Fran Lutz enjoyed family gatherings and “pizza night.” But Lutz, who says she’s struggled with weight her whole life, began to rethink her diet as her weight climbed. At the same time, she was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib), a type of irregular heartbeat.
While an ablation procedure helped Lutz manage her AFib effectively, her cardiologist, J. Doyle Walton, MD, with Grand View Health Cardiology Alderfer and Travis, emphasized that weight loss remained critical to reducing her current and future AFib risk. So he recommended she see medical weight loss specialist Megan Zakarewicz, DO, with Grand View Health Weight Management.
“I had a grandchild coming, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep up with her unless I lost weight,” says Lutz, 65, of Riegelsville.
As soon as Lutz met Dr. Zakarewicz, something clicked. “She’s knowledgeable and encouraging,” Lutz says. “Just talking to her gave me the confidence to make a change.”
Medical weight loss at Grand View Health gives patients tools to make nutrition, physical activity and behavioral changes. “We create a unique program for each patient,” Dr. Zakarewicz says.
Lutz started her personal medical weight loss journey by writing down everything she ate for two weeks in a food journal. She then reviewed it with Dr. Zakarewicz and discussed which types foods to eliminate and which types to add to her diet.
Lutz continued meeting with Dr. Zakarewicz regularly. She also used the GVH Health Tracker app, which all medical weight loss patients receive, to track her nutrition. “I don’t really worry about what I eat,” Lutz says. “But I do use the app to ensure serving size and that the amounts of protein, fat, sugar and carbohydrates are within the range of what I want to achieve.”
She also increased her physical activity level, spinning three times a week and walking two-to-three miles on the other four days. She credits her team of Drs. Walton, Zakarewicz and primary care physician Suzann Szewczak, DO, with Grand View Health Primary Care Lederach, with improving her overall health awareness.
Lutz lost 65 pounds in 10 months. But the benefits go far beyond the numbers. “My disease risks have decreased, I sleep better, I’ve increased my energy level,” she says, “and most importantly, I can keep up with my 9-month-old granddaughter.”
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