A Recipe for Success
Vickie Dowery resolved to reshape her life by adopting small, lasting habits that helped her achieve her health and weight goals.
With the support of the MOVE! team at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center in Memphis, TN, Vickie gradually transformed her health and her life.
Getting With the Program
Vickie shares that before starting the MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans, she was experiencing health issues related to her weight. She could “hardly move and could not manage [her] pain without taking medications every day.” In addition to the physical effects, Vickie explains, she also suffered from depression and had low self-esteem. Her primary care provider suggested that she give MOVE! a try, and in December 2022, Vickie attended her first MOVE! group with the goal of improving her health.
I’m so proud of myself.
Vickie Dowery
Committing to Healthy Changes
In order for Vickie to accomplish her goal, she knew that she needed to change her lifestyle. MOVE! provided the knowledge and strategies to adjust her eating and physical activity habits, but Vickie relied on her own motivation and commitment to make those changes. “Menu planning, shopping for healthy items, cooking with healthy foods, [and] reading food labels” all made a great difference as Vickie adjusted her behaviors. In addition, she shifted from having very little physical activity on any given day to working out at the gym five days per week!
Taking the Next Step
Since starting MOVE! in 2022, Vickie’s consistent, small, and realistic lifestyle changes have helped her lose over 50 pounds and achieve many health benefits. In addition to being more mobile and having more energy, Vickie also has a newfound confidence! She also knows that her healthier lifestyle will help her prevent the onset of chronic conditions and diseases. The thanks her primary care providers, her MOVE! team, her family, and her friends for their support during her journey to better health. “I’m so proud of myself”, Vickie shares, reflecting on her new lifestyle and her commitment to maintaining her accomplishments.
