Rose Nolan's life-altering decision: - 'I made the choice to live'
By Anna Mathews, CCN staff writer, Wednesday, January 21, 2004 5:06 PM CST
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Rose Nolan is living proof that there really is such a thing as a miracle diet. She has shed 123 pounds in eight months.
Weighing 398 pounds less than a year ago, she was facing the real possibility of an early death.
She almost chose to ignore advice to begin yet another diet, but instead made a life-altering decision.
"It was a matter of life or death for me," she recalled. "I made the choice to live."
Rose, who lives near Golden, Mo., attributes her success to a low carbohydrate diet, the support of her doctor, Donna Standard, and dietary specialist David Chitwood, director of Food and Nutritional Services at St. John's Hospital - Berryville.
"I've done diets, all kinds of diets," said Rose. "I've done liquids, pills, grapefruit and exercise. My weight would always come back."
Depressed and dealing with serious health problems, Rose sought the advice last spring of Dr. Standard, who told her she was borderline diabetic with a possible shortened life span.
"Dr. Standard made an appointment with David, the dietician," she recalled. "I talked to him and thought it was just another diet to try."
Rose said she was tempted to throw away the information he had given her, but instead made the decision which would ultimately change her life.
Her weight played heavily on her mind and contributed to other medical problems, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure and degenerative joint disease.
Rose said she had spent the previous two years considering gastric bypass surgery and met with specialists in St. Louis, Mo., to arrange the risky operation.
"I was almost ready when I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure," she said. "I no longer qualified and went back into depression."
She said Dr. Standard sensed her depression and offered help.
"It was her encouragement that changed my whole world," said Rose. "She took the time to listen and she talked to me. She's like a girlfriend I can tell secrets to. Both she and David are making a new woman out of me," she added with a grin.
Rose said the low carb diet is easy for her because it makes sense.
"I met with David and he gave me the information on foods, which to eat and what to stay away from. I made a notebook of meats, breads, fruits, vegetables, the no-no foods and the okay foods. I just refer to the notebook.
"In stores, each item lists the carbs and sugar content. I try to stay in the teens in the carbs.
"The easiest way for me is a trick David told me -- don't eat anything white; that means potatoes, bread, pasta, and believe it or not, bananas.
"It's so simple," she continued. "It's just an everyday thing. It's a regular diet for me now. I know what I can and can't eat."
Rose says she understands the concept behind the diet. "Sugar turns into fat, and protein into muscle," she explained. "Low carbs and high protein is the secret. And, I drink lots and lots of water. It stabilizes the metabolism."
Thrilled by her extraordinary loss of weight, Rose sees a future that could include activities that she thought were out of her reach.
Confined to a wheelchair and connected to an oxygen tank because of her health problems, Rose dreams of simple activities that most people take for granted.
"I would love to get off the oxygen and walk in the yard, plant a flower and touch a tree," she said.
"If I lose this weight, it will take the stress off my degenerative joints and allow me to enjoy life. By getting rid of the fat, it makes room for my lungs to expand. I know I'll still have to use a wheelchair and I'll always need oxygen, but I feel better about myself.
"Since I've been gradually losing weight, I've been happier and I attempt more things around the house, and I'm not exhausted. It was a matter of life or death for me. This will lengthen my life."
Not only is Rose thrilled with her results, but those around her are ecstatic as well.
Dr. Standard, with St. John's Clinic - Holiday Island, said Rose has lost weight at an "outstanding" rate.
"I'm pleasantly surprised," she said. "Rose has done everything I've asked her to do. She is a unique person and a lovely lady."
Dr. Standard said she had been seeing Rose for several years when diabetes appeared on the horizon, threatening to complicate Rose's existing health problems.
"I thought at 398 pounds, we wanted no more medicines to handle the diabetes. It was time to start going the other way," Standard recalled. "I suggested a diet instead of another pill and Rose was gung-ho."
That was when Dr. Standard referred Rose to David Chitwood in Berryville. "He's always so willing to help," she said. "Both he and Carolyn Gentry, the nurse-educator, take the time to explain so people understand," she continued. "Using a glycemia index works really well controlling blood sugar, and you end up losing weight."
Now that Rose has lost significant weight, Dr. Standard has referred her to a physical therapist to increase her activity level.
"She's very enthused," reported Standard, noting that Rose's success has been a team effort.
"She's absolutely amazing. I am very pleased," said David Chitwood. "Rose was at death's door when she came to me. She was having breathing problems with her chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. She was facing death or stomach stapling. Dr. Standard, Dr. Charles Horton and myself developed the low glycemia diet for her.
"It's not a hard diet to follow," he continued. "But you have to have commitment. Rose's progress surprised me. We don't see that kind of commitment often. I am very proud of her."
Making people aware of healthy diets is one of David's prime objectives and he offers his services free of charge.
"I do not charge," he confirmed. "If someone is a diabetic, they must have a referral from their doctor. Otherwise, you must be committed. Ninety percent is commitment. This may be cruel to say, but if you're not committed, don't waste my time."
He said the low glycemia diet is the diet of the future. He provides a caloric needs assessment and drafts a plan for weight loss based on obtainable goals.
"The main thing I tell people is they have to commit to the diet," he said.
Dr. Standard sees good things ahead for Rose.
"I expect her weight to keep falling," she said. "She is staying with the program very well. Once we increase her activity, I expect a great deal of improvement in her lung function. And, by taking the weight off her joints, we'll slow the progression of her joint disease. Just the fact that I can send her to a physical therapist is wonderful," she said beaming. "We've had great results and we've come a long ways."
Rose is beaming too and glows with a new-found pride.
Her advice to others, "Eat healthy, live healthy, think healthy. That makes life good."
"Rose Nolan's life-altering decision: - 'I made the choice to live' "
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