Working for Wellness
When Ervin Pope decided to lose weight for his health and well-being, he had one path in mind. The MOVE! team at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center in Memphis, TN, helped him do things "the natural way."
Patience and a Plan
Ervin’s journey to better health began during a visit to his doctor in 2020, where he shared that he had been feeling weakness in his knees. As part of this treatment plan, his VA provider offered to support him with weight management using medication, which helped him lose some weight initially. Several years later in 2025, Ervin had a different strategy in mind and worked at losing weight on his own. Then, when he learned about the MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans, Ervin saw it as the next logical step. Attending MOVE! group sessions, he found a new determination to adopt healthy habits he could maintain for life.
If you need to know how to eat better and lose weight at the same time, try MOVE!.
Ervin Pope
Committed to Consistency
Ervin had tried other programs in the past, but what set MOVE! apart for him was how it emphasizes the importance of small, sustainable change. Rather than the restrictive diets he’d tried which resulted in losing weight quickly only to gain it back later, MOVE! encouraged a steadier pace and making better, healthier choices that were a better fit for him. Ervin adopted a more thoughtful approach when making choices about food and he made good use of the MOVE! Coach mobile app to help stay on track. He also credits his MOVE! team for their support, sharing that "Faith, Casey, Dr. Pascal, and Rachel all played a part in my success."
Striving and Thriving
Over a full year of attending MOVE! sessions and changing his lifestyle, Ervin lost nearly 30 pounds. His weight loss has helped improve other aspects of his health, including lab results and needing fewer medications. He walks better, sleeps better, and his mood has lifted. In his everyday life, old clothes have come back into his wardrobe rotation, and he has the energy to do household tasks like mowing his lawn and washing his car. Ervin’s achievements have also resulted in him enjoying more time out in public, where friends and family have noticed his progress. He plans to continue working for even more health benefits with MOVE! saying, "I am not finished yet."
