Eat Wise & Exercise

Lifestyle Makeover Contest Winners

Runners Up

Four runners up were chosen in the lifestyle makeover contest. All runners up received the opportunity to participate in another LIVE FOR LIFE weight management program.

Mark Waters - Nurse Manager, Medical Oncology Treatment

A lifestyle makeover is what I am in desperate need of right now. Ever since I turned 40, my weight has continued to increase despite numerous diets. It has been a constant battle to stay motivated to exercise. The ongoing weight gain has led me to feel almost hopeless about my situation. When I walk by a mirror, I can't tolerate looking at myself. I feel embarrassed to go shopping for clothes because of the size that I have to buy. I only feel comfortable wearing my hospital scrubs which help to cover up my weight. All my clothes are very baggy. I even turn down invitations from friends and family because I don't want to be seen in public wearing dress clothes. I am at a place in my life where I am ready to make a change that will positively impact my life. I realize that my health is very important and that my weight is negatively impacting my health. I have dreamed of the day when I could work with someone to help keep me motivated and give me the tools not only to lose weight but to make a change in the way I live my life so that I stay healthy.

Bonnie Stevenson - Program Coordinator, Sociology Department

It is time to live life for ME! I have struggled with my weight all of my life. I have had times where I lost weight to just turn around and gain it back. I've tried just about every diet out there for at least a day! Recently, I've seen family members' health decline, and I know that I don't want to be in the same situation, but without change I will be. Currently I have joint problems that I'm sure relate to my weight, as well as self esteem issues. I have overweight children and want to be able to make an impact on them and help them to get healthy as well. However, in all honesty sometimes I simply don't know the right nutritious decisions to make. I'm ready and willing to put forth the effort to get healthy and fit. I've made excuse after excuse for not having the time to get healthy when in all honesty, I simply was not motivated. I can't say that I'm someone without a family support system because I've got a loving and supportive husband and family, however, we often eat fast food and unhealthy food because we are on the go. I'm sure that there are other ways of eating, but I'm someone who just needs some advice and direction when it comes to that. Having the Duke community "watching" me would give me plenty of incentive and motivation to follow through with my goals. This opportunity would allow me to forget the mistakes I've made in the past and begin a healthy new ME!

Stanley Kim - Chaplain, Pastoral Services

My daughter who is 10 years old is fit and healthy. She seems to stop at any moment when she is full. When she was little she used to say that she will marry me when she grows old even though I'm fat. Just last week I asked if she would be my girlfriend she said no because I have too much "flubber." I think she is growing up to a point where she is more aware of how we are viewed in society. I'm concerned someday she may be ashamed of how I look. For some time I have been avoiding some of the things my daughter enjoys such as walking, swimming, playing soccer, etc. Now, I'm worried that someday she won't want to play those things with me because I won't be fit enough to play at her level. I really love my daughter and I want to reclaim myself in her eyes as a better, healthy and fit dad. I'm also worried that my slacking also has influenced my wife's weight gain. When I met her she was barely over 100 pounds. Unlike myself she has high cholesterol level and her weight gain is not helpful. I am ready to change for our family. I love my wife and my daughter. I would like to be fit so that I can enjoy being with them as long as I can. I wish I can change my eating habits and learn to exercise. I don't think I eat a lot, but I know I eat less frequently than normal and eat a big portion when I do. I can barely walk for 20 minutes on a treadmill. I am ready to change...

Rebecca Clearman - Nurse Manager, Internal Staffing Resource Pool

Hello! My name is Rebecca Clearman and I am one of the Nurse Managers for the Duke Float Pool. Over 1 year ago I found myself in a health situation that I had hoped I would never be in. I was taking two different medications for high blood pressure and had high cholesterol levels. My weight was out of control, my diet was horrible, and I never exercised. At a doctor's visit last October we discovered that my blood pressure was not being controlled with those medications and she increased my dose. As my body adjusted to the new dose I felt tired, disoriented, and drained of all of my energy. It was then that I decided that I needed to make a big change in my life. Since that time I have been eating healthier, in July of this year I joined a gym and have started exercising, and have made other changes that I hope will help my overall health. So far I have lost about 65 pounds, but I have found over the last several months that it is getting harder and harder for me to lose weight and not give in to my food cravings. I still have around 80 pounds that I would like to lose, so I need all of the help I can get! I think if I was lucky enough to win the lifestyle makeover, meeting weekly with a dietician and trainer would be very motivating and would definitely help keep me on track! My mother has also recently started having major health issues related to her weight and activity level, so I hope that if I am chosen to participate I could help inspire her to make positive changes in her life, as well as hopefully inspire some people in our department as well!


