“Jesse’s” primary focus is to lose weight – especially with a family history of type II diabetes and slight elevations in bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides; however, working on emotional health is also important.  “Jesse” wants to gain control of his/her health BEFORE reaching a level of being at high risk for heart disease and diabetes.

“Jesse’s” goals are as follows:  lose weight and manage it at a healthy level; increase exercise from 0 to 3 times per week; improved self-image and confidence in abilities; learn to cook healthy meals rather than eating out all the time; decrease dependence on carbs.

What challenges do you face in reaching your goals?

  The main challenge is engaging my spouse – neither of us want to cook meals at home or bring them to work for lunch; plus, I’m a chocoholic and too often depend on carbs (i.e. candy, soda, etc.) for energy.  I also tend to turn to unhealthy foods (i.e., candy, soda, ice cream, etc.) when I’m stressed and also for self-gratification.

What value does this award and opportunity have for you?

  I value my life!  I often thought this would be a great opportunity if the university promoted/offered such a program; it would be a great benefit to be an ongoing program for employees.

I remember the feeling of confidence and a positive self-image from a previous successful weight loss program – the program taught me how to eat right and exercise with one-on-one counseling to reach my goal.  The program suddenly stopped before I learned how to maintain my weight, and I ended up gaining it back within a few short years.  I want that feeling back again and want to learn to maintain a healthy lifestyle.