By Mark Ambrogi
Russ Jehs said he believes he was fortunate his doctor was already a proponent of the Boston Heart Lifestyle Program.
“He thought I would be a good candidate for it because, at that time, I weighed 385 pounds and had high blood pressure,” the Carmel resident said. “I could barely walk 50 feet without having to stop and rest. When I would come into work, before I even got there, I had to stop in the lobby, sit on the bench and catch my breath. I was probably a candidate for some kind of cardiovascular event coming up.”
By following the program plan, the 6-foot-3 Jehs, 66, has lost 140 pounds since starting in May 2014.
Boston Heart Diagnostics is a heart disease prevention company which offers specialized blood testing to doctors and patients to help uncover hidden risks for heart disease and help doctors and patients find the optimal treatment. The lifestyle program has been available for about four years.
Dr. Michael Dansinger said it starts with the sophisticated blood testing and combines it with individual patients’ preferences related to their eating and exercise.
“We have been getting better and better each year at offering personalized, cutting-edge, scientifically-based lifestyle solutions,” Dansinger said. “Our newest version of the lifestyle program 2.0 is the most sophisticated and cutting-edged program we’ve ever offered. It’s really unrivaled in the market place.”
Dansinger said by taking into account more than 100 patient attributes, no two life plans are alike.
“I’m only five pounds away from my goal, but I plan to lose a little bit more than my goal,” Jehs said. “I have a lot of new energy since I lost all this weight. I can move around a lot better. I sleep better at night. The life plan was great because it was clinically customized to me. This was specific. They have nutrition and exercise plans. They have personal coaches you can connect with if you need help.”
Jehs said he doesn’t consider it a diet.
“It’s more than just a diet. It’s a different way to think about nutrition and how you exercise,” he said. “I’ve tried diets in the past, but like most people you lose a few pounds and slowly and rapidly you gain them all back.”
For more, visit bostonheartdiagnostics.com.
