Heart Problems and Back Pain - All Gone!
Rick Castiglione Enrolled in the Dean Ornish Program to Lose Weight, Get Healthy and Banish His Back Pain
Castiglione was given the opportunity to participate in Stamford Hospital's Dean Ornish Program for the Reversal of Heart Disease and he knew he needed to at least give it a try…after all, this father of four daughters was soon to be a grandfather and, once again, a father of a bride. "I want to be around for all that and more," he told himself … so he enrolled in the program.
Last year, Rick Castiglione's doctor told him his back pain wouldn't get any better till he lost some weight. It wasn't what Castiglione wanted to hear - but he not only acknowledged the truth in that statement, he also knew that four years prior, he'd had a frightening experience with atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm, and that he'd reached a point where he couldn't do chores around the house without huffing and puffing.
Castiglione says he has struggled with his weight much of his life. "My eating habits came from growing up in a big Italian family. We celebrated everything with food," he recalls. His most successful weight loss efforts were more than 30 years ago, when his wife had blood pressure problems with her pregnancy and Castiglione went on a strict diet with her. Those pounds came back and his weight kept creeping up, eventually reaching 300 pounds. He tried Weight Watchers and Atkins diets and he also tried doing it on his own. "I could lose the weight but keeping it off was another story," he recalls. "I didn't have the tools or the commitment."
Since he enrolled in the program, Castiglione has lost 50 pounds - and they have stayed off. He rises at 5:15 every morning in order to do yoga and take an hour-long walk before work. He no longer eats red meat or even drinks coffee and says it was easier to adjust to than he'd expected. "I didn't think it would be that easy to give those things up, but I don't even miss the way I used to eat." "Since I enjoy cooking, I thought the switch to a mostly vegetarian diet would be difficult," says Castiglione. "But the program has a chef who showed us how to make easy healthy substitutions."
In addition to his impressive weight loss, Castiglione's blood pressure also came way down - so much so that he was able to get off his cardiac medications. His back is better too. "Now I mow the lawn and rake the leaves without breaking a sweat," he reports.
Recently, two of Castiglione's four daughters, former cheerleaders, teased him into doing yoga with them. He reports proudly, "I kept up with them. They were really impressed!"
Dean Ornish Program: 2010 Session
The Stamford Hospital Dean Ornish 2010 is currently in session. This comprehensive lifestyle program begins with an intensive 12 week phase that meets twice a week for 4 hours. All sessions take place at the Tully Health Center. This one-year lifestyle program is not currently covered by insurance.
» Learn more about the Dean Ornish program
For more information or to make an appointment please call
1-877-233-WELL (9355).