Profile of the Month

March 2008, Page & Alan Wright     

March 2008
Meet Page and Alan
by Mary Jane Ganey

Alan & Page Wright started the 10 week weight management program together last Feb 07. They are now in “Continuation” membership. At the time they enrolled, Alan weighed 406 and Page weighed 174. Page is now maintaining her weight at a size 6 and Alan has only 50 more lbs to go to reach his goal of 220!

 Alan said before he started the EZ program, his life was very restricted…didn’t go to the movies, mall, walking, flying, etc due to his weight and extreme lack of energy. Page was very worried about him. She had even started to wonder if surgery might be his only answer to his serious weight and health problems. Alan said he has roller coaster dieted his entire life... before coming to EZ he had lost a cumulative total of 3,000 lbs., but gained back 3,200!  Neither were overweight as children. Both have always been active.

Alan says the weight just slowly crept up on him over the years, probably more due to his unhealthy diet than lack of exercise and movement. He often ate on the go, and did not control portions. The year before enrollment, they tried American Family and went almost every day. Alan said he lost about 30 lbs in 6-9 months but had to stop due to a home project. He immediately gained back all of the weight as he had not learned to change his eating habits. His boss, also worried about Alan, suggested EZ. Since starting the MIP ("Make it Personal") program just last Feb, Alan has lost 138 lbs and Page has lost 45 lbs.!  Alan says it will now be no problem to reach his goal weight of 220.  What he likes most about the program is that it is not difficult and he can tailor it to fit his lifestyle. The key to success for himself and Page has been planning ahead for each upcoming week. Alan says he weighs and portion controls everything, making sure he is staying within the calorie and EZ points guidelines. He tries to make sure he eats 5 meals a day, as this is what truly curbs his appetite and keeps him going. Analytical by nature and a whiz with computers, Alan keeps detailed computer records of his meals and calories.  One year out he is still an exceptional planner. Alan often cooks an entire week of meals on Sundays, grilling out a whole bag of chicken tenders and vegetables in advance. He and Page are creative and have come up with some great meal ideas to keep it interesting.

Alan said the overall life changes have been amazing. His energy level has increased fourfold. He and Page now walk together at the mall, exercise 4X/week together (at EZ), bought a boat and go boating together, to the movies together, walk their pets together, etc etc. Alan said the program has literally saved his life. Both have cut their BP and cholesterol meds in half. Alan no longer has sleep apnea and knee joint aches. His resting heart rate is now 50 to 55. Their advice to anyone starting the program is “stick with it…if you follow the 5 meal a day program, attend the medical  lectures and do the exercise, your cravings will vanish, the weight will definitely come off and your energy will return. Be patient. It is a life change." They both love EZ because of the support and encouragement they have received and the friends they have met. The key is to make it personal and go at your own pace. Fit the program to your lifestyle and follow it.

 Page grew up in Newport News, received a degree in Business Education from Elon College. She met Alan at her first job at a community college in North Carolina. Alan grew up in Alabama and received his business degree and MBA from Auburn University, before moving to North Carolina to teach business. They married and eventually moved to Hanover, Va., where Alan is the Director of Purchasing & General Services for Hanover County and Page is a clerk for the Hanover General District Court. In addition, Alan likes woodworking, household projects and computers; Page loves decorating, needlepoint and Christmas. She keeps one room decorated in Christmas year-round and proudly displays her collection of Christmas Santas.  But between their jobs, their family, (they have one married daughter who lives nearby), their two dogs, and hobbies, the Wrights have made their new EZ lifestyle a number one priority. It's dedication, commitment and "Making it Personal"...which is the EZ philosophy after all.

If you would like to nominate someone you know as Member of the Month or would like to share your own story with your fellow EZ members, please e-mail me at mjganey@ezhealthinstitute.com.  Otherwise, I may be soliciting you! There is no story to big or small to share.