The Path to Better Health
Desmond Stout put the tools and strategies he learned in his MOVE! sessions at the Lubbock, TX, VA Outpatient Clinic to work creating a healthier lifestyle to help him reach his goals.
Charting His Course
"I have always been heavy," Desmond shares. "Always looking for a 'hack' or a shortcut. I wanted better health but wasn’t consistent with my efforts over the long term." Desmond’s VA health care team suggested that he try the MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans. Unlike commercial programs or restrictive diets, MOVE! offered Desmond an opportunity to develop strategies like making small changes to everyday habits that would lead him to the results he wanted.
"Come to MOVE!. Learn. Apply the knowledge and take action. Enjoy your success."
Desmond Stout
A Shared Effort
Reflecting on his MOVE! experience, Desmond shares that, "It all starts with knowledge. The MOVE! Program is a perfect source of knowledge to launch a more healthy journey." He also benefited from the supportive and inspiring Veterans in the group sessions who all shared the common pursuit of weight loss and improved health. "I enjoyed meeting the other participants," he recalls, "and getting to know them and walking this journey with them." Desmond embraced strategies which he described as "practical and usable tools." He began tracking his calorie intake, choosing healthy foods, and adding consistent structured exercise and lifestyle physical activity into his daily routine. To help him stay on track, Desmond supplemented his regular check-ins with recording data on a smartwatch.
Pressing Forward
Since starting MOVE!, Desmond reports that he has consistently lost weight and become more fit. Additional benefits include better sleep, more energy, and reduced blood sugar levels. To maintain his progress, Desmond is committed to his healthy eating and physical activity habits. His efforts have seen him achieve "noticeable results," and he plans to continue in his journey to better health.
