Letting Go and Pushing Forward
A change in perspective helped Dax Carpenter see his path to a healthy lifestyle and reach his weight management and health goals.
With the help of the MOVE! team at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center in Battle Creek, MI, Dax created strategies to improve his health through mindful eating and drinking as well as increased physical activity.
A Fresh Start
Dax’s struggle to maintain a healthy weight began after he left the Army more than ten years ago. Over time, he began to notice the effect that his weight had on his health. He had participated in the MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans on two prior occasions. While he was able to lose weight both times, when his progress plateaued, he stopped participating. In June 2023, however, Dax gave MOVE! another shot. "This time was different," he explains. "It had to be."
You have to be willing to change, and willing to listen and collaborate because there are people out there that do want what’s best for you.
Dax Carpenter
A New Approach
"This time," Dax explains, "I used more of the resources VA gave me." In addition to MOVE! individual sessions and TeleMOVE!, Dax also worked with a Whole Health coach and his primary care provider to figure out the best plan for his new journey to better health. MOVE! helped Dax learn how to be more aware of his eating and drinking habits. This included paying close attention to portion sizes and counting calories. He also increased his physical activity. For Dax, perhaps the most important step was embracing a new attitude. "On the mental side, it was letting go of the baggage that held me back," he recalls. "Rather than focus on my disabilities, I looked at my abilities and started to work. After that, the pounds started to fall off."
A Great Result
Dax explains that, "if you’re serious about getting healthy, you have to go all-in." Dax did just that, and since starting MOVE!, has lost over 70 pounds. Reaching a healthier weight has also benefited his overall health, as he now enjoys having more energy and stamina, sharing, "Simple tasks that used to leave me out of breath, I can now do with ease." Dax is grateful for the support of his MOVE! and VA team. "[They] all played a role in getting me to where I am today," he shares.
