Being able to be a part of the amazing journeys of so many of our clients is one of the most fulfilling parts of what we do. We are excited to share some of these success stories with you and hope they will inspire you as much as they have us.
Chris Mann truly knows firsthand the meaning of the phrase, “What a difference a year makes!” This Williams Comfort Air employee transformed both his body and mind since last November, losing more than 100 pounds, alleviating his back pain, dropping his A1C level from 13.9 to 5.1 and reducing insulin shots from five per day to one. Most of all, Chris believes he saved his own life by seeking healthier habits.
“I have totally changed my diet and lifestyle,” Chris said, also sharing how sometimes people do not even recognize the “new” him. “Eliminating soda and eating to live instead of living to eat have been the biggest lifestyle changes… I feel so much better.”
Undeniably, last year Chris experienced an epiphany moment when he was hospitalized and remained in the ICU for nearly 10 days after being diagnosed with diabetes and other high-risk factors. He decided to transform those setbacks into goals and was determined to get healthier.
So how did he do it? While developing a plan and working alongside Coach Paige, Chris stayed active, monitored his carbohydrate intake, eliminated processed sugars and drank a lot of water. The former college baseball and football player started walking more, working out at Planet Fitness and keeping up with his 5-year-old son. He also credits the wellness seminars he attended as being “eye-opening” and providing a lot of great tips.
“Being more active with my family and with work combined with my diet changes started melting away the pounds,” Chris remarked. “The more weight I lost, the better I felt and the back pain also went away. Who knew carrying around an extra 100+ pounds could be so hard on your back!”
Chris credits his family as being a solid support system for him during his personal journey for improved health; he laughs at how his young son often asks him where his daddy’s belly went! Overall, Chris is healthier, happier and proud to be on this new path in life.
“My biggest advice to others is to stay active, set reasonable goals for yourself, be conscious of carb and sugar intake, and just try new healthy things,” Chris said. “It’s ok to step out of your comfort zone. You don’t have to starve yourself to lose weight; just eat sensibly and stay active!”
We could not agree more with your advice, Chris. AMAZING job! We are so very proud of you. Thank you for being such an inspiration!
For more information on effective and preventive employee wellness programs, contact us.