Success Stories

Finds support from a group of people motivational...

Losing weight is hard work! Self–motivation is wonderful but we can all use a little extra help, said Dan Scheirer II, staff assistant in fraternity and sorority life. Scheirer thinks that it's important to give yourself breaks and take advantage of any opportunity for additional motivation. Eat Wise and Exercise helped Scheirer get happier, more active and physically fit. He said: “I appreciated having a whole team of people keeping me going, providing advice and showing interest in how I was doing.”

Going strong and feeling better...

Victoria Grice, a staff assistant at Duke, made significant lifestyle changes as a result of last year's Eat Wise and Exercise campaign. Before the program began, the most exercise she got was walking to and from her car and office each day. Now she's working out at the Wilson Recreation Center at least twice a week. She also joined LIVE FOR LIFE^®'s Run/Walk Club and is eating fewer processed and high-calorie foods. “I just generally feel better because I don't feel like I'm dragging myself around,” said Grice, who lost 10 pounds during the program. “I'm almost ready to buy a smaller size of jeans because mine don't fit anymore.”

Inspires her family...

Tiwatha Godley signed up for online health tips through LIVE FOR LIFE and learned about nutrition and exercise. Godley weighed 290 pounds in 2000 and had been overweight more than 19 years. But in the past three years, she has lost 100 pounds.

“My daughter tells me that I'm her inspiration,” said Godley, a nursing care assistant and health unit coordinator in ambulatory surgery. Godley added she realized her unhealthy habits affected her daughters. They were following in her footsteps, especially her youngest daughter, Jayda Henry. Now, mother and daughter exercise and eat healthy dinners together.