I count my blessings because I have my life back.

"My weight issue coincided with my marriage. I ate everything my wife prepared – she didn’t like leftovers. I made sure there weren't any," says Richard Specht of Lewistown. "By the time I was married for 8 years, I weighed in at 558 pounds. I was living with diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea, and it wasn’t much of a life. I knew it was time for a change. My bariatric surgeon, Dr. David Parker, is my angel. He gave me the tool - gastric bypass surgery - but he also told me that it was up to me to use it. I'm fortunate that Geisinger’s weight loss program provides you with a team of people who are focused on your success. And I tapped into each of them - nutritionists, nurses, trainers, educators - they all kept me on track. They held me accountable! Today, I'm down 318 pounds and I’m at the gym almost every day. I lift weights, I walk, but most importantly I count my blessings because I have my life back."