From bariatric surgery candidate to personal trainer
With the help of bariatric surgery, Rob DiMedio went from having severe sleep apnea and emotional eating issues to starting a small business as a personal trainer and nutrition coach.
Severe sleep apnea and emotional eating were dangerously impacting Rob DiMedio's health. The high school history teacher and father of two knew he had to make some big changes to live the life he envisioned for himself and his family.
After connecting with the Penn Bariatric and Weight Loss Surgery Program, those changes started to take hold. DiMedio went from bariatric surgery candidate to personal trainer and nutrition coach, inspiring other weight-loss surgery patients to live their best lives.
A wake-up call from his pulmonologist
DiMedio's journey began in earnest with a wake-up call from his pulmonologist who was treating him for sleep apnea, a condition where breathing stops for short periods of time during sleep. He was using a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine to keep his airways open while he slept, but his latest sleep study showed he was waking up 65 times an hour, beyond what the machine could regulate.
“My doctor essentially told me that I was burning out a medical grade CPAP machine, and I said, ‘We'll just get the next size up,’” DiMedio recalled.
However, due to the severity of DiMedio's case, a larger machine wasn't the answer. His doctor shared a frightening warning.
“He said you need to get this under control or there's a chance you could go to sleep and not wake up,” said DiMedio, who immediately started looking at weight-loss options.
Adolescent weight management and bariatric surgery programs
Penn Medicine offers programs to help adolescents struggling with weight issues. Through a collaboration between Penn Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, adolescents can receive life-changing bariatric surgery. We also offer a pediatric weight management program at our Lancaster location and a monthly support group for youth patients and their parents.
After doing some research and at the recommendation of his primary care physician, he decided on bariatric surgery at Penn Medicine. His doctor explained that Penn's program is highly regarded for both its surgical expertise and—especially important to DiMedio—its level of after-care.
Tools from the Penn Medicine weight-loss team
DiMedio met with the team at bariatric surgeon Alan Schuricht, MD, FACS's office.
“They gave me all the tools I needed to succeed and a clear plan that was easy to follow. The surgery was six months out, but the bariatric team said until then, I needed to start doing some basic behavior goals like chewing my food 25 times, tracking what I eat, and knowing how many steps I take in a day,” he explained.
DiMedio was more than 100 percent in.
He started tracking his steps. Schuricht’s team suggested 10,000 a day. DiMedio walked 15,000. He also started tracking his food intake.
“I realized I was consuming over 6,000 calories on an NFL Sunday,” he said. “That’s nearly three times the recommended intake for an adult male. I was able to see my own mistakes, and I made my own adjustments.”
Working with Penn Medicine’s program, he went from 365 to 315 pounds prior to gastric bypass surgery.
After bariatric surgery
After his surgery, DiMedio continued to follow the plan Schuricht provided, eventually hitting his lowest weight of 210 pounds.
“I still have my bariatric bible, and I keep it near my desk,” he added, holding up the binder he has relied on since the beginning of his journey. “I still use it today and refer to the things I highlighted during my first visit with the team.”
Staying on track and helping others
While DiMedio had achieved his initial goal of losing significant weight, he knew the surgery would not be enough. With the help of Penn Medicine support groups, healthy eating through consistent meal prep, and his rekindled love of movement, he has continued to maintain a healthy weight.
DiMedio founded a small business as a personal trainer and nutrition coach to help other bariatric patients learn how to move their bodies and get the best out of what they eat. He also uses his Instagram @myweightishistory to inspire and connect with others facing similar weight-loss and health challenges.
“Bariatric surgery doesn't fix everything,” emphasized DiMedio. “You have to put the right team around the tools.”
When talking about what keeps him on track, DiMedio gets emotional.
“The biggest thing that motivates me is that I don't want to go back to my old life. It's something I have to work on daily. I want to ensure that I show up for my wife and kids. I want to be there when my grandkids show up one day. I want to make sure I get everything out of this surgery.”