Running for Her Life After Weight Loss Surgery

By Tracy Simons, Silver Cross Hospital

For most of her adult life, Regina Howard, of Plainfield, suffered from obesity, sleep apnea, pain in her joints and an irregular thyroid. The thought of running a 5K race seemed unthinkable due to her poor health. 

However after losing over 80 pounds in 24 months as a result of her weight loss surgery at Silver Cross Hospital, Regina’s prior health issues no longer exist enabling her to run an hour every other day and complete 5K races.

“As a result of my weight loss surgery, I am a 100% different person,” Howard said. “When I was overweight, I never wanted to spend time outside, but after my weight loss, I love being outdoors. I enjoy running throughout my neighborhood and feel this new activity gives me more energy and motivation to stay committed to a healthy life style. ”

 A sponsored article by Silver Cross Hospital.

One of Howard’s challenges after her weight loss surgery was to find an exercise that she liked to do. “After not exercising for so many years, it was a challenge to find an activity that I enjoyed. So once I started walking on the treadmill and running outside, I really became interested in pushing my limits with running,” Howard said. “The key to my exercise success was doing a routine that I really enjoyed.”

Howard’s family medicine physician, Ananda Pillai, M.D., encouraged her to attend BMI Surgery’sfree informational session.  

“I was so impressed with Dr. Christopher Joyce’s inspiring presentation. It truly changed my life and I was instantly hooked to have the weight loss surgery and follow the program. After talking with Dr. Joyce and his staff at BMI Surgery, I felt so reassured because they were all so knowledgeable and supportive,” she said. 

“They all made me feel so comfortable and at ease that I could actually have successful long-term weight loss as long as I was willing to follow the program.” 

With their support, Regina committed to the workout and diet plan and underwent REALIZE™ Adjustable Gastric Band weight loss surgery on June 4, 2010. 

Patients benefit from a multidisciplinary approach, with the help of many different departments at Silver Cross. "Patients see an exercise physiologist, dietitian, cardiologist, psychologist, pulmonologist, and a bariatric nurse to get them ready for surgery," Dr. Joyce said. "We screen our patients very carefully to ensure their success and safety." 

“Before I had my surgery, Dr. Joyce explained that the surgery was merely a tool to lose weight and the real success depended on me being accountable for my own health,” Howard said. “Through the entire process, Dr. Joyce and his staff were always there for me right away to answer any of my questions. Also the nurses at Silver Cross Hospital were wonderful during my surgery and hospital stay. They made me feel so cared for and constantly informed me of my treatment plan.”

“Regina is an excellent example of how bariatric surgery can positively enhance one’s life. Her dedication to committing to the program by eating well and exercising was critical in her ability to lose over 80 pounds,” says Dr. Christopher Joyce. “And her ability to run in 5K races is truly inspiring for others who think they may never be able to run in a race.”

The American Society of Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery defines the morbidly obese as those with a body mass of 40 or above, or, for a normal height woman, being more than 100 pounds overweight. 

Patients with a BMI of 35 and higher, who are suffering the medical consequences of obesity, are often best treated with bariatric surgery as opposed to nonsurgical weight loss. Those who are morbidly obese are at a higher risk of mortality and such extreme obesity puts people at risk for life threatening disease, including heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes. 

BMI Surgery has changed the lives of more than 3,300 patients with life changing surgeries including laparoscopic gastric bypass, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, and Lap-Band and REALIZE gastric band systems at Silver Cross Hospital.   

Board certified laparoscopic and bariatric surgeons Christopher Joyce, M.D., and Brian Lahmann, M.D., are dedicated to helping patients win their personal battles with obesity and enjoy healthier lives, which is why they dedicated themselves to opening a new office on the new Silver Cross Hospital campus at I-355 and Route 6 in New Lenox. Silver Cross has been named a Bariatric Center of Excellence by the American Society of Bariatric Surgery and a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery.

To find out more about the bariatric surgery program at Silver Cross Hospital, attend a free informational session on both traditional and laparoscopic surgery on any Wednesday at

5:45 p.m. at BMI Surgery at 1890 Silver Cross Blvd., Suite 260, New Lenox.  To attend, visit www.bmisurgery.org or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325).