Feeling Better and Doing More
Bill Riley’s path to a healthy weight and a new lifestyle took him to his local VA Clinic in Lubbock, TX, where his VA MOVE! team helped him achieve his health goals.
Overcoming His Struggles
William shares that his goal to manage his weight first began when he was diagnosed with high blood pressure and diabetes. "I tried on my own and lost some weight," he recalls, but his progress was difficult. William experienced a "yo-yo" effect, where he would lose weight, then gain weight, then lose weight again, and so on. He first participated in the MOVE! Weight Management Program in 2009, and after 3 years had lost 100 pounds. He maintained his healthy habits until suffering an injury in 2015. After that, he began to gain weight again. In late 2023, he started MOVE! again with the aim to mirror his past progress.
I am 80 and feel better than when I was 50. I am doing more than I have in years and enjoying it more.
William Riley
Keeping Track Helped Him Progress
William began attending MOVE! group sessions with his Veteran peers. Just like the first time, he started adding healthy habits to his daily routine. An important change was using the MOVE! Food and Physical Activity Log. This helped increase his awareness of the amount of food he consumed and develop an exercise routine. "I like the idea that I eat the same foods that I have always eaten but in different portions," he explains. "I am better satisfied and don’t feel the discomfort after I eat."
Enjoying His Healthy Lifestyle
Since starting MOVE! again, William has lost over 60 pounds. He feels less pain in his legs and his health care team believes he will soon be able to reduce some of his medications. Most importantly, he feels better and is enjoying his life. "I study my Bible, I make wood carvings, I paint pictures, I draw, I walk… I do my own lawn work and chores," William reports. "I can make choices on how I want to live my only life. I can live as healthy as I can, and the MOVE! program has helped me improve my chances." He is especially grateful for the support he received throughout his weight loss journey. Reflecting on his MOVE! experience, William shares that he is currently only 12 pounds away from his weight when he was in the Army. He wishes to thank "my health care team, my MOVE! team, Cassandra, my instructor, the members of my class, my family, my friends, everyone that I talk to about my weight loss. Even the things that didn’t work…are part of me reaching my goal. I am getting there."
