[sumo] Article about Manny Yarborough

[Barbara Ann]

Looks like Manny is seeking a gold medal in a forthcoming Olympic 
Games?

Link with photos is here: 
http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070719/COMMUNITIES32/707190341/1005/rss01

If you go to the page, make sure you copy the whole two lines of 
the link.

Sumobaba


Ex-sumo wrestler seeks help in Morristown to lose 200 pounds
BY ROB JENNINGS
DAILY RECORD
Thursday, July 19, 2007

  3 Comments
MORRISTOWN -- International sumo wrestling icon Emanuel "Tiny" 
Yarbrough is giving up burgers, fried chicken, fried fish 
sandwiches -- and even his beloved shrimp egg foo yung -- in a 
lifesaving bid to lose weight and possibly even train for the 2008 
Olympics.

Yarbrough, 42, of Rahway -- a congenial and towering presence who 
stands 6-foot-8, wears size-19 sneakers and weighs 753 pounds -- 
will not be completely deprived.

He'll still enjoy a slice of pizza and the occasional cigar.

"I'm not going to take away all your pleasures at once," 
Morristown Memorial Hospital physician Dr. Leah Solomon, who 
specializes in weight loss, assured him during a three-hour 
strategy session on Wednesday.

Yarbrough, who occasionally acts and is touting a reality show 
tentatively entitled "The 750-pound Houseguest," said a series of 
health setbacks in recent years finally convinced him it was time 
for a radical overhaul.

"I've been large my entire life," said Yarbrough, who was the 
world and North American sumo champion in 1996 and 1997.

While attending Morgan State University in Baltimore, Yarbrough 
weighed 380 pounds, but was still able to play football and run 5 
miles at a time.

Two decades later, he is nearly twice as heavy and can barely walk 
100 yards. Exercise, in his present condition, is out of the 
question.

"I don't eat as much as I did when I was younger. It just affects 
me more adversely," Yarbrough said.

Yarbrough's weight peaked at 815 about three years ago. He was 
diagnosed with hypertension and battled congestive heart failure. 
He suffered from sleep apnea and had to sleep sitting up.

Throughout it all, he maintained the good humor he showed on 
numerous late-night television appearances with David Letterman, 
Jay Leno and others.

"People think that I maintained the weight for sumo. That's not 
really the case. It was just the way I was living," said 
Yarbrough, who was born in Jersey City and is a lifelong New 
Jersey resident.

Planning a regimen

To resuming training and have a decent shot at the Olympics in 
judo, Yarbrough said he probably couldn't weigh more than 650 
pounds.

"I would like to get back to 550, 525," said Yarbrough, who was 
referred to Solomon's program.

Solomon specializes in bariatric medicine. She told Yarbrough she 
would recommend a high-protein diet in place of carbohydrates, 
among other measures. He balked initially when she suggested 
taking a multi-vitamin.

"I thought that was for women. You're trying to emasculate me," he 
said with a smile.

"We'll find you a more masculine multi-vitamin," Solomon replied.

Medication is a possibility, but Yarbrough ruled out ever 
undertaking gastric bypass surgery.

"I had a friend who died from it. He made me promise on his 
deathbed not to do it," Yarbrough said.

Solomon added that the procedure is not offered to patients 
weighing more than 500 pounds.

While the Olympics is Yarbrough's goal, Solomon said she wouldn't 
recommend exercise until "he tells me he's ready for exertion."

Yarbrough said sports were a lifelong passion at which he excelled 
despite significant weight fluctuations.

"Even at 500 pounds, I could still dunk a basketball," he said.

Sumo, judo and wrestling were liberating because they allowed him 
to work out the aggression he had to restrain elsewhere.

"I've always had this self-governor with myself," Yarbrough said, 
explaining he was always worried about hurting someone.

In sumo and judo, where everyone is big, that's much less of a 
concern.

"I'm allowed to be as aggressive as the law allows," he said.

At the doctor

Yarbrough began his meeting with Solomon by filling out numerous 
forms outlining his goals and medical history. Medicare is paying 
for his weight loss regimen.

Yarbrough was already on the right track in one area.

"Do you drink coffee?" Solomon asked.

"No," he replied.

"Good -- don't get started," she said.

Solomon warned of the challenges ahead, "It's a lot easier to lose 
5 pounds 10 times than 50 pounds once."

Yarbrough appeared unfazed. He said he was ready to move on from 
bad habits -- including all those days when he would "skip two 
meals, then pile up whatever starches were there." He said he is 
committed to swearing off desserts, along with Chinese food and 
other favorites.

Yarbrough said he wants to resume the lifestyle that led to 
personal appearances with fans in Japan, India, Canada, France, 
Poland, Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland and elsewhere.

"Basically, I want to get back to living life. I've traveled the 
world, but doing local things became a task," Yarbrough said.