Tracking His Way to Better Health
Garrett Bounds improved his health and lost weight by keeping track of his eating and physical activity habits.
Working with the MOVE! team at the Bryan VA Clinic in College Station, TX, Garrett took small steps over time that added up to great positive results for him.
A New Effort to Change
Garrett shares that for most of his life, he struggled to consistently maintain a healthy weight. "I have been on many diets," he explains, but every time he completed those programs, he would regain the weight he had lost. "I didn’t like how I looked," he recalls, "and how winded I got from just walking a few steps." While discussing his options with his primary care provider, Garrett learned about the MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans. Motivated to change for his own benefit, Garrett started this new journey with a mind to achieve lasting change.
I would definitely recommend [MOVE!] if you are having difficulty losing weight.
Garrett Bounds
Learning New Tools and Strategies
When Garrett attended his first group session with MOVE!, he began by writing down a few starting goals. He wanted to eat out less, especially at fast food restaurants, and reduce how many soft drinks he consumed every day. After his first week, he had stopped drinking soda entirely. Garrett also began to focus on other helpful strategies. He began walking around his neighborhood to stay active, increasing his daily distance over time. He also started strength training with weights and keeping an exercise log. For Garrett, tracking his calorie intake was important to increase his awareness of the types and amounts of food and drink he chose.
Sticking to a Healthy Lifestyle
Since starting MOVE!, Garrett has lost nearly 50 pounds thanks to the small changes he made to his routine. While his own motivation and commitment were key to getting him started, Garrett explains that the support of his fellow MOVE! participants and his family was essential to his continued progress. "I am more active," he shares. "I can actually play with my grandkids [and] one of my blood pressure medications has been stopped." Garrett plans to maintain his new habits and enjoy all the benefits of healthy living for a long time to come.
