2009 Winners
Individual Winner# 2
David Berberian, Scene Shop Coordinator
When we are children and even as adolescents and, for some, into our twenties and thirties, we often times feel invincible. We feel as though life goes on forever and we will somehow buck the trend and live forever. As we get older we realize that this is far from the truth. We realize that our time here is fleeting and we should make the most of what we have.
The battle with weight has raged in my family for generations. My grandmother was an Italian American from upstate New York for crying out loud. My mother used to serve me pan-fried Spam sandwiches in my brown bag lunches. Food wasn't given much thought past "does it taste good". Ultimately my family's relationship with food was not a healthy one. As for exercise, well we figured if one of us mowed the grass once a week we were doing pretty well. The way we treat ourselves has a lot to do with just how long we get to hang around. Unfortunately for me I have paid witness to what can happen when we don't look after ourselves and our health.
Two recent events in my life have made me take a closer look at the choices I have made in terms of my own health. In January 2007 my father passed away due to complications with diabetes and long-term heart problems. My father always struggled with his weight. He always struggled to keep his blood pressure in check. It all finally caught up with him. In August of this year we lost my brother. While he was the skinny one in the group he found other ways to abuse his body. He was always a heavy smoker and drinker and never ate well. He died of a sudden heart attack. Recently, my doctor suggested I might have to start taking cholesterol medicine. I am only 38 years old. I don't want to take a pill every day for the rest of my life.
These events of the past couple of years have been a wake up call for me. I am a husband and a father and would very much like to be around for them as long as I can. I want to be an example for my son. I want to teach him the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.
I have been on diets and lost weight only to gain it back. I realize now that fad diets are not the answer. I must make a lifestyle change if I am to finally break through.
This opportunity for a Lifestyle Makeover represents a chance for me to break from my past and move ahead towards a better future. I hope it means more energy at
the end of the day so I can be 100% for my family. I hope it means a long healthy life free from the kind of pain my father had to endure. Finally, I hope it means I can
begin to feel good about myself and my health again.