient himself he's a ready source of information and he also has a really great and quick sense of humor. Kathy, the LPN, helps me keep on track medically and mentally, and her experience allows her to have great insight into the mental aspect of losing weight. Allyson, our nutritionist, is very diligent in insuring that our nutritional needs are being met, and at the same time insures that we are eating in a manner that helps us get to our goals. She offers a lot of healthy alternatives for making food more enjoyable while keeping me on track. Leanne, our Fitness Manager, is more than a trainer. With a degree in Kinesiology from Indiana University, as well as her two Professional Training Certifications, she can help design an exercise program that works around just about any physical difficulty. Leanne's boundless energy and positive "Can Do" attitude makes coming to the gym so much fun.
Early in 2018 I hit a mental wall as I was struggling with life issues but no one at the Center gave up on or admonished me in any way, instead they lovingly supported me and continued to play a vital support until I was ready to get back into it again, and when I did I attacked my program with a vengeance losing 30 pounds in barely 2 1/2 months!! Make no mistake, this isn't your cookie-cutter one-size-fits-all diet plan, these professionals provide individualized plans tailored to each participant's needs and unique health issues. These professionals don't just say "Here is what you need to do." they educate you on why taking a specific action is better than other choices so that you own the information long after you leave the program.
So what results have I seen? I've lost 80 pounds, 8 inches off my waist, two full shirt sizes, and perhaps most interesting to me, three full shoe sizes since beginning. When I first came to the Center I couldn't walk from my handicap parking spot to the front of a store without having to stop and catch my breath. Compare that to yesterday when I completed my first ever 5K, organized by Leanne for us patients. I couldn't sit in an auditorium seat to watch my daughter's school music concerts, but now I can. I couldn't put my own shoes and socks on, but now I can. This Christmas, my daughter who lives out of state will be coming home, and when she walks through the door, I will be weighing less than I ever have since she was born.
I still have a long way to go before my goals are achieved but I will get there BECAUSE of these people, they simply will not allow me to fail. The changes that have occurred in my life seem nothing less than miraculous to me because I know where I was when I began, and while I will take credit for doing the hard work, there is no way possible I could have done this without the folks at the Center for Weight Reduction, and I know that to be true because I tried other ways. These people have saved my life, literally, and they are ready to do the same for anyone who reaches out to them for help. I LOVE these people and this place and am blessed to have them in my corner."
