Living Differently and Living Better
Joseph Piper acquired what he calls the "code to sustainable, healthy living" that has made all the difference in his life and his health by working with the MOVE! Team at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center in Memphis, TN.
Relying on Backbone
"What led me to MOVE! was a fight I had," Joseph recalls. "There was a button on a blazer that I was trying to button, but it was resisting. The button won the conflict." While Joseph had been gaining weight steadily due to unhealthy food choices and habits, his wife suggested he shift from complaining to eating wisely and being physically active. Joseph realized at that point that "all I did was have a wishbone where my backbone should have been." This was the turning point at which Joseph began going to MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans group sessions at the VA Medical Center in Memphis. He quickly learned that "the MOVE! program meets the Veteran where he/she is and takes into account all of the variables and contingencies that life offers…as a result of my participation in MOVE! I have lost more weight than I thought possible!"
Every now and then something comes along that changes everything. That’s what MOVE! was for me.
Joseph Piper
By the Light of the Stars
Joseph began attending group sessions in April 2025 and shares that he still looks forward to every meeting. "One of the reasons why I still participate is because all of the practical and pragmatic information we get," he explains. "The guesswork is taken out of the equation." For Joseph, this advice came in the form of healthy eating and physical activity strategies from his MOVE! team "superstars" Casey Provo, Joanna Pascal, and Tyreshia Mattox. "Every excuse that is contrary to success is eliminated with MOVE! That’s why I love it" Joseph reflects. He also appreciated the opportunity to share his journey with other Veterans, who "are so supportive and nonjudgmental. [MOVE! is] a safe space to admit slips and falls because the only thing you’re going to get for being honest is encouragement and a helping hand out of the muck."
Better Health Makes All the Difference
"My life is different now," Joseph shares. "I don’t have to carry the unnecessary weight that saps strength and self-esteem…this has made all the difference in life." In addition to losing weight, Joseph has seen the benefits of his new lifestyle including being able to fit into his old clothes and in improved fitness. He can now cycle without the aches and pains that challenged him in the past. He plans to continue his healthy habits, like finding new ways to be more active every day, being mindful about what and how he eats, and using MOVE!’s "common sense, real life based approach" to help him continue to feel better.
