Wendell
Age: 56
Lost: 79 pounds
Completed Program: October 2007
Before I entered the 20/20 program I weighed 269 pounds, had high blood pressure and was also borderline diabetic. Ever since I started this new position at work I had gained weight and always felt very lethargic. There was no one specific situation that caused me to start this program, but I had the overall realization that I was heading for serious trouble if I maintained the lifestyle path that I was currently on.
I tried a few of those trendy weight loss programs with limited to no success. There was virtually no support structure in place for those types of programs which usually led me to quit and subsequently regain any of the weight that I may have lost.
20/20 Lifestyles is a class apart from other weight management programs. The determining factor for my initial consent was their conveyance of a strong scientific basis for weight loss and complete support. Every single person in the program is invested in your success, from the doctors to the trainers, right down to the front desk staff.
The program has led to an innumerable amount of improvements in almost every aspect of my life. My major health milestones are:
- 26 percent reduction in cholesterol
- 16 percent reduction in blood glucose levels
- 20 percent reduction in blood pressure
However, the most important changes can't simply be reduced to numbers. I am not afraid to try new physical challenges, and I no longer feel self conscious about my weight. I can hike without huffing and puffing. I have noticed some major differences in my professional life as well. I seem to be able to think more clearly and apply more energy towards my projects for longer periods of time.
For me, the easiest part of the program was the exercise component. I would just get to the gym really early before I realized what I was actually doing! The most challenging element was, at least at first, attending the evening group support sessions. I had always been very sensitive about my weight and was reluctant to discuss those personal issues with a group. My fears were appeased quite quickly though, the absolute honesty and support provided by the members of the group completely turned my attitude around. I actually ended up looking forward to the meetings.
I do not really have a grand fitness goal since completing the program, I simply want to "lock-in" this lifestyle in order to maintain and improve my health. Everyday experiences are no longer daunting. For example, I can now hike straight to the top of a hill that I used to have to stop on multiple times to catch my breath, and I no longer need to shop for clothes in the "Big and Tall" section.
Well, I do also plan to lose another 15 pounds.