Adjusting To A New Life

Barry Hansen works out at Centegra Health Bridge Fitness Center. (Photo by Jeff Krage)

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There was a time when Barry Hansen of Crystal Lake weighed 350 pounds.

He now weighs 225 pounds and has maintained that weight for more than a year.

In December 2008, Hansen, 48, underwent bariatric surgery to help him lose the weight. As a result, Hansen feels full on fewer calories, which leads to weight loss.

Although guidelines vary, bariatric surgery is generally considered if a person’s body mass index, or BMI, is 40 or higher, or the person has a life-threatening or disabling condition related to his or her weight, according to WebMD.

Hansen’s BMI was 48 when he weighed 350 pounds, making him a candidate for the procedure. More than two years after his surgery, his BMI is down to 29.

Since last month’s story, Barry has continued his six-times-a-week workouts at Centegra Health Bridge Fitness Center in Crystal Lake and healthy eating to maintain his weight — but not without challenges.

After surgery, Hansen needed to make big, permanent changes in how he ate. His new stomach could hold only a few ounces of food at a time. He also knew he would have to avoid certain foods he loves, as the consequences of eating those foods would be too harsh on his body.

Hansen admits he would love to drink a pop or eat some chocolate, but because of his surgery, he has to avoid foods like those that contain simple sugars.

“I have to live life like I am a diabetic,” he says. “But I don’t miss pop. I am used to not having it.”

He’s finding some sugarfree alternatives taste just as good as their full-sugar counterparts. For example, he drinks sugarfree Kool-Aid now and says it tastes just like the regular kind.

If Hansen has even a small amount of real sugar, he gets shaky, dizzy and sweaty.

“It just makes me sick,” he says.

Hansen has had to make a lot of sacrifices — like trading in cheeseburgers and meatloaf for chicken and fish — but he wouldn’t change a thing. Hansen couldn’t imagine going back to his old life. 

“I feel too good right now to go back to my old ways,” he says.

But don’t think Hansen doesn’t have days when he doesn’t feel like going to Centegra Health Bridge in the morning.

One morning he decided to skip a workout, but as the day went on, he couldn’t take it. Hansen had to work out, and he did in the evening.

Hansen admits it’s challenging to maintain his weight of about 225 pounds. He knows if he doesn’t exercise, he’ll get heavy again.

Eating the right way also is difficult for Hansen at times. Because of his surgery, he experiences a lack of hunger. Hansen says there are days he eats more than others, but his new eating is something he’s still getting used to.

Food played such a big part in Hansen’s life before his surgery, as he was a stresseater.

“Now when I get stressed, I turn to exercise,” he says.