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Managing His Weight, Changing His Life

  • June 1, 2005
  • Number of views: 2786
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Gary Harris is lighter on his feet in the classroom these days, thanks to a 70-pound weight loss that allows this history teacher at Cleveland ROTC High School in St. Louis to pace around his students. "I don''t like sitting while I teach, but that''s how I used to do it, because physically, it was just too tiring to stand," says Harris, who lives in south St. Louis County.

Harris lost almost 90 pounds several years ago on a total liquid supplement program and gained it back. This time, he wanted to lose and keep it off for good and Harris credits the Washington University Weight Management Program. The program is medically monitored by physicians and includes lifestyle modification, nutritional counseling and physical activity.

"It was such good group of people," says Harris of his fellow patients enrolled in the program and the medical staff. "You can''t help but be supportive of one another when you all face the same issues of being overweight.

Harris says the comprehensive focus on all aspects of obesity really helped him lose the weight this time. "I used to pray the lights would be out at the gym and the door would be locked," says Harris of his former attitude about exercise. "But now, I feel like I''ve cheated on my religion if I don''t go to the gym everyday." His efforts have paid off – the staff at his local gym recently presented Harris with a "chick magnet" T-shirt and he gets compliments from bodybuilding regulars.

The payoff for Harris has not been in just his physical appearance. Medications have been cut in half that were formerly treating a host of ailments related to obesity. High blood pressure and blood sugar levels are now normal and the peripheral neuropathy Harris suffers has greatly improved. "My only real health problem now is my back. The doctor says it is adjusting to my weight loss and I need to train my muscles that were used to supporting more weight."

Even his students have been taking notice. One young lady told him he needed to gain some weight because he was getting too skinny. "I gave her 50 cents and told her to go buy herself a soda, even though it''s against the rules. No one in my life has ever told me I might need to put some weight on," says Harris. "And she was just being nice, my goal is to lose 20 more pounds to reach my ideal weight of 210. And I know I''ll get there this time."

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