Obesity Wake-up Call: Changing Course (3 of 4)

Heather Curry"We're on a buddy system," says Heather Curry.  When she decided to ditch the random diets and make a lifestyle change, her husband proved more than supportive.  "He told me I'll be there for you I'll do whatever I can, and he most certainly has." 

A photo shows Heather and her husband in the fall of 2006, just a few months before she joined Memorial's Weight Management program.  Less than a year later, you can see both making progress.  "We went from having one bicycle to now we have 5 bicycles, instead of going out to eat and traveling there now we travel to go out on our bikes. We'll travel 2 hours to go ride 50 miles," says Heather.

Victoria Bordelon says she "married a boy who likes to rock climb and cycles, so I started doing the cycling a few years ago."  Her husband also serves as a motivating factor.

Victoria BordelonRemember, she joined her employers on-site fitness program to get ready for a summer triathlon.  "This year I want to do better, I don't want to be the very end of the girls in my age group, I thought it's a good way to get into a habit, sign up and not let them down and do all my weeks," says Victoria. 

Over the past three weeks, she says she hasn't seen a huge difference on the scale... but her heart rate and endurance seem to be improving.

Tommy Crump leans on a family member for support as well, his teenage son Cameron.  The two workout together several times each week.  "You've got to become comfortable with yourself, and want to make some changes for yourself and have a reason to do it," says Tommy.

Tommy CrumpI asked Tommy if he thought he was instilling some lifelong lessons in his son, as they tackled his health and wellness issue together.  He thinks it's the other way around.  "I'd say he's probably helped me more than I've helped him, if I didn't have someone there with me, I don't know that I would go to the gym everyday," says Tommy.

Now the two challenge each other, finding new exercises, like one developed for the marines, to develop underdeveloped areas.

During a meeting betweeen Emily Scoggins and her weight management coordinators, she said "just sort of knowing that your thinking about me and the connection we've made and the support I've had, that's been important."

Emily ScogginsThe youngest of our volunteers, Emily Scoggins, doesn't have a spouse or child to push her.  Family events remain a temptation for her.  Emily says "It is hard when your surrounded by family and food is love and all those things your surrounded with and you want to just eat like you've eaten your whole life."

She's able to overcome her old self, by setting personal goals to work toward.  Emily says finding challenges, like burning one-thousand calories in one workout, help keep her focused and motivated.

As time goes on, she hopes her journey will be an inspiration to others.  "For them to see how I've struggled and how I've seen success, if I can do it anyone can do it."

Next week, we track the overall progress made by these four as they work to change course.  And find out where they hope to be physically, a few years from now.