 Voice of the Consumer:Losing Weight and Gaining Strength |
Working with a Wellness Coach Brings Unexpected Support
In 2008, Jay Smith, a human resources generalist, was put in charge of the health and wellness benefits offerings for his employer, Harris Products Group. When a UnitedHealthcare Workplace Wellness team came to the company’s
Ohio
headquarters that spring, Jay participated in his first health assessment.
At 31, Jay wasn’t surprised to find that he had put on a little too much weight since his days as a high school athlete. His nephew Jabare – a high school football star – would sometimes bring out pictures of Jay in his younger days and kiddingly ask, “So, who’s this guy?”
Jay decided it was time to make a change.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 50 percent and 70 percent of all health problems are associated with modifiable health risks – which means they are preventable. Jay knew he needed to make some behavior modifications, and the wellness coaching offered by UnitedHealthcare proved to be just the resource to start him in a new, more healthful direction.
Through the one-on-one, phone-based program, certified wellness coaches are specifically trained to help individuals identify lifestyle behavior improvement opportunities, set health goals, and establish tactics to achieve their goals.
This is Jay’s wellness success story.
If I was in charge of the health and wellness programs at my company, how could I recommend them to other employees if I wasn’t participating myself? If I was going to “talk the talk,” I needed to “walk the walk.” But I wasn’t ready to go it alone. So when I heard that the weight-management program included working with your own, personal wellness coach, I signed up.
That’s how I started talking with Brian. I remember our first conversation. We talked about what it was like to set health goals. I wasn’t sure how to begin and didn’t have a specific weight to reach. Instead we focused on what I was willing to do. Working out more – I was ready to do that. It meant getting back to a discipline I’d had before. But eating right? I wasn’t willing to do that yet. So we started with what I knew I could do. That meant playing basketball two nights a week and doing one hour of cardio three times a week.
It didn’t feel good initially – it just hurt! But I was on the phone with Brian every other week, and he kept encouraging me. Soon I started to feel better; I had more energy, was sleeping better, and was more productive at work. And when I was ready to take my program to the next level, that’s when I let Brian talk to me about better nutrition. One of the toughest things for me was substituting water for my favorite sugary juices, soda, and coffee. And then I had to learn portion control with meals, which meant planning what I was going to eat rather than grabbing whatever was convenient – and usually not good for me.
For a while, my nephew Jabare had been trying to get me to join him in the workout program his team was using, with cardio and weights. At first I said, “No way!” He’s 17! But now I was almost brave enough to give it a try.
Then one night everything changed. Jabare was at a teen club, sticking up for a smaller kid some other guys were picking on. After they were thrown out of the club, they hung around and waited for Jabare. When he left, they shot and killed him.
For a while after that, nothing had any meaning for me – especially my weight-management program. I missed appointments with Brian and didn’t return his calls. But he kept trying to reach me. Finally I figured I owed him an explanation for why I couldn’t finish the program. He’d been so friendly, and we really had a rapport. It was the least I could do.
When we spoke, I can’t explain the comfort and support I felt. Not only did he listen, but when I was ready, he connected me with other programs to help me deal with the grieving process. Eventually, I got back on the weight management program because I pulled inspiration from my nephew and from Brian. They both wanted a better life for me – and helped me want it for myself.
My approach these days is to stay healthy and to do things that are good for my body – like drinking three quarts of water every day and eating fruit instead of chips. And I follow some of Jabare’s workout activities, which is healing for me. You could say that I moved from thinking about a goal to creating a better lifestyle. I’m not always perfect about it; sometimes it feels like 10 steps forward and two steps back. But now I know what to do when that happens.
I’m down 21 pounds. Although it’s nice to buy clothes in smaller sizes, this is about more than just the weight loss. I have a lot more endurance. I used to take plenty of breaks when playing basketball. The league I’m in has lots of former college players, and they ask me what I’ve done because of how much my game has improved! I’m also energized throughout the day. This means I don’t suffer from that after-1 p.m. slump that left me slow all afternoon, and then feeling like collapsing on the couch and just watching TV after work. Plus I have a lot more self-confidence about tackling new things.
Here’s my advice for someone who is thinking about connecting with a wellness coach: Forget about saying, “I can start any time.” You should never wait to do important things. We’re not promised tomorrow. People out there are willing to support you – sometimes in ways you don’t expect. I’ll always be grateful to UnitedHealthcare for offering wellness coaching, and to Brian for being the encouraging influence I needed to get my health back on track – and keep it there.
