Nursing Degree Bound

George Mertz of Easton, Pa., uses new-found mobility to go back to school

One of the best parts about losing more than 300 pounds, says George Mertz, is being able to come and go as he pleases. “I became secluded,” says the 35-year-old Easton, Pa., man, who weighed 660 pounds before his 2008 gastric bypass surgery. “Walking was a struggle, my back hurt, and I got too big to fit comfortably behind the steering wheel. I felt trapped and depressed. Now I’m constantly on the go.”

Though he’s still losing weight (his goal is 225 pounds), Mertz has wasted no time taking advantage of his newfound mobility. He’s pursuing the nursing degree he dreamed of (he’s shown in the anatomy lab at Northampton Community College) before his weight forced him to quit his job as a certified nursing assistant. Since his surgery, he’s flown several times and regularly walks, swims and works out. “Exercise is a definite part of my life now,” he says.

Another benefit: improved health. His back pain has eased, the depression has lifted, and he’s stopped taking the eight medications he once needed to control his cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes. “I feel alive again—like a teenager,” he says.

This page last updated 4/30/12 10:47 AM