Improving Her Health One Day at a Time
When Juanita Kardell decided to focus on managing her weight, she turned to MOVE! to help her take charge of her health.
Juanita developed new, healthy habits while participating in MOVE! at the Colonel Mary Louise Rasmuson Campus of the Alaska VA Healthcare System.
Taking the First Step
Juanita began her journey with the MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans in May 2022 with the hope of addressing a lingering issue related to her weight. "My knees were causing me pain when walking," she recalls. "I had been on a [weight loss] program quite a few years ago and it worked for a bit, but then I put the weight back on afterwards." Even though Juanita walked more than 10,000 steps every day, she had not yet reached her target weight. She hoped that MOVE! would help her find the right balance between her eating and physical activity habits to help her achieve her goals of better health and weight loss.
Just take it one day at a time and do your best every day!
Juanita Kardell
Support Makes a Difference
Juanita was not alone on her journey to better health, as she regularly received encouragement and assistance from her MOVE! team. "The biggest push I have had during this time is the requirement to report my weight each week to the staff," she explains. Juanita highlights the positive effects of the support she received from Dr. Jill Duke and Camille Irvine while changing her lifestyle. In addition to staying active, Juanita focused on the kinds of food and drink she consumed, as well as her portion sizes.
Fit for the Future
Since starting MOVE!, Juanita has lost 50 pounds and seen several improvements to her general health. She has more energy overall, is more active throughout the day, and requires fewer medications. She plans to continue her healthy lifestyle and lose more weight to be able to enjoy her life with her friends and family.
