Living Miracles, Inspiring Health: Johnny's Miracle

Miracles come in all sizes. When Johnny Reyna hit 485 pounds, he was using a CPAP machine to breathe at night, was on numerous medications, and was thought to be prediabetic.

Only 40 years old, he began to wonder whether he would be around to watch his daughter Emelia grow up. On a Disney World trip, he thought, “What will happen when she gets older? I can't even fit in the seats of these rides now; if I continue the way I'm going, I won't be around for her as she grows.” This realization helped him come to one of the most important decisions of his life - to lose weight and to radically change his lifestyle.

He finally reached that place in his head where he knew he wanted to lose weight more than anything else, and Emelia served as the catalyst. On the recommendation of Franciscan Hammond Clinic, and seeing the newspaper ads and billboards for Dr. Gerald A. Cahill, Johnny turned to Franciscan St. Margaret Health - Dyer for his miracle, where he elected to have minimally invasive gastric bypass surgery.

He was scared but thought, “I could die if I don't do it, so I am prepared to die trying.” Within six months of Johnny’s surgery, his weight was down to 230, a 255-pound weight loss from his highest point. John attributes his success to determination, attending Franciscan St. Margaret Health support groups, and help from staff such as Patricia Konvalinka from Franciscan Hammond Clinic, who encouraged him along the whole way. Today, when he drives with his mom by a billboard for Dr. Cahill, she waves and says, “Thanks, Doc.” To Johnny and his family, losing all that weight is nothing short of a miracle.

VIDEO UPDATE - "Windy City Live!" Producer Talks Weight Loss Surgical Success

Earlier this year, our team here at the Midwest Bariatric Institute visited the set of "Windy City Live!". Dr. Gerald Cahill appeared on the show and discussed the weight loss journey of WCL Producer and Contributor David Plummer and his Sleeve Gastrectomy Procedure.

UPDATE...David was back in the spotlight and in front of the cameras again this week...100 pounds lighter! And his experience has inspired another co-worker to seek out surgical options as well.

 

Congrats, David. Good luck, Greg. We are all wishing you well as you keep your journeys going strong!

Sports Drinks – Do I really need them when I exercise?

Submitted by Lori Granich, a Registered Dietitian with the Midwest Bariatric Institute at Franciscan St. Margaret Health

Sports drinks make many claims such as “power enhancing” and “energy boosting” but what is really in these drinks? Food marketing has brought in millions of dollars with promises to enhance health and fitness levels. Sales have skyrocketed in recent years, particularly among youth. Let’s take a deeper look into these popular beverages to see if they are living up to the hype of their claims.

Sports drinks usually contain water, sugar, electrolytes and artificial flavors. They are marketed towards athletes but the everyday consumer has been adding them into their daily diet. Childhood obesity has been linked to these drinks because children are sipping them throughout the day which has resulted in an excess amount of calories consumed, mostly coming from sugar. Problems arise because kids and adults are adding more calories into their diets with these beverages, but are not exercising enough to burn them off.

Studies show that sports drinks are typically not necessary unless intense exercise is performed longer than 60 minutes. With intense and prolonged exercise, our muscles use carbohydrates for fuel. Our bodies lose stores of carbohydrate after 90 minutes of exercise and then turn to fat for fuel. Fat does not burn as efficiently as carbohydrates so athletes may notice a slowdown in their performance. With intense exercise, sports drinks can help replenish lost electrolytes and prevent dehydration while replacing carbohydrates for energy. The everyday exerciser can meet fluid requirements with water alone because they do not lose large amount of electrolytes during physical activity.

The Buzz over Greek Yogurt

Submitted by Lori Granich, RD, Clinical Dietitian at the Midwest Bariatric Institute

There is no doubt that you have seen various brands of Greek yogurt popping up at your local supermarket. You may have also noticed the significant price hike compared to regular yogurt. Dietitians and fitness enthusiasts are recommending it and there are many recipes now calling for it. So what is the big deal about Greek yogurt?

