You know, I came to Crossing Rivers to See Dr. V - I was feeling crappy.

You know, he ran a typical A1C blood tests and everything. My blood pressure was high - I was on blood pressure medicine already. He came in and I tell you what -  this guy's always got a smile for me, we always shake hands, he's not only my physician but he's my friend just like the staff. You know and he came in and I got a tell him, he was somber.I could tell by the look on his face that he was gonna tell me something that, you know, I probably wasn't going to like.

When I went in on "D Day", the official weight was 301 pounds. With the numbers that were shown it was pretty clear, I mean it was unequivocal you very much had had diabetes and  probably for about a year or so. Type 2 diabetes, which is the predominant version that we see a lot of nationwide, and is largely lifestyle controlled and directed, which is why it usually does come later in life. But, he's given that diagnosis how many times in your career? Hundreds. You know, but that day was the day he gave it to me and I walked out of there and I'm like no way am I you know am I not going to do or at least try to do what he has given me the blueprint for. 

When Dr. V that day on D-Day said, "If you do this, you could..." that was what he always said I'm like you know what? I can do this and I will do that. 

I'm happy with 224 from 301. That's incredible. I was wearing that shirt in his office that day like Jody said and not like loose either, was it? No. No. 

Once I started realizing like, "Wow! I'm doing 10,000 calories a day. Some people don't do that in a week - and we started doing that. We started at a number that was comfortable without you know being starved.If you starve, what are you going to do? You're going to eat. But this was comfortable for me. So I kept reading labels and once I started trying like I tell Jody -  baby steps. You keep doing it. You keep doing baby steps until you're walking; you keep walking until you run. It's easy once you start. You cannot believe if you just keep doing it, how it gets easier just like anything else, but you gotta start somewhere.

Nobody can do it for you. You know, it has to come from you. You have to be the one to take the blueprint and build the house. I had never even dreamed I would ever enter a 5k, let along complete it. It's changed my life.

I dedicate everything to Crossing Rivers, but Melissa Wehrle gets all the credit in the world because without her I probably wouldn't have changed my life. She literally changed my life and probably like Dr. V know, probably saved it. She held me accountable, she encouraged me, and she never once let me you know quit doing what I was doing. I feel terrific.

How much medication are you on? None. A low-dose aspirin that Dr. V recommends. That's it! No more medicine! One low dose aspirin a day is what he recommends. 

When we got to do the numbers together all three of us  unbelievable! Blood pressure was off the charts. It was - Jody took it yesterday - was 110 over 80.

And that's what it's been like! He always high fives me and hugs. It's crazy but, we beat the odds this team right here. He knows how much this the staff - they know how much they mean to me because I see them all the time. They treat me like a rock star. I hope your story encourages at least one person to at least try.

It can happen! And I'm so proud of you! If we can help one person, then it's been worth it.

Words can't express my gratitude and they know that.  I couldn't find words. They know that I love them and I thank them because they really did change my life.

Be awesome.

Be awesome every day!