"The transformation makes me feel like a new person."
Joseph Rosania, 33, of Morristown, weighed 400 pounds and had tried multiple diets before consulting with Clara Maass Medical Center's Director of Bariatric Surgery, Naveen Ballem, MD, FACS. After weighing all of Joseph's options, he and Dr. Ballem concluded that the sleeve gastrectomy was the best solution. Since the surgery, Joseph feels like "a new person."
For Joseph, regular exercise ended at the same time as his education. After graduating from college, where he was active in sports, Joseph embarked on a busy career.
“I was on the road all the time, in hotels, eating in restaurants,” he says.
Over the years, his weight continued to increase, from 250 to over 400 pounds. When his father, a chiropractor, suggested he see a bariatric surgeon, Joseph met with Dr. Ballem and committed to losing weight.
Joseph went down to 190 pounds, and he became involved in daily circuit training. Now he is a runner.
“I’ve been doing 5Ks and half-marathons regularly. I never liked running before. So I think maybe they gave me a lobotomy along with the bariatric surgery because now I find it fun!”
Exercise After Weight Loss Surgery
Bariatric surgery alters the digestive system and metabolism, but it’s not the end of the weight loss journey. It’s a first step toward a new way of life that includes healthy eating and exercising.
Often, it’s a necessary step. Many people who are severely obese (over 50 pounds overweight or with a BMI, or body mass index, over 35) find that their bodies are resistant to long-term weight loss through diet and exercise. In fact, the National Institutes of Health Experts Panel has stated that in such cases, long-term weight loss is nearly impossible by any means other than bariatric or metabolic surgery.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all exercise regimen for after surgery,” advises bariatric surgeon Naveen Ballem, MD. “Work closely with your bariatric surgeon and team to find the right exercise plan for you.”
To learn more about weight loss and bariatric surgery, visit Clara Maass Medical Center, request an appointment or call (973) 450-2393.