Eat Wise & Exercise Home Easy Tracker (PDF Format) Contest Winners Past Weeks Experts Resources FAQ Last Year's Program Sponsored by LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke's employee health promotion program, Eat Wise and Exercise is a 10-week program from January 14 through March 23, 2008 — during the program you'll receive useful and practical information to improve your diet and exercise, and LIVE FOR LIFE coaches will keep you motivated. LIVE FOR LIFE at Duke Box 3200 DUMC 04290 Red Zone Durham, NC 27710 Phone: (919) 684-3136 Fax: (919) 681-0555 lflprogm@mc.duke.edu		LIVE FOR LIFE >> Eat Wise & Exercise
		Lifestyle Makeover Contest Winners Runners Up Four runners up were chosen in the lifestyle makeover contest. All runners up received the opportunity to participate in another LIVE FOR LIFE weight management program. Mark Waters - Nurse Manager, Medical Oncology Treatment A lifestyle makeover is what I am in desperate need of right now. Ever since I turned 40, my weight has continued to increase despite numerous diets. It has been a constant battle to stay motivated to exercise. The ongoing weight gain has led me to feel almost hopeless about my situation. When I walk by a mirror, I can't tolerate looking at myself. I feel embarrassed to go shopping for clothes because of the size that I have to buy. I only feel comfortable wearing my hospital scrubs which help to cover up my weight. All my clothes are very baggy. I even turn down invitations from friends and family because I don't want to be seen in public wearing dress clothes. I am at a place in my life where I am ready to make a change that will positively impact my life. I realize that my health is very important and that my weight is negatively impacting my health. I have dreamed of the day when I could work with someone to help keep me motivated and give me the tools not only to lose weight but to make a change in the way I live my life so that I stay healthy. Bonnie Stevenson - Program Coordinator, Sociology Department It is time to live life for ME! I have struggled with my weight all of my life. I have had times where I lost weight to just turn around and gain it back. I've tried just about every diet out there for at least a day! Recently, I've seen family members' health decline, and I know that I don't want to be in the same situation, but without change I will be. Currently I have joint problems that I'm sure relate to my weight, as well as self esteem issues. I have overweight children and want to be able to make an impact on them and help them to get healthy as well. However, in all honesty sometimes I simply don't know the right nutritious decisions to make. I'm ready and willing to put forth the effort to get healthy and fit. I've made excuse after excuse for not having the time to get healthy when in all honesty, I simply was not motivated. I can't say that I'm someone without a family support system because I've got a loving and supportive husband and family, however, we often eat fast food and unhealthy food because we are on the go. I'm sure that there are other ways of eating, but I'm someone who just needs some advice and direction when it comes to that. Having the Duke community "watching" me would give me plenty of incentive and motivation to follow through with my goals. This opportunity would allow me to forget the mistakes I've made in the past and begin a healthy new ME! Stanley Kim - Chaplain, Pastoral Services My daughter who is 10 years old is fit and healthy. She seems to stop at any moment when she is full. When she was little she used to say that she will marry me when she grows old even though I'm fat. Just last week I asked if she would be my girlfriend she said no because I have too much "flubber." I think she is growing up to a point where she is more aware of how we are viewed in society. I'm concerned someday she may be ashamed of how I look. For some time I have been avoiding some of the things my daughter enjoys such as walking, swimming, playing soccer, etc. Now, I'm worried that someday she won't want to play those things with me because I won't be fit enough to play at her level. I really love my daughter and I want to reclaim myself in her eyes as a better, healthy and fit dad. I'm also worried that my slacking also has influenced my wife's weight gain. When I met her she was barely over 100 pounds. Unlike myself she has high cholesterol level and her weight gain is not helpful. I am ready to change for our family. I love my wife and my daughter. I would like to be fit so that I can enjoy being with them as long as I can. I wish I can change my eating habits and learn to exercise. I don't think I eat a lot, but I know I eat less frequently than normal and eat a big portion when I do. I can barely walk for 20 minutes on a treadmill. I am ready to change... Rebecca Clearman - Nurse Manager, Internal Staffing Resource Pool Hello! My name is Rebecca Clearman and I am one of the Nurse Managers for the Duke Float Pool. Over 1 year ago I found myself in a health situation that I had hoped I would never be in. I was taking two different medications for high blood pressure and had high cholesterol levels. My weight was out of control, my diet was horrible, and I never exercised. At a doctor's visit last October we discovered that my blood pressure was not being controlled with those medications and she increased my dose. As my body adjusted to the new dose I felt tired, disoriented, and drained of all of my energy. It was then that I decided that I needed to make a big change in my life. Since that time I have been eating healthier, in July of this year I joined a gym and have started exercising, and have made other changes that I hope will help my overall health. So far I have lost about 65 pounds, but I have found over the last several months that it is getting harder and harder for me to lose weight and not give in to my food cravings. I still have around 80 pounds that I would like to lose, so I need all of the help I can get! I think if I was lucky enough to win the lifestyle makeover, meeting weekly with a dietician and trainer would be very motivating and would definitely help keep me on track! My mother has also recently started having major health issues related to her weight and activity level, so I hope that if I am chosen to participate I could help inspire her to make positive changes in her life, as well as hopefully inspire some people in our department as well!