A New Lease on Life
Larry Staten had to make a major change to be sure he would see his grandchildren grow up. The MOVE! team at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center in Memphis, TN, supported him as he built a new lifestyle that would help him do just that.
A Wake-Up Call
In early 2023, at his heaviest weight, Larry’s chest pain during any kind of physical activity was becoming hard to ignore. As the pain continued to worsen, Larry sought help from his VA care team. A blockage in his heart required surgery to insert a stent. "I was faced with a short life span after that without changes in my life," he recalls. "I knew at that point I had to lose some weight and get into better shape…I wanted to see my grandchildren grow up." His care team recommended the MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans to help him set a new course, reach a healthy weight, and realize his wish to be there for his grandchildren.
Do it. You have nothing to lose except excess weight.
Larry Staten
Learning and Logging
Larry’s experience with MOVE! involved attending group sessions with other Veterans who were working on losing weight too. In addition to the support of his peers and MOVE! team, led by MOVE! Coordinator Casey Provo, Larry found the tools and resources especially helpful. "The most important thing for me is the MOVE! Food and Physical Activity Log," he explains. "Understanding what goes in, out, and the amount of exercise while watching the scale is amazing." Reflecting on his MOVE! group experience, Larry says, "Stories and comments by participants will motivate you to get involved." Armed with the information and support of MOVE! group sessions, Larry adjusted his lifestyle to center on thoughtful, healthy choices for eating and physical activity.
Embracing His Progress
Since starting MOVE!, Larry has lost weight and is feeling great. His clothes tell the story, as he has dropped from a size 44 waist to 38 and from 3XL to XL. He also has improved his sleep significantly, and hopes that continued progress will allow him to stop using a CPAP machine. Larry shares that he has more energy now to do more active things rather than sitting still, including walking the beach or taking his family out on the boat. Not content with all that improvement, he plans to keep pushing for even more health benefits by transitioning into MOVE! Maintenance groups.