Both types of yogurt can be part of a healthy diet because they are low calorie and contain calcium and beneficial bacteria. Greek yogurt, however, goes through extra straining which removes whey, lactose and sugar resulting in a thicker consistency. One of the reasons Greek yogurt is put on a pedestal is because the protein content is typically twice that of regular yogurt. Including protein at meals can help control hunger. Greek yogurt also has fewer carbohydrates than regular yogurt which makes it appealing to diabetics. Greek yogurt contains a good amount of probiotics which aid in digestion and help us absorb nutrients.

The best thing about Greek yogurt is that it is a very versatile ingredient - especially when it is used a  healthier alternative for things like mayonnaise and sour cream.

Here are some great uses for Greek yogurt:

• Make a high protein smoothie with Greek yogurt and fresh fruit.
• Add a sugar-substitute and top with fresh fruit for a high-protein snack. Adding sugar-free jelly or a Crystal light packet in yogurt can also give it the sweeter flavor you may be craving.
• Add garlic, herbs, and olive oil to Greek yogurt to make salad dressing.
• Dress up your chicken with a combination of Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard and tarragon.
• Add lemon and capers to Greek yogurt to make a delicious sauce for fish. Cucumber and dill weed also make also make great toppings!
• Add peanut butter, honey and cinnamon to Greek yogurt for a snack or use as a dip for fruit.

Dr. Cahill talks weight loss surgery on Windy City Live!

Our very own Dr. Gerald Cahill spent the morning of January 14 in Chicago on the set of Windy City Live. He talked about the benefits of the Sleeve Gastrectomy Procedure, and one of his patients shared his experience with the surgery.

 

The rest of our Midwest Bariatric Institute team was also on hand and took a moment to get a snapshot with the Windy City Live crew. Thanks to all for great morning and experience!

Vitamin D: What’s all the fuss about?

Submitted by Lori Granich, RD, Clinical Dietitian at the Midwest Bariatric Institute

You may have wondered why your doctor tested your vitamin D level at your last checkup or even suggested you start supplementing. Why is there so much concern about Vitamin D lately?

With the overabundance of food in this country, you may be surprised that Americans would be lacking anything, but studies have shown that 75 percent of Americans have insufficient vitamin D levels (The Archives of Internal Medicine). The normal vitamin D range is 30 to 74 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL).

Photo Courtesy of ADAM Total Health

In Northwest Indiana, we are at even greater risk for deficiency. We can only get enough sun in the summer months to produce the amount of vitamin D we need. Also, people who carry excess weight have an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin meaning it is stored in fat tissue. When a person has excess fat stores, vitamin D ends up being stored instead of circulating through the bloodstream. Even more troubling, people with a well-balanced diet are still falling short. To meet requirements, adult’s ages 19-50 need to consume 27 ounces of milk or fortified dairy products daily. (Spano, 2012)

So why should we be concerned about vitamin D?

Vitamin D plays a large role in bone health. We lose bone mass as we age and even more rapidly in women during the postmenopausal years. When we lack vitamin D, we are not able to absorb calcium properly. Vitamin D also plays a role in breast and colon health, and promotes proper functioning of our nervous and immune systems. Having adequate amounts of vitamin D is essential for our overall health.

Vitamin D can be found in the following foods: Fortified milk, cheese, oysters, salmon, trout, sardines, tuna, fortified cereal, liver, and egg yolks.

There are many reasons why Americans are lacking vitamin D: geographic location, season, age (elderly adults are more at risk for deficiency) and skin color (darker colored skin protects from UV light). The easiest way to find out if you are getting enough vitamin D is to have your doctor test your level. If needed, your doctor will instruct you to take additional vitamin D though a supplement.

For more information on Vitamin D, visit our Online Health Library at franciscanalliance.org.

References:

• Spano, M. (2012) Are you Getting Enough Vitamin D? Your Weight Matters Magazine. Pp.14-17.
• American Dietetic Association