Testimonials

March 28, 2004

Section: Williamson AM
Edition: 1ST
Page: 7W

'Nashville Solution' helps save teacher's life, cash
LAUREN NELSON
STAFF At 335 pounds, Stewart Long was spending hundreds on medicine, risking death by stroke StewartBeforeAfter

By LAUREN NELSON

Staff Writer

Every life has a turning point. Stewart Long's moment came two years ago. "I was playing the trumpet with the Shrine Circus," Long said. "I looked over at the drummer, and the next thing I know they were pulling me off the stage. My blood pressure was 245 over 145. I should have had a stroke right there." Long, who is a computer science teacher at Battle Ground Academy, was labeled morbidly obese. He weighed in at 335 pounds. In addition to high blood pressure, he had developed Type II diabetes, and his symptoms were getting progressively worse. Add to that $300 a month for medications for diabetes and hypertension, and the problem was beginning to get costly.

Long remembers seeing himself in a C-SPAN documentary about catastrophic bankruptcy. "One of the leading causes was having a stroke. It can cost as much as $60,000 in bills, and another $30,000 for a spouse. "I had two choices: either make a radical change or die," Long said. "Honestly, I was worth more dead than alive at that point with life insurance. That was the wake-up call for me." Long went to endocrinologist, Dr. Andrea Hayes. Hayes had created a radical diet plan called The Nashville Solution. Long said that although some patients choose to go through surgery, he decided to lose the weight the old fashioned way: by changing his diet and exercise habits. This was no fad diet. The program runs for 48 weeks, and participants are constantly monitored to ensure that they stay healthy while drastically losing weight. Long started out consuming 800 calories a day for the first 12 weeks, mainly eating nutrition shakes and bars. Long was losing weight rapidly, and when the 12 weeks was up, he decided to stay on the bars a couple more weeks. "I was losing weight so fast, and I wanted to stay on the bars as long as I could. They let me do it, but they monitored the dickens out of me. Basically, they retrain you how to eat, and I wanted to take advantage of that," he said. "But it wasn't just retraining my eating habits, it was exercising." For that portion of the program, Long turned to Williamson County Parks and Recreation. "The last exercise I had was basic training in the Air Force in 1968. I did 44 months active duty, then that was it. "I started working out using exercises I remembered from high school football. My technique was bad, but I started to lose weight," Long said.

The results were more than Long was prepared for. He lost 165 pounds in 11 months, bringing his weight to 170. Long even asked to gain to get to a comfortable weight. "I had too much skin hanging off," he said. "They thought I was going the opposite way to anorexic. I got permission to put 20 pounds back on. At that weight I was comfortable and it felt really good." Long said he still struggles to keep off extra weight, but exercise has remained a major part of his strategy. He monitors the weight room after school at BGA and often heads to the Franklin Rec Center after he closes up. "I still have to fight off the extra weight," he said. "I'll get 15 pounds off, then it will creep back in."

Long said while the initial expense of the program was costly, it was worth every penny. Not to mention that his monthly medicine bill is down to $25. "What's the price? I was labeled morbidly obese at the 70th percentile. It was only a matter of time before I was dead, really only a few hours," he said. Long said his self-esteem has been bolstered by his accomplishment. "I was that one kid in high school who was never invited to parties, who sat by themselves at lunch and on the bus," Long said. "The bigger I got, the worse it got. "When I would walk down the hallway, people used to turn away. Now they smile and say hello."

Long now looks to have an impact on the high school kids he teaches and others who struggle with their weight. Long often speaks to community groups and classes to share the message that anyone can improve their life as he has done. "People get something indirectly by hearing my story. Others are directly affected by what I have to say. I know from what people have said to me that my story has really made a difference in their lives."

SUBMITTED PHOTOS: Stewart Long, a computer science teacher at Battle Ground Academy, weighed 335 pounds before starting a diet program, Nashville Solution. Long successfully lost weight after he went through the 48-week diet program.

tennessean

May 17, 2004

Section: Davidson AM

Edition: NORTH

Page: 1M

Diabetes center relocates, offers help on nutrition, weight

NANCY DEVILLE

Staff Writer

Dr. Andrea Hayes wants to make sure people suffering from diabetes, obesity and other general endocrine problems have direct access to convenient and affordable health care. Hayes , an endocrinologist, is the primary health-care provider at the Hayes Endocrine & Diabetes Center on 28th Avenue North just off Charlotte Pike, which recently relocated from the Centennial Medical Center on Patterson Street. "I picked this area because I wanted to stay close to the hospitals that I have worked at the last few years," she said. "This is a perfect area where a lot of people can find me. Our building has better parking and access and I wanted to stay within this area where patients could access me as easy as possible."

Hayes offers treatment of obesity, macro-vascular disease and insulin resistance syndrome along with The Nashville Solution - a weight loss and maintenance program. In addition to Hayes , the center has a team of health-care professionals with expertise in nutrition, physical activity and weight control. Hayes says many of her patients have multiple chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease and she believes that with treatment of obesity the other conditions can be improved or controlled. "The main reason why I developed the weight management program was to help all my patients who are struggling with their weight," she said. "Obesity affects about 70% of the population now. People who are truly ready to find a lifelong solution to weight loss, they can find it here."

The new facility houses nine exam rooms, two procedure rooms, a gymnasium, group teaching rooms and more. The Nashville Solution offers weekly sessions with a registered dietitian, a fitness trainer, seven-step cookbook for healthy eating and meal planning, meal replacements and supplements, cooking demonstrations and more.

Hayes has had Type I diabetes since she was 15 years old and says it led her to her specialty. She says understanding the challenges allows her to personally relate to patients. "I have lived with this disease for 24 years, have an insulin pump and I practice the same things that I preach every day," she said. Patient Pat Kerr contends her health has improved since she became Hayes ' patient. "Dr. Hayes is real thorough and if you have any questions she is right there to answer them and explains them in more detail than what we know to even ask," Kerr says. "The way I feel physically, mentally and emotionally is just unreal. I have dropped my insulin requirements greatly and the diabetes is more under control now. "When you are a diabetic, and especially being overweight, you get overwhelmed with other conditions that have stemmed out of not being taken care of by the right doctor. I recommend Dr. Hayes very highly because I feel like she is taking care of every aspect of my life." Diabetes symptoms The following symptoms could indicate that you have diabetes: frequent urination, excessive thirst, extreme hunger, unusual weight loss, increased fatigue, irritability, blurry vision.

SUBMITTED PHOTO: The Hayes Endocrine & Diabetes Center relocated to 28th Avenue North from the Centennial Medical Center on Patterson Street. Getting there The Hayes Endocrine & Diabetes Center, 501 28th Ave. N., is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. For appointments, call 615-320-1620. For more information on The Nashville Solution, her weight loss reduction and maintenance program, visit www.thenashvilllesolution.com or call 615-320-1511.