Working With Mind and Body
Ronald Banks found the support and guidance he desired from the MOVE! team at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center in Memphis, TN, and was able to change his lifestyle for the better.
A Desire to Change
Ronald shares that his dissatisfaction with his weight reached a breaking point when his weight gain became more visible. "My clothes really gave my weight problem away when I could not wear half the clothes I used to wear," he explains. This affected him emotionally too, as he shares, "my body and mind were moving out of control." When he learned about the MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans, Ronald became determined to start a weight loss journey and change his lifestyle.
MOVE! will put your mind and body in a safe space to start to work together for a common goal.
Ronald Banks
A New Mindset
"When I started the MOVE! program," Ronald recalls, "I was not aware that it would be a no-judgment-zone. I felt comfortable as soon as the class began and it made me feel great…I had never been involved in a program like that." Part of what made MOVE! so motivating for Ronald was the chance to hear stories from other Veterans achieving their own goals on their weight loss journeys. Gradually, Ronald was able to incorporate more and more physical activity into his routine and focus on making food and beverage choices that were more beneficial for him.
Finding His Balance
Ronald’s effort to lose weight and improve his health was about more than just a number on the scale. "I am not as heavy as I was," he explains, "and I feel physically and mentally better." He described his feeling of progress as "victorious" and is grateful for the support of his MOVE! team, the other Veterans in his group, and his church family. With their encouragement, Ronald plans to stay active and maintain his new, healthy lifestyle.
