Mary Rhine has battled her weight for as long as she can remember.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was a fat baby and a chubby little girl,\u201d Mary says. \u201cI think I was around 180 in high school.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mary\u2019s weight fluctuated throughout college and young adulthood, creeping up to 279 pounds. For years as an adult, her weight stayed around 240 pounds.<\/p>\n
After having persistent knee trouble, Mary received some cortisone shots and was considering joint replacement \u2014 but her orthopedic surgeon recommended the MultiCare Center for Weight Loss and Wellness.<\/p>\n
Mary started MultiCare\u2019s Medical Weight Loss program in October 2016. In the past year, she\u2019s lost 40 pounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer profile has really changed,\u201d says her husband, Richard. \u201cI don\u2019t even recognize her anymore when looking for her in a store aisle.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mary was lucky in that she wasn\u2019t experiencing a lot of health issues yet, such as high blood pressure, cholesterol or diabetes, but in addition to the knee pain she was severely deficient in vitamin D.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the benefits of seeing Dr. [Karyn] Harkins was catching that,\u201d says Mary.<\/p>\n
And with losing 40 pounds, she has much less pain in her knees.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow I may never need a knee replacement,\u201d says Mary.<\/p>\n
Richard followed in his wife\u2019s footsteps after he saw her success.<\/p>\n
In the fall of 2002, he weighed 320 pounds, with 40 percent body fat and a 56-inch waist.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was tired and sluggish much of the time and my wife suggested I get tested for diabetes,\u201d says Richard.<\/p>\n
When his A1C test came back with a diabetes diagnosis, Richard\u2019s doctor gave him six months to modify his diet and start exercising. He drastically changed his eating habits and began walking on a regular basis.<\/p>\n
In the next year, he lost 110 pounds, getting down to 210 pounds with a 44-inch waist, and his diabetes was resolved.<\/p>\n
Richard\u2019s weight crept back up to 225\u2013244 pounds, where it stayed for the next 14 years.<\/p>\n
He was still exercising on a regular basis and eating a fairly healthy diet. But in the fall of 2016 after Mary joined MultiCare\u2019s Medical Weight Loss program, Richard asked his doctor for a referral.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven though I was on a fairly healthy diet, I was eating more than I should,\u201d says Richard. \u201cAnd I realized that I was not eating enough fruits and vegetables or drinking enough water.\u201d<\/p>\n
He made several modifications such as cutting back on the amount of cereal, bread and white rice he was eating, and started tracking his food intake with an app.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn one year with the MultiCare program, I am now at 175 pounds, a 36-inch waist, and a medium shirt size for the first time in my adult life,\u201d says Richard.<\/p>\n
At 70 years young, Richard is enjoying an active lifestyle.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have more energy,\u201d says Richard. \u201cI jog 5.5 miles every other day at Chambers Bay or go to the gym. I feel good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mary and Richard have been supportive of each other\u2019s efforts and regularly exercise either by walking or going to the gym.<\/p>\n
With this newfound energy, they\u2019re wasting no time in enjoying new adventures.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis past year we went to Washington D.C., New Orleans and Chicago,\u201d says Mary. \u201cWe did a ton of walking. And next year we\u2019re going to France, Spain and Portugal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Learn more about MultiCare\u2019s Medical Weight Loss program<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Mary Rhine has battled her weight for as long as she can remember. \u201cI was a fat baby and a chubby little girl,\u201d Mary says. \u201cI think I was around 180 in high school.\u201d Mary\u2019s weight fluctuated throughout college and young adulthood, creeping up to 279 pounds. For years as an adult, her weight stayed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":319,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9491","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-weight-loss"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n