Changes at the Orleans Clinic but Same Great Care
Steve Eisenberg of Newport now lives a healthy lifestyle thanks to support from The Wellness Center.
“Nothing tastes as good as thin feels.”
This motto sums up how Steve Eisenberg is feeling these days. Steve has lost 72 pounds in the past 8 months and is feeling great about his lifestyle change. He never thought he’d be able to walk the 10 plus miles every day like he can now. As a matter of fact, he actually looks forward to walking. He feels energized all the time and sleeps better at night. He has more endurance than he used to. It wasn’t always this way for Steve, and he credits Sherry Girard for helping him to get started and Sharon Stewart for keeping him on the straight and narrow.
“Sherry helped me get going with Weight Watcher’s. She joined with me to encourage me to take the first step. The Buddy System really works.”
Following a sensible eating plan was just part of a successful program for Steve.
“When I was at my circus weight, I was so uncomfortable I didn’t feel like I could do anything. My exercise started when I took Line Dancing with Suzette Campbell at The Wellness Center. I became limbered up enough to continue.”
That’s when Sharon Stewart entered the picture.
According to Steve, “Sharon is a great inspiration. She doesn’t take no for an answer. She’s always encouraging me to go, or telling me to try this or try that.”
Besides shrinking clothes sizes, a lower scale number, and more energy, Steve now boasts that his blood pressure is down in the normal range. He gave up smoking 5 ½ years ago, but has always struggled with weight. It used to be normal for him to stop for ice cream two or three times every day. Now, he will treat himself to an occasional baby portion cone.
Portion control has been the biggest challenge for Steve. People are amazed at how much Steve still eats. He has cut back some on portions, but he does not go hungry because the choices he makes contain more fiber which is much more filling than the empty calories found in refined products. So he can eat less and feel more satisfied.
“I don’t deny myself something if I’m hungry. If I want to eat something, I eat; I just make it a healthy choice. Every day I start out with a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast.”
He also still goes out to eat. Instead of fried chicken, Steve will have fish or turkey. Instead of baked potato or French fries, he’ll ask for a sweet potato. Instead of a ton of Ranch dressing, he’ll have a touch of vinaigrette.
“If I feel guilty about eating something, I just give Sharon a call and she will say, ‘Hey, let’s go for a walk.’”
Steve has nothing but praise for the help Sharon has given him along the way.
“Sharon is a walking encyclopedia for health and wellness information,” says Eisenberg. “She is always eager to share healthy recipes and food. She’s made me her soup and chicken salad. Whether you want it or not, Sharon is a driving force.
“Some people need the drive that Sharon gives. When walking with Sharon, she fools you into doing more. Before you know it, you’ve walked 10 miles.”
Steve’s advice for people thinking about making a healthