GENEVA RESIDENTS, DOUG O'NEIL AND CHERYL AND GEORGE CURRY SHARE THEIR WEIGHT LOSS SUCCESS STORIES
Injuries and medical issues forced Doug (37),and Cheryl (49), and George (51) to take a serious look at their health. Like many families, Cheryl and George were busy with daily demands of life and neglected their well-being. Blood sugar, sleep apnea, joint pain and arthritis became common terms in their house. Doug worked as an auto mechanic but had a back injury at 19 which forced surgery at 21. He switched careers, only to sprain his ankle, leading him back to the auto industry and yet another back surgery.
All three knew they needed a change.
“At 178 lbs. my wife encouraged me to try Hot Yoga. It completely changed my life,” Doug shares. “I left the labor industry and became a yoga instructor at Bent Dog Yoga in St. Charles. The longer I was in the yoga world, the more I lived the lifestyle.”
After 10 years of practice and a better overall diet, Doug now weighs 153 lbs. and has no back pain, no ankle pain, more energy and feels great! Doug hasn’t touched fast food or soda in over 7 years and has eliminated almost all packaged foods. His favorite snacks are raw walnuts, pecans, almonds, cashews, Thai food, and really good salads.
Cheryl and George learned it’s not just about the stomach, but also about the mind as they took their journey through gastric bypass surgery at Northwestern Medicine Metabolic Health and Surgical Weight Loss Center at Delnor Hospital in Geneva. Like Doug, they learned a whole new lifestyle which included heading to the Delnor Fitness Center 4-5 days a week.
“We knew that the weight loss alone would not lead us to health; we learned how to maximize our time at the gym so as not to get bored with a routine and to challenge and push ourselves,” Cheryl says. “It was rewarding seeing our bodies transform and our energy levels skyrocket.”
They lost a combined 236 lbs. and each lost 12 pant sizes over a year’s time. Cheryl is no longer pre-diabetic, nor has sleep apnea; neither has joint pain, and their blood pressure has returned to normal. They love snacking on homemade guacamole with baked plantain chips and low fat yogurt.
Although it is very true that only you can decide to get started on the journey to better health, all three agree that having family or friends to hold you accountable is key to the success. –Kristen Kucharski
