No Denying the Benefits of a Healthy Lifestyle
Veteran James McLaughlin received individualized, tailored care to help him make healthy changes to his lifestyle and healthy choices for his meals and physical activity.
With the support and guidance of his VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System team in Bath, NY, James transformed both his health and his life.
A Referral for a Healthier Life
James shares that from childhood, he has struggled to reach and maintain a healthy weight. He describes having lost weight numerous times throughout his life, but he was always left feeling deprived of food. This often resulted in him reverting to his prior habits, and he would soon gain the weight back again. In addition to seeking care to stop drinking, James wanted to improve his health and his life specifically by losing weight for good. Though participation in the MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans, James learned how to create a better lifestyle and stay on a healthy path.
It's not difficult to follow the program and it produces results.
James McLaughlin
A Plan He Can Maintain
For James, a major step toward a healthier lifestyle was finally realizing that he did not have to feel like he was denying himself in order to lose weight. He used the new skill of tracking food and physical activity to keep him on his healthy path. "Through calorie counting, portion control, healthy food choices, and exercise I was able to lose the weight without feeling deprived," he explains. James also adds that he never felt like he wasn't getting enough to eat. This combination helped him maintain his positive behavior change.
Rewarding Results
Since starting his MOVE! individual sessions in July 2022, James has lost 42 pounds, walks 12,000 steps each day, has greater ease when moving, and is enjoying a boost to his self-esteem. To maintain these rewarding results, he's incorporating more lean protein and whole grains into his diet, watching portion sizes closely, and eating plenty of vegetables and fruits. He's even added resistance training at the gym to keep things fresh and interesting!
