A Path to a Healthier Lifestyle
When Duane Grove decided to set a new course for better health, he turned to the MOVE! team at the Thomas E. Creek Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Amarillo, TX, for the structure, guidance, and support he needed to create his path.
Starting His Journey
I've been struggling for years to overcome issues from my time in service," Duane explains. He had noticed what he described as a pattern of increasing weight and resolved to do something about it. In mid-2024, Duane enrolled in VA for health care, and several VA staff recommended the MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans to help him turn things around. Duane committed himself to participation in MOVE! and began taking the steps he needed to achieve his weight loss goals.
[MOVE!] is an essential building block to getting on a path to a healthier lifestyle.
Duane Grove
Making Strides
After starting MOVE! group sessions, Duane began learning new strategies to manage his weight by choosing healthy foods and being more physically active. Duane learned how to make healthy food choices consistently and be mindful of the size of his portions. "While much of it is common sense," he recalls, "the facilitators did an amazing job at relating the tools and techniques to the needs of the Veterans." Duane highlights MOVE! Coordinator Carol Sides in particular for her support throughout his journey within MOVE!. Her encouragement, along with that of his wife, made a great difference.
Staying on His Path
Since starting MOVE!, Duane has taken the program's concepts and strategies to heart and now has a new, healthy lifestyle. "I am much more aware of what I eat, the importance of a balanced diet, and overall portion control," he reports. He also shares that he has more energy and less pain thanks to his new habits. Duane plans to continue increasing his physical activity and keep working toward his goals with a positive mindset.
