Man Sheds 95 Pounds With Help From Edward-Elmhurst Health & Fitness Center

Jovan Ivancevic was overweight for at least 20 years.

After trying to shed the pounds on his own, the 44-year-old accepted the fact that he might need some help reaching his goals. The Bolingbrook resident was active in his younger years but became overweight as a teenager. When he was 24, his doctor diagnosed him with chronic sleep apnea and high blood pressure.

He tried different forms of exercise to lose weight, but admits he was “flying blind." He joined gym after gym, but never reached the results he wanted. In September 2013, Ivancevic met with his doctor and was given a couple directives to lower his blood pressure. At this point, his wife’s aunt and uncle, who were both overweight, became avid runners. Ivancevic decided to give it a try, too.

When he started, he was able to run a mile in a little less than 23 minutes. In October 2013, he ran his first 5K, but was disappointed when he didn’t break one hour.

He continued working with his doctor and in the summer of 2014, began a process that would lead to gastric bypass surgery. The procedure typically involves reducing the size of the stomach and reconnecting it after the first portion of the small intestine, restricting food intake and reducing calorie intake.

He underwent the procedure on Dec. 15, 2014. One month later, Ivancevic resumed full activity and exercise and the even decided to participate in a St. Patrick's Day 5K.

“I ran it in under 39 minutes,” he said. “I knew at that moment I was never going back to the way I was.”

With renewed motivation and confidence, he began his own workout program by running and training for the three half marathons in 2015. In 2016, he ran two more in Wisconsin and Rockford. So far, Ivancevic has shed 95 pounds and credits exercise as a major contributor to the weight loss.

Following his gastric bypass procedure, Ivancevic went to the Edward-Elmhurst Health & Fitness Center at Seven Bridges in Woodridge with the goal of learning the proper way to exercise and lose weight. The medically based facility offers state-of-the-art free weights, strength training machines, treadmills, elliptical trainers, stair climbers with integrated audio/video equipment and more. There are also certified fitness experts on hand to answer questions and offer guidance.

Ivancevic’s trainer, Dave Smith, has been “very helpful and instrumental” in creating a workout regimen. Smith’s lessons include how to exercise with proper form to prevent injury and how to diversify workouts to make the most out of a weight loss program. Today, Ivancevic embraces a variety of activities including biking, swimming, weightlifting and core exercises.

“I have done things I never dreamed of,” he said.

There are two ways Ivancevic stays motivated and on the right track to eat right and exercise. First, he keeps photos of himself before gastric bypass as a constant reminder of how his life used to be. Second, he attends a weight loss support group, which consists of pre-operation and post-operation members. The meetings give him a chance to provide insight about the gastric bypass procedure to those who are in the same place he was in 2014. They also offer the opportunity to emphasize the importance of exercise and physical movement afterward to maintain the procedure's benefits.

In the future, Ivancevic plans to continue running and staying healthy. His long-term goal is to keep his “stomach as light as possible, and heart as healthy as possible.”

To learn more about Edward-Elmhurst Health’s weight loss services, visit its website. Learn about the facility's workout options by perusing the site's fitness center section.

Content and photo courtesy of Edward-Elmhurst Health