Success Stories David

David vs. His "Goliath" (Cholesterol)
David's recent blood test results showed that his cholesterol was 213 mg/dl, higher than is recommended. Since he had battled high cholesterol in the past, his doctor immediately suggested medication. But David resisted. "I did not want to take medication the rest of my life, simply because I chose not to lead a healthier lifestyle. So I decided to take charge of my health," said David. David would be retested in three months to see if he was successful or face the possibility of taking medication.

The Right Program at the Right Time
David received information from his employer about Simple Steps To A Healthier Life^®. "This was exactly what I needed," said David. "I liked that the program broke down the steps to achieving a better quality of life," he said. After completing the Health Assessment, I received a 'high' overall health risk score. I wasn't surprised because I knew that I had a family history of diabetes and cancer. The program made me realize that only a portion of my risk was due to non-modifiable risk factors (those aspects of your health that you cannot change, such as family history). The rest was up to me."

David's Quest Towards a Cholesterol-Lowering Victory
David decided to focus on diet and exercise. He reviewed his online personalized Action Plan and enrolled in the Healthier Diet program to help him retool his eating habits. He used the Recipe Finder to find healthy recipes, the Healthy Shopping List to help him prepare the recipes, and the Progress Tracker to help him record his weight and his daily food intake. Then he made a surprising revelation. "I started tracking where my calories were coming from and discovered that I was overcompensating with carbohydrates to help fill me up. I decreased my overall calories and increased my fat intake in a healthy way — cooking with olive, safflower and canola oils. I also added walnuts and almonds to my diet. With these simple changes, I started losing 1 to 2 pounds per week," said David.

David used the Get In Shape program to help him get fit and redefine what he thought about fitness. "I used to think exercise was all about going to the gym. This time, I was able to stick to my fitness routine because I focused on walking on my treadmill. To help pass the time, I printed the articles from the program and read them while I was on the treadmill," said David.

The Results Are In
For his efforts, David lowered his total cholesterol by 52 points (to 161 mg/dl), lost 23 pounds and lowered his body mass index (BMI) by 3.2 points.

Enjoying His Victory and Inspiring Others
David has enrolled in the Maintenance program to help him keep his weight down and his cholesterol at a healthy level. His new goal is to put on more muscle and tone his healthy new physique.

David's wife and teenage daughter have also adopted his healthier ways and that he's glad he took the time to get healthy now so he can enjoy the future with his family, especially retirement.

David beat his "Goliath." Now he hopes others will be inspired to conquer theirs. "I have been inspired by some of the success stories I've read on the Simple Steps To A Healthier Life website. So I wanted to share mine, hoping that others will get inspired to reach their health goals, too," said David.