Time for a Change
An injury inspired MaShawn Black to revamp her habits and transform herself with positive behavior change by teaming up with the North Charleston, SC, Community Based Outpatient Clinic MOVE! team.
Getting Back to Herself
MaShawn’s desire to manage her weight and improve her health was spurred by an unfortunate injury. "I am a property manager and one day I tore my meniscus walking the property," she explains. She would become out of breath quickly even walking short distances and especially when climbing stairs. "I told myself something had to change. That just wasn’t me," she recalls. Prior to participating in the MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans, MaShawn tried to lose weight, but only achieved short term results and continued to slowly gain weight. This time, she resolved to change not only for herself but for her children, saying "I want to live as long as I can to see as much of their lives and accomplishments as I can."
MOVE! is life-changing, so if you’ve thought about it for even one second don’t wait… MOVE! now!
MaShawn Black
Answering the Call
MaShawn began attending MOVE! group video sessions and quickly reaped the benefit of a shared experience. "I could see others who were struggling with their weight like me," she explains, "and heard what worked for them and what didn’t. We were able to exchange ideas." Some of those ideas included being more mindful of portion sizes, making time to be more physically active, and making "better decisions about what [she] put in [her] body."
Enjoying Her Progress
Since starting MOVE!, MaShawn has lost 50 pounds. She now walks and climbs stairs more easily with less stress on her knees. She also feels good about herself again, sharing, "When you look great, you feel great!" She is inspired by helping others. "My coworkers are asking how I did it and are asking for tips," she explains. "Now I help others find what works for them…that helps me stay focused on my lifetime journey." MaShawn is grateful for the collaborative support of her MOVE! team, specifically dietitian Fabiana Carvalho and clinical pharmacist Paul Strange, and her son, Michael, who was her workout partner and helped keep her accountable.
