Turning Focus into Fitness
Stan Meade decided to focus on regaining his fitness, overcoming injury and chronic pain to improve his health and lose weight with the help of the MOVE! team in Anchorage, AK.
No Pain, No Gain
Stan has suffered from chronic pain for decades. He’s lived his life so far embracing what he calls a "no pain, no gain" attitude, both working hard and playing hard (including as a jiu-jitsu instructor). By 2025, significant injury to his spine had led to limited mobility and weight gain. Beyond the physical strain, Stan also had to give up pursuing one of his favorite hobbies of attending coin shows. Determined and focused on improving his health and fitness, Stan began attending a Walk With Ease program at his VA care facility. There, he met MOVE! Coordinator Mary Jean Roberts who encouraged him to give the MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans a try.
If you are struggling with weight loss and physical issues caused by being overweight, join the MOVE! program and commit yourself to the journey.
Stan Meade
Fine Tuning His Focus
Stan attended weekly MOVE! group sessions and started to learn strategies for healthy living. Key to his new efforts were the MOVE! team’s helpful tips for making gradual but significant changes to his routine, and the MOVE! Food and Physical Activity Log, where Stan was able to track, modify and receive feedback on his individualized food and physical activity plan. Tracking his eating habits was a major step toward understanding how to manage his weight. This, combined with steady and manageable increases in his physical activity, kept Stan motivated and moving forward. His mood and outlook improved dramatically as walking became so much easier for him.
Function and Freedom
After finishing his initial 16 weeks of MOVE! group sessions, Stan re-enrolled for another round and says he is committed to maintaining his work with his VA team for the rest of his life. He is grateful for the incredibly supportive team at VA who have helped him change his life. He is celebrating losing 50 pounds, enjoying walking again, and for the first time in 5 years he has the mobility and ability to bend over and put his socks on again. He’s excited to continue his focus on fitness leading him to even more function and freedom!
