Losing Weight and Gaining Much More
Luis Garcia got back on track for his health and weight using strategies he learned from his MOVE! team at the Palo Alto VA Medical Center in Palo Alto, CA.
Starting Fresh
"Before joining MOVE!," Luis recalls, "I felt stuck, physically and emotionally. My energy was low, my confidence was shaky, and I knew I needed a change." Luis had tried weight loss programs before, but he encountered a lack of consistent and sustainable progress toward his goals. He decided to give the MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans a try and was pleased to discover that MOVE! was quite different than those other programs.
MOVE! gave me tools, but more importantly, it gave me hope.
Luis Garcia
A New Outlook
One way MOVE! was different for Luis was that it didn’t feel like a solo effort. "From the very first session," he explains, "I felt supported. The team didn’t just focus on weight loss, they helped me understand my relationship with food, movement and mindset." This holistic approach led to new milestones for Luis, as he "learned how to set realistic goals, celebrate victories, and bounce back from setbacks without shame." This positive outlook helped Luis establish healthy habits and create consistency to live a life that allows him to reach and maintain his goals for the long term.
Enjoying His Progress
Luis reports that his new lifestyle and health benefits have led to feelings of "more freedom, great confidence, and a sense of control" which help him stay positive, enjoy connecting socially, and indulge in creative outlets. "One of the biggest turning points for me was discovering how much I love walking," he reports. "It started with short strolls around the block and now I’m doing 5Ks with friends." Luis thanks those friends, as well as his family, MOVE! team, and peer group, for their constant support throughout his journey. He has started attending MOVE! Maintenance group sessions with an eye toward maintaining his healthy lifestyle and setting new goals for the future. "I’m not just moving my body," he explains. "I am moving forward in life."
