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John Teufel: “Ornish Changed My Life”

After having a massive heart attack in 1993 and dealing with other health conditions - some of which threatened his life – John Teufel wanted to make a change. So Teufel, 59, of Schnecksville, enrolled in the hospital’s Ornish Reversal Program to learn a new lifestyle.

“I had heart disease, sleep apnea, knee pain, and type 2 diabetes, which I controlled with oral medications,” Teufel says. He also weighed more than 300 pounds and felt self-conscious. “I couldn’t find a jacket that would go all the way around my waist.”

Ornish is a nationally known heart-health program that combines diet, exercise, stress management and group support. The program is clinically proven to reverse heart disease, and many participants also lose weight.

For 12 weeks, Teufel spent eight hours at class and ate all his meals on-site. Then he followed the program for the next year. He’s lost more than 50 pounds, lowered his cholesterol levels dramatically, takes lower dosages of his diabetes medications, brought his A1C level to less than 6 percent and feels less joint pain. The strictly-vegetarian Ornish diet grew on him right away. “Within two weeks, I was completely convinced this was how I wanted to live,” he says. “I felt more energetic, regained my self-confidence, and found that my clothes fit better.”

Even Teufel’s wife, Natalie, got involved. “I didn’t want to cook separate meals, so I started cooking the Ornish way,” she says. “I’ve lost 17 pounds.”

Lehigh Valley Hospital also offers a six-week introductory course called Ornish Advantage. People spend two hours a week at class and prepare their own meals. Ornish Advantage is open to anyone; you must have certain health conditions to qualify for the Ornish Reversal program. Many insurance plans cover the costs of both programs; check with your provider for details.

Brenda Schoenberger: “I lost weight without dieting or surgery.”

Brenda Schoenberger was at her wit’s end. She exercised, counted calories and watched what she ate. Still, she struggled to lose 30 pounds. Worse yet, her family had a history of diabetes and heart disease, and though she didn’t yet have either, Schoenberger knew if she didn’t change her lifestyle, she would end up with both.

"I was ready to give up,” says Schoenberger, 48, of Emmaus. But before she did, she met with Piotrowski, who helps people lose weight not with surgery or medication, but instead through diet, exercise and other lifestyle changes.

Schoenberger’s first appointment with Piotrowski was a turning point. “I learned I needed to eat a balanced diet and get more exercise,” she says. Now, she eats smaller portions of refined carbs, more fruits and vegetables and more protein, such as that in chicken. She also still exercises four times a week, using either weights, an elliptical machine or treadmill. Schoenberger still can indulge in cake and other sweets, but in small portions.

Schoenberger weighed 211 pounds when she entered the program last August, but lost 20 pounds within the first month and has since lost an additional ten. "Dr. Piotrowski helped me change my lifestyle,” she says. "And best of all, I didn’t have to stop eating anything I like.”

Heidi Steiner: “The Helwig Diabetes Center and Ornish put me back in control.”

For years, Heidi Steiner controlled her chest pain (angina) with medication. But when even four nitroglycerin tablets couldn’t stave off the pain, Steiner, 46, of Fogelsville, asked a friend to drive her to Lehigh Valley Hospital’s emergency department.

She spent a week at the hospital and learned she had type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, kidney disease and heart palpitations in addition to her angina. And she weighed 220 pounds, which strained her tiny 5’2” frame. “I was at my lowest point,” she says. “I needed help.”

Family medicine physician Elizabeth Stanton, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network, suggested Steiner she see a dietitian at Helwig Health and Diabetes Center. “They helped me understand how to count carbohydrates and take better care of myself,” Steiner says.

While Helwig helped control her diabetes symptoms, Steiner still didn’t feel well physically. Because of her previous heart problems, she enrolled in the Ornish Reversal Program. “I was the youngest person in our group,” she says. “I was also in the first group to graduate from Ornish in the Lehigh Valley. I loved Ornish’s vegetarian diet and stuck to it 100 percent.”

After 12 weeks, she felt better than ever. “I lost 50 pounds and lowered my blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.” she says. “I cut the number of oral diabetes meds I take in half and brought my A1C levels to less than 6 percent.” Steiner also started thinking differently about food. “I learned not to think I couldn’t have a certain food. I would just choose not to eat it.”

The most important lesson learned: the impact of stress on her body and health. “I now realize stress caused my weight problem,” she says. “Even now, if I start gaining weight, it’s always because I haven’t been practicing my yoga.”