Danny Dabroski's Story...
My name is Danny Dabroski and I reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I am also a totally and permanently Disabled Veteran from the Vietnam War. I suffer from severe depression with psychotic features. I am one of those people you've heard about that 'hears voices.' During Desert Storm, my son fought with the 2nd Marine division, 26th MEU. Sitting day after day, watching CNN brought back too many memories of Southeast Asia and I had a complete mental breakdown. From 1992 through 1999 if I wasn't in a psychiatric ward, I was in bed, only rising to eat or relieve myself. During those years I ate very little. What I did eat consisted of ice cream, potato chips, and Coke (the non-diet variety). I was taking twelve different medications, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and who knows what else. I swallowed what I was given. I was so heavily medicated that I couldn't care less about personal hygiene. The condition I never gave a thought to was my weight. If I didn't fit into my clothes, I was given larger ones, without my ever paying attention. After a divorce in 1999, I was forced into a situation in which I had to start taking care of myself. My drugs were reduced and I began a course of recovery. I received a new driver's license, which I had to give up back in 1992, and began figuring out how to pay the bills and find my way around a town that I had lived in for almost twenty years but had forgotten. I came to a conclusion; my obese condition was, indeed, part of my illness. I decided if my recovery were to go forward, I would have to return to my pre-92 weight and physical condition. In December of 2000 I was introduced to a gentleman who was to change my life forever. Bart Hanks was his name and a challenge like mine was his game. How do I begin? Where do I start?... Telling you about the man who took on my condition and assured me he and I would reach those goals together. Which is exactly what he and I did! Bart Hanks is one of a kind. A person with an uncanny ability to motivate one to keep going, keep reaching for the goal. Even the few times I stalled he had the knowledge and experience to get me back on track. Not in a few days, or a few weeks? But the next day! Yes, the next day I was back on track and losing weight. The only word I can think of is amazing ! Bart calculated my diet by analyzing my weight, what I was eating on a daily basis and what that added up to in calories. He also inquired as to how I was exercising. "Walking, that's about it," I said. When Bart told me I was only eating 700 calories a day, I was shocked. "How can I be gaining weight on so little calories?" I asked. Of course, my intake was again, potato chips, and ice cream (don't try it). Bart told me my metabolism was stalled; it thought I was starving so it had slowed, almost to a stop, in order to hold on to everything I ate. I must interject how truly amazing the human body is. I was existing on ice cream and potato chips and not doing to badly. 'Not too badly?' Because of my weight, I became afflicted with DIABETES. Because of my diet my CHOLESTEROL was out of sight and my TRIGLYCERIDES were above 500! (I am now at 45. Yes, 45). The biggest shock however, was when Bart told me I would be consuming 3,200 calories a day after the first month on my 'diet.' "I don't want to be a Sumo wrestler, Bart. I want to lose weight" I exclaimed! After an explanation of some length about how my body works in the area of metabolism, I calmed down. This reminds me of another of Bart's skills, which is his ability to calm one down. And so 'The Diet' began in December of 2000. Most difficult at the beginning was the large amount of food Bart wanted me to consume each day. I became used to those platefuls in a short time however and was into my daily routine. The pounds began to drop off. It was important that I weighed myself every day. Some so called diet plans say your weight varies up and down on a daily basis, so only weigh yourself once a week. Bull----! It was PROVEN to me. If you intend to diet every day, you must keep track of your weight on a daily basis as well as a detailed log of what you have eaten, broken down by protein, carbs and fat. I made my diet part of my life, which included a visit with Bart every Tuesday. I should mention a factor I had to contend with throughout my diet. Even though my medication had been reduced, I was still taking some strong antidepressants. Antidepressants cause weight gain by slowing the metabolism. For me it was an uphill battle all the way. At times my depression would worsen. During these times my concentration on the things I had to do on a daily basis would fall off considerably. At times my meds would be increased. Most importantly, the ability to stay with my diet weakened. Suddenly, along came the 'Lone Ranger' better known as Bart Hanks. After a half hour with Bart, I was fully motivated, even with the drugs. In December of 2001 I reached my goals. What Bart and I had accomplished was really evident to me the first time I saw my before and after pictures. Now I not only have a much slimmer physique, but new goals in my life as well as a winning attitude. There are more 14,000-foot peaks in Colorado than any other state. Guess who's going to climb all of them? I am (with Bart in my backpack!). I almost forgot. Because of my weight loss, the DIABETES no longer exists, it's gone! My doctor hugs me every time she sees me because of what I have accomplished. Yours in health, Danny Dabroski | |||||||||||
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