CentegraHealthSystem
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FOR CHUCK STRADA, being overweight
was becoming a serious problem. That
was made obvious by his back pain and
his empty wallet as he bought bigger
and bigger clothes.
That wasn’t all. Sleep apnea, which
often happens with obesity, forced
Strada to sleep sitting upright. His
weight even prevented him from
bending over to tie his shoes.
The fnal straw came when, at an
amusement park, it took two men to clip
a ride’s safety harness into place for him.
“It really hit me that I needed to
change,” Strada says.
With the help of the Centegra Weight-
Loss Surgery Program, he was able to
make that change. Strada had gastric
bypass surgery that helped him go from
Turning
YOUR LIFE
around
THE CENTEGRA WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY PROGRAM
Weight-Loss Surgery
Program is friendly
and focused on your
success. Strada
didn’t attend support
group meetings,
but he still received
help from the team.
“I would call from
the grocery store, and a nutritionist would
counsel me over the phone about food
choices,” he says. “They’re like family.”
A SMALLER BODY, A BIGGER LIFE
After his surgery, Strada lost 30 pounds
in the frst month and eventually went
from size 50 to size 32 pants. He ended
up donating his oversized clothes to
Centegra’s clothing exchange program,
where you can buy smaller items
inexpensively as your size shrinks.
Strada’s life is different now. He helps
out at his family’s tree farm and has
started his own lawn care business.
This February, he’s getting married.
Additionally, his health has improved.
His sleep apnea is gone, and his back
pain is greatly reduced. “I can walk
forever now,” Strada says.
Weight-loss surgery can also help
resolve health problems such as type 2
diabetes and high blood pressure. The
entire process takes commitment, but
for Strada it was well worth it.
“Centegra goes above and beyond
to make things work for you,” he says.
“Weight-loss surgery gave me my life back.”
368 pounds to 174 pounds, and he’s kept
the weight off for more than three years.
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY
If you’re interested in weight-
loss surgery, you can learn more at
free informational sessions, where
bariatric surgeon Amir Heydari, MD,
FACS, explains the minimally-invasive
surgical options available. You’ll also
learn about the lifestyle changes
necessary for success.
“Patients must make a lifelong
commitment to healthy habits,” says
Dr. Heydari, who also is medical director
of the center. “Eating right and having an
active lifestyle can help you maintain a
healthy weight for the rest of your life.”
You won’t be on your own, though.
“Our team of doctors, nurses,
dietitians and other healthcare
professionals is here for
you every step of the way,”
Dr. Heydari says.
Support group meetings
and a two-month
membership at Centegra
Health Bridge Fitness
Center are also part of
the program.
You’ll also get
continuing medical
follow-up as well as
help with changing your
habits—for as long as
you need it. The entire
culture at the Centegra
You can
READ
and
VIEW
more success stories
online at weighlesslivemore.com
.
Before
After
Attend an information session about weight-loss
surgery at Centegra.
CALL
847-802-7230
or
VISIT
weighlesslivemore.com.
Amir Heydari,
MD, FACS