A Team Effort for Better Health
When James Galluzzo decided to work on getting back to a healthy weight, he found support from the MOVE! team at the Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Columbia, SC, and his wife, who journeyed with him to better health.
A Focus on Lifestyle
When James began to gain weight after his retirement, he shares, "I kept giving the excuse that I was just older. I was no longer fitting in my clothes, getting winded walking up a flight of stairs and feeling unhealthy. So, I decided I needed to change." After trying a program that focused mainly on restricting food and not on overall health and fitness, James looked for an alternative that could help him focus on all aspects of his lifestyle. His VA health care team recommended the MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans. James chose the TeleMOVE! option so he had the flexibility to participate when and where it worked best for him.
The goal is progress not perfection. My weight graph looks like a jagged rock face, but what is key is the overall trend line. Just keep at it and don't give up.
James Galluzzo
Traveling Together
As James set out on his journey to better health, he was accompanied by a familiar companion. "My wife agreed to do the work with me and together we set out to make better choices," he reports. Fueled by a desire to feel better and their shared love of active adventures and traveling, James and his wife took advantage of the tools available in his TeleMOVE! experience, including the MOVE! website, regularly scheduled contact with a MOVE! clinician to coach him, a scale, and a fitness tracker to support consistency and accountability. James and his wife adopted new habits, like tracking their calorie intake, recording their steps, and discovering new, healthy recipes that were not only easy to prepare but delicious, too. These small, simple changes would yield great results.
Achieving Together
Since starting MOVE!, James has lost 45 pounds. What’s more, he is thrilled to have more energy, better fitness, lower cholesterol and "fantastic" blood sugar levels. Now working on maintaining these results, James’ routine includes between 8,000-10,000 steps each day. He compliments this with cardio and strengthening either at home or in the gym. He is grateful to his MOVE! team for their consistent support. "Most of all," he shares, "I thank my wife of 31 years who took this journey with me. Together we were both successful." Enjoying their commitment to improving their health, James and his wife recently traveled to Mexico, where James was able to climb Mayan ruins and swim in a cenote. Thanks to great team support and healthy changes, the two now get the most out of all of their time together, at home and traveling!
