Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 18 January 1996 — Page 28

The Muncie Times, January 18,1996, Page 28

Woman loses 130 lbs. after surgery

After going to Great America (Six Flags, Chicago, 111.) with two others and trying to get myself fastened into a roller coaster... I decided then it was time to do something about my weight. I did not want to take pills or get shots. I have tried Jenny Craig, Slim Fast, Weight Watchers, and other diet programs and did not get any results. To diet, you need the three "D's": • Decision - when to start • Determination - stick to it • Discipline - no cheating I had only one and that was decision. Anyone can decide what he/she wants to do but everyone doesn't have the determination and discipline to achieve the goal. I heard about Dr. Allen Perry in Fort Wayne, Ind. doing a procedure called "gastroplasty." This procedure required him to use plastic tubing with small wire on the inside of the tubing. He looped the tube around the opening of my esophagus, so it would not expand, causing me to eat less. On Sept. 16, 1994,1 weighted 268 pounds, and was wearing a size 24 to 28 dress. To be considered for this procedure, you had to be 100 pounds overweight. I was 128 pounds overweight. I was tired of being fat and I just did not like me anymore. I decided to have the gastroplasty and added "determination" and Discipline" to achieve my goal. My husband did not make the decision for me and I did not do this because of him. He stated that he loved me for who I was and whatever made me happy made him happy, also. Today, I weight 138 pounds, wear a size 8 dress and 9/10 in pants. 1 am happy and love not taking blood pressure medicine. With this procedure I can eat any nutritious foods, but my system will not tolerate any fast foods or bread, except for combread. The weight gain was not from having children. The weight gain was from cooking three meals a day and eating all day long while sitting on the couch and watching television. In my opinion, having kids just leaves stretch marks and crazy kids. The cost of the procedure was about $10,000, with insurance paying 70 percent. Some insurance companies will pay and others will not, because it is considered a cosmetic surgery. No exercise was required, but I recently started walking on the treadmill every day for one hour and riding the stationary bicycle three times a week.

— Erma Cushenberry-Duerson Gurnee, 111

Erma Cushenberry-Duerson and son; Geoffery, husband; Michael, daughters; Charade, Charmayne, before her surgery.

It is not your environment, it is you

the quality of your minds, the integrity of your souls, and the determination of your wills -

that will decide your future and shape of your lives.

M/igna TbuH/Tbch\^ Seal

3416 South Hovt Avenue Munqe, Indiana 47302

317-284-5050

Fax 317-286-0557

Erma today, at a svelte 138 pounds.