Testimonial

Dr. Dale Nester Husband, Father, Dentist, Golfer and WOW! Program Participant Ithaca, Michigan "The Medical Weight Management program is the most successful program I’ve found for being able to lose weight and keep it off."

A Friendly Challenge = Weigh Loss Success for Dentist

When dentist Dr. Dale Nester of Ithaca met his wife at college, he weighed 137 pounds.

Then, life happened. As he went to school, started a dental practice and raised a family with his wife, Marion, he also put on weight. When Dr. Nester reached his mid 50s weighing 230 pounds, he knew he needed help.

He found it in the WOW! (Working off Weight) program at MidMichigan Medical Center - Gratiot in Alma.

“The nature of my job and personality is to keep a full schedule and work incredibly hard,” he said. “Eating was a reward that I felt entitled to after self-sacrifice. Over the years, I tried to control my weight, but it was a battle.”

A few years ago, he started taking medications for blood pressure and cholesterol. Marion became increasingly concerned. “She feared for my health,” he said. “She told me she didn’t want to live alone.”

A Friendly Challenge

Things began to change one day when Dr. Nester and his friend Randy Lewis were golfing in a charity event. The men had talked for a long time about losing weight.

“We looked at each other and said, ‘We have to get serious about this.’ So, we challenged each other,” he said. “We became each other’s cheerleaders.”

Randy Lewis had heard about the WOW! program at MidMichigan Medical Center - Gratiot, a four-month, medically supervised program for weight loss. In January 2009, he started the program while Dr. Nester was away on a six-week mission trip and lost 20 pounds before he got back.

“I was super excited to get started on something that successful,” Dr. Nester said. “Randy’s early success kept me committed to get started.”

A Team Effort

WOW! began with an evaluation, including basic blood tests to screen for medical conditions. Then Dr. Nester met with counselors every three weeks to weigh in and review a food diary and activity summary.

“You’re not just doing it by yourself,” he said, “but it’s not a group weigh-in. It’s an individual process, and for me that worked out well.”

A dietitian, a behavioral psychologist and an exercise specialist counseled him during the program. He learned how, when and what to eat, as well as strategies to keep him on track when eating out or traveling.

Dr. Nester’s short-term goal was to lose 30 pounds, but by the program’s end, he had lost 46 total pounds. “Ten pounds were on my own over eight months and the last 36 pounds were lost over the four months of the WOW! program. The WOW! program is the most successful program I’ve found for being able to lose weight and keep it off,” he said.

As he adjusted to his new weight, Dr. Nester noticed his golf scores were the best in 10 years. He’s not just playing better golf. He also cut his blood pressure meds and cholesterol meds in half, and hopes to be able to stop them completely.

“WOW! is not the only way to lose weight,” he said, “but it’s the way that worked for me.”

WOW! is a four-month, medically supervised program designed for individuals seeking to lose weight, who want to feel better and live healthier. For more information about WOW!, call (989) 466-3315.