[karrie]

Man Loses 300 Pounds In 13 Months On Atkins Diet

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Granite City Man Loses 300 Pounds
created: 5/25/2005 5:28:28 PM
updated: 5/25/2005 5:33:37 PM

By Leisa Zigman

KSDK- He weighed more than a baby grand piano, 647 pounds. In just 13 months, John Smith of Granite City lost nearly 300 pounds. Remarkably, he did it without surgery or pills.

Smith's weight problems ended his career as a chef 20 years ago. His obsession with food consumed him.

Smith said, "I'd go to the 'fridge and put two or three sandwiches underneath my shirt and carry it out because I didn't want anyone to see me eating."

Public ridicule tore him apart.

Smith said, "You don't even have to have good hearing. People would say look at the size of that sucker. He got no business being out in public. He's disgraceful."

Smith tried dozens of diets and failed.
But with soaring high blood pressure and other health issues, Smith didn't want to die.

"My diabetes was at a life threatening level. It was over 300 every day of my life. When I got up my skin was almost black from toxic poisoning in my body. I could hardly breathe," he said.

He's been married 30 years. Some 13 months ago, john started the Atkins diet, after one of his three kids suggested it.

Smith said, "I'm only 12 or 13 pounds from an even 300. My doctor says he doesn't' know a patient ever whose still walking around living that lost 300 pounds without plastic surgery."

Dr. Samuel Klein is the Director of Washington Universities Center for Human Nutrition. Dr. Klein said, "Losing 300 pounds is remarkable no matter what diet is responsible for the loss. This tremendous weight loss resulted in a loosening of excess skin that has ended up in two layers of skin and fat overlapping each other."

Smith needs to get down to 300 pounds before surgeons can attempt the high-risk surgery and remove the excess skin.

He said, "You have people saying I don't want to go through all the surgery or have all the fat. Well, get me to that point! That's what I'm trying to say. Get me to a point if you can cut it off, do that. And I might die. Well, I'm for sure going to die sitting here on my fat butt watching TV eating a pound and a half of mashed potatoes and gravy."

Atkins executives never heard of John Smith until we called.

Colette Heimowitz is Atkins Vice President of Education and Research.

She said, "This is the first that I've heard that somebody lost that much using the Atkins program."

Heimowitz said she would like to meet Smith because, "he's a great example for those who have such monumental tasks in front of them. He's an inspiration."

There have been other benefits to Smith's weight loss. He is now completely off his diabetes and high blood pressure medication. He says anyone can do what he did. The first step is to stop making excuses.

Smith said, "Stop looking in another direction and look in the mirror. See yourself and have respect for yourself."

Smith can now touch his toes. That is something he hasn't been able to do for about twenty years. And he now walks one to two miles every day.

He doesn't have a target weight but plans to stay on Atkins the rest of his life. John hasn't gained any weight back and continues to drop between three to five pounds each week.

He said, "I really relish the thought of tomorrow. I've met wonderful people and in the past nobody was wonderful to me."

One day Smith would like to go to a Cardinals' game.

He never could because he couldn't fit into the seats.

If you want to send him a note or ask him more questions, you can contact him at zajo_inc@yahoo.com

He cannot have his surgery until he gets down to 300 pounds. Money is an issue. Smith said he believes unless Medicaid approves he won't be able to afford the hospital bills. He'll need several operations to remove excess skin. Plastic Surgeon David Caplin has offered his services free.

We'll continue to follow Smith and show you his progress.
If you would like more information about Washington University's Center for Human Nutrition or on the Atkins diet, click on the related links section to the right.

http://www.ksdk.com/news/cover_arti...x?storyid=79904
_________________

Since January 7, 2007 Next goal 230

[Dingie_Dinah]

All I can say is "wow". What a testimonial!
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Dingie Dinah
Stella Style since 5/2003

May you always have
Love to Share,
Health to Spare,
And Friends Who Care

"Nothing Tastes as Good as Thin and Healthy Feels"

'Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.'

[jciaravella]

And I often feel sorry for myself because I need to lose 70 pounds. He is one amazing person. God Bless him!

[Jenny]

Granite City, Illinois is my hometown!
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Jenny
266/140/150
Went pass my goal!

Dude, you got some Arntz on you....

[Waldo]

Did John ever get his surgery?

[prophetcharlesb]

Why is the skin removal surgery so life threatening?? Everybody tells me after a period of time the skin will shrink back to normal anyway. So whats the real skinny on this, anyone know??

[Kay2]

I don't know all the details but I do know drom several friends who have lost a lot of weight, that the skin does not completely shrink back to normal. Therefore the surgery is needed. Can't answer the life threatening part but maybe someone else can. You might repost under a different topic heading or do a search here. I know it has been addressed before.

Kay
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My Weight Loss Profile



www.kaywitt.com
212/146/159

[missymagoo12]

does anyone know if this man ever got his surgery yet and how is he doing? losing almost 300lbs is such a geart job! i would like to know if he has lost anymore weight and how his health is doing. sue

[tulips38rm]

I know this is an old topic...but I researched this and he did have his surgery to remove the excess skin..heres the story

http://www.ksdk.com/news/cover_story/cover_article.aspx?storyid=102299
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It's not about perfection, its about progression, love who you are first!