Opening His Eyes to Change
When John "Ike" Isaacson was diagnosed with prediabetes, he resolved to change his lifestyle in order to improve his health.
Ike worked with the MOVE! team at the VA Black Hills Health Care System in Fort Meade, SD, to identify healthy strategies for eating and physical activity that he could adopt to improve his health and lose weight.
Taking His Health Seriously
Ike’s struggle to maintain a healthy weight began after he retired from service. Over time, he began to gain weight. Eventually, he was diagnosed with prediabetes. Ike explains that this news left him scared and also aware that he would need to make a major change in order to improve his health. When his care team recommended the MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans, Ike launched a new effort to incorporate healthier habits into his life.
The coaching I received in MOVE! has been phenomenal!
Ike Isaacson
Embracing a New Lifestyle
For Ike, building a foundation for better health came down to simple habits. "The MOVE! program was an eye opener with all the knowledge presented to me…tracking and moving works for me," he explains. Ike would monitor the food and drinks he consumed to help him be mindful of his eating habits. He also began to walk regularly to be active, setting a daily target of 10,000 steps. In addition to making these changes, Ike relied on the support of his family, MOVE! team, and other Veterans enrolled in his MOVE! group sessions. The support and accountability of that group setting helped Ike maintain his motivation and accountability throughout his journey. In his own words, "The members I have met in the MOVE! program were a big inspiration!"
Enjoying His Achievement
Ike remains committed to his healthy lifestyle, and thanks to the changes he made, he has maintained his weight loss. He shares, "I walk every day…plus keep a food log. I have logged 1,321 days of food at this time." While he still experiences ups and downs, he explains that the 40 pounds he lost with MOVE! has had positive effects on other aspects of his health. Most notably, he shares that he now has double the energy that he did before!
