Have you ever dreamed of running a marathon? Have you ever imagined that feeling of crossing the finish line after an incredibly long grueling run? Do you want the pride of knowing you can do something that many people can’t, something that you initially thought was impossible? These are some of the reasons and thought-process behind the thousands of people that run marathons every year. It is an accomplishment that is unmatched by few other things in life.
This dream may seem especially unreachable if you are someone that struggles with being overweight or obese. At the current point in your life, you can barely walk down the end of your street without feeling pain in your legs or finding yourself short of breath. Even though this is your situation today, it does not mean that this will be your situation forever. In fact, you could still run a marathon in your lifetime with the proper medical intervention. Of course, proper nutrition (with guidelines from your doctor on recommended calorie intake) and exercise is the first step in combating obesity. Sometimes, after a very long period, this is all it takes to get the weight off. However, in some cases, obese people require a more serious medical solution, namely surgical weight loss.
Surgery for weight loss is a very effective way to help obese people lose weight, and often save lives. However, weight surgery is not for everyone. Just because people want surgery for weight loss, it doesn’t mean it is a possibility. This is the job of doctors, surgeons, and other medical professionals to help patients determine the best care approach for health and wellness. Many hospitals in the United States like Eastern Maine Medical Center (EMMC) in Bangor, Maine have very strict guidelines and qualifications for surgical weight loss programs. It is not uncommon for a doctor, after reviewing a person’s medical history and lifestyle, to recommend a regime of proper nutrition and exercise over a weight surgery procedure. Although in other cases, a doctor will absolutely feel that surgical weight loss is the best option for the patient to succeed.
After surgical weight loss, well after recovery, patients can wipe off the dust from their marathon dreams and truly consider what this will take. If a person is committed to this goal, they should enlist a team of medical professionals including their personal doctor, nutritionist, and personal trainer. These people, with specific knowledge about a patient’s medical history, weight surgery procedure, and post- weight surgery results, are equipped to develop a plan to run a marathon. This involves a modified diet (including calories for training) and a training schedule that builds in intensity. Since it is likely people will have to start small, the timing for a marathon needs to be realistic and possibly scheduled further down the road. However, if this is something that is important to someone, it is completely possible with the right training. Just because people start out one way in life, it doesn’t mean they can’t accomplish dreams that were once impossible.