As part of our B Well wellness program, we’ll feature success stories from Ballad Health team members who’ve taken steps to improve their health. Our B Well focus for the fall quarter is “B Well Fueled,” by eating right and staying hydrated.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Randy Hodge, Ballad Health senior graphic designer and longtime member of the corporate marketing and communications department, has lost 50 pounds over the last 6-plus months. His winning combination – the Weight Watchers program (now called WW) and regular exercise in the form of daily walking. Randy’s walking goal is five miles per day.
Hodge, 63, is also a longtime high school football official and spends Friday nights in the fall officiating games, usually covering 3 to 4 miles during the course of the ballgame. He’s now down to the lowest weight he’s seen in over 40 years, most recently going from 235 to 185, and he continues to lose weight at between 1½ to 2 pounds per week. His goal is 170 pounds.
“Since my college days, my weight went up and down but was always well over 200,” he said, “but this time I’ve really committed to the WW program, followed the guidelines and attended the meetings for the accountability. Facing the scale at the meetings can be intimidating, but the support and encouragement from the people there is wonderful.”
With WW, foods have point values based on different factors, and participants set daily points limits. While no foods are off limits, healthy foods are lower in points than unhealthy foods.
“I’ve found that the longer I stick with the program, the more my body and mind get accustomed to it,” he said. “It doesn’t feel like a special diet where you deprive yourself of certain things. Instead, it slowly changes your habits until a healthy lifestyle feels like normal.”
Randy uses a Fitbit to track his steps and walks every day at lunchtime, after work and whenever he finds extra time. He said he’s also fortunate to have his wife, Susan, support him in his diet by researching recipes, shopping for healthy foods and preparing many of the meals he eats. “She’s been my secret weapon,” he said. “Having someone support you like she has really makes a difference.”
Note: Anyone interested in learning more about a healthy diet can reach out to Crystal Woods, registered Dietitian Nutritionist with our Health Resources Centers, at crystal.woods@balladhealth.org, or to our HRC and Team Member Wellness staff, who are there to help you accomplish your goals and work with you to best identify your healthy eating road map. Contact them today at 423-915-5200 (Johnson City location) or 423-857-7981 (Kingsport location), or visit the HRC website.
