150 POUNDS GONE, 350 MORE TO LOSE FOR VAN NUYS MAN.

Byline: Kristopher Hanson Staff Writer

For years, Martin Bernardi was too ashamed to step outside of his San Fernando Valley apartment.

His extreme weight - Bernardi tipped the scales at 820 pounds - prevented the 25-year-old Van Nuys resident from leading a normal life.

In fact, Martin said, he only left his home about eight times in the past five years, for doctor visits or to see close family members.

His only links to the outside world came via television, the Internet and telephone calls.

``I basically thought I was just going to stay in my bed and die,'' Bernardi said Thursday. ``I didn't really have any hope.''

However, a recent surgery to remove more than 150 pounds of fat at a Hawaiian Gardens hospital and plans for another surgery in the fall have given Bernardi a new lease on life.

``I feel like I have a future to look forward to now,'' Bernardi said Thursday as he was discharged from the Center for Surgical Treatment of Obesity and returned home. ``This surgery and the other one I have coming up are going to save my life. I know there's hope now.''

A smiling, optimistic Bernardi left the hospital weighing 662 pounds. He intends to lose at least another 350 pounds.

To attain that goal, he'll be back at the hospital in several weeks for a stomach stapling surgery, to prevent him from overeating.

Martin shared his story Thursday, hoping to reach out to other obese people in similar situations, but too embarrassed to ask for help.

His mother, Deborah Bernardi of North Hollywood, said she accompanied her son to several doctors over the years, but their advice never worked.

The problem became so severe that on Aug. 12, Martin's mother and brother drove him to the obesity center in a rented U-Haul van.

He didn't have an appointment but was desperate to find someone who could help.

Dr. Mal Fobi, a noted obesity specialist, took Bernardi under his care and provided the fat-removing surgery free of charge.

Bernardi said his next step is to ``gain my life back.''

``I want to be able to go outside and enjoy the small things in life. I want to go back to school one day. I want to work with troubled kids or become a probation officer. I know I can do it.''

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With more than 150 pounds of fat surgically removed, Martin Bernardi, 25, of Van Nuys, is discharged from a Hawaiian Gardens hospital. When he entered the hospital, he weighed more than 800 pounds. He wants to lose another 350.

Jeff Gritchen/Staff Photographer