Making the Decision to MOVE!
Gary Krehan discovered how it could be fun and interesting to create a new lifestyle when he started participating in MOVE!
Working with the MOVE! team at the Buffalo VA Medical Center in Buffalo, NY, Gary identified small, simple habits that he could put in place to improve his health.
A Fresh Start
Gary explains that he began to consider the effects of his weight on his health during the 2022 holiday season. "I made a change starting on Christmas," he shares, because he was tired of feeling like he had no energy and becoming fatigued easily. Gary’s primary care provider motivated him to set a goal to create a healthier lifestyle, and the MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans was a perfect fit for his goal.
You have to participate to win! No excuses, no procrastination.
Gary Krehan
A Chance to Learn
After Gary joined MOVE!, he discovered MOVE!’s emphasis on making small, manageable changes that would help him maintain a healthier lifestyle. "I want to thank Kara, our MOVE! coach, for my success," he explains. "I was apprehensive at first, but she made it fun and interesting to learn a healthy lifestyle." Gary shares that in addition to participation in the group sessions, one of the most useful strategies that he adopted with MOVE! was keeping a food log to track what he ate and drank. He also decided to replace ice cream with sugar-free yogurt!
A Continuing Effort
Since starting MOVE!, Gary has lost over 30 pounds, and reports achieving "a huge milestone" for his fitness. "I finally feel energized and less fatigued," he says, and his "mental health has improved immensely." With his new healthy eating and physical activity habits, Gary believes he will maintain his healthy lifestyle and enjoy the benefits of his decision to MOVE!.
