400 Pound Man on Track to Run in 2005 NYC Marathon



May 2, 2005 -- Jonathan Gleich weighing in at 425 lbs. Was crippled with sciatica July 2003, keeping him bedridden for over a month, At that point he decided on a life style change and on December 4th 2003 he had laparoscopic surgery where Dr. Christine Ren Of NYU Medical Center Preformed weight loss surgery and installed an Inamed "lap band" device on Jonathan's stomach restricting his food intake. Jonathan's weight today is 225 pounds and is in training for the 2005 NYC marathon "It is really remarkable looking at myself in the mirror, I can't believe I was the fat person in my before pictures"

That's not all that has changed for Jonathan, He has been featured in magazine articles and television appearances "I really have not done anything to lose weight, the Lap band is doing all of the work, I am just along for the ride"

A humble reply for someone who could not walk a block two short years ago,

"My working title for the marathon is in tribute to what Sean (Puffy) Combs did two years ago in the 2003 marathon, He really inspired me, so my title is "Tubby Runs NY"

Developed to aid in long-term weight loss, the BioEnterics(r) LAP-BAND(r) System has been used by leading laparoscopic surgeons worldwide to treat severe obesity. Sustained weight loss with the BioEnterics(r) LAP-BAND(r) System is achieved by reducing the capacity of the stomach .

The silicone adjustable band component of the BioEnterics(r) LAP-BAND(r) System is placed around the upper part of the stomach , forming a small gastric pouch to limit and control the amount of food you eat and slow the emptying process from the stomach into the intestines. Limiting food intake and slowing the stomach emptying process results in weight loss.

The BioEnterics(r) LAP-BAND(r) System has been designed for laparoscopic placement, which offers the advantages of reduced trauma, reduced post-operative pain, shortened hospital stay and quicker recovery. No cutting or stapling of the stomach is required, and there is no need to bypass portions of the stomach or intestines. If for any reason the BioEnterics(r) LAP-BAND(r) System needs to be removed, the stomach generally returns to its original form.

Dr. Christine Ren is an expert in bariatric medicine who has performed over 600 lap band surgeries, the least-invasive bariatric procedure. (Bariatric surgery seals off most of the stomach to reduce the amount of food one can eat, and rearranges the small intestine to reduce calories that the body can absorb.) Dr. Ren is an assistant professor at NYU School of Medicine and founded the NYU Program for Surgical Weight Loss.

She can be contacted at (212) 263-3166 or fax (212) 263-3757.

Photographs of Jonathan Gleich are available on his website.

Jonathan Gleich:                                                                
http://www.bandster.us

Dr. Christine J. Ren:                                                      
http://thinforlife.med.nyu.edu/

Inamed Corporation:                                                      
http://www.inamed.com/

Contact:
Jonathan Gleich
3 Brighton 3rd Road
Brooklyn New York, 11235
Phone: 212-279-3211 x 105





400 Pound Man on Track to Run in 2005 NYC Marathon