It was a tiny gallstone. It could’ve happened to anyone. But when it happened to this 43-year-old IT Manager, it was harder to diagnose than it would have been for most people.
Michael Hale’s 6’3” frame could handle a few extra pounds. But at 449, he was too large to fit into any of the diagnostic machines in his local ER. It took doctors hours before they realized what was making him sick. “I realized that I was risking my life and my family’s security and needed to do something.”
He had other reasons, too: dancing with his wife, scuba diving, playing sports. Thought Michael had always been overweight, he was also always athletic and active. He’d gotten so big, though, that he’d lost the ability to do much of anything. At his desk, he need a fan running so that he wouldn’t sweat, but he couldn’t carry the fan with him to the conference room; consequently, he would sweat a lot. “That does not inspire confidence in superiors or team members, and I was very self-conscious about it.”
But despite all the evidence that he needed to regain control of his eating and his life, he expected to be able to do it on his own. “When my doctor gave me a business card for a Take Shape For Life Health Coach, I threw it away on the way out of his office.” Eight months later, heavier instead of lighter, he humbly asked for another card and started the following week. “Personal coaching and a structured program from TSFL was just the ticket I needed.”
Throughout his weight loss, Michael’s physical changes have been dramatic. In addition to his appearance improving as the result of weight loss, his doctor was able to reduce the medications he took for Type II diabetes. His blood sugars also imporoved due to his weight loss. “I am much more active and can do the things I want to do.” All of that is the result of losing 199 pounds (*Results not typical. Average weight loss is 2-5 lbs per week for the first two weeks, 1-2 lbs per week thereafter).
Michael is finally in control of his personal health and rediscovering the person he used to be. A motorcycle rider all his life, he’d sold his bike in 2000, vowing to not return to riding until he was under 300 pounds. “I bought that motorcycle in the spring and am again able to enjoy that and other things in life that always made up ‘Mike.’ I can fly on a plane without seeing the look of fear as I walk down the aisle, don’t need a belt extender, can cross my legs, buy clothes at the local discount store rather than through mail order, and even go on amusement park rides with my kids and grandchild.”
Encouraged and anxious…these are my thoughts after reading this success story. Great job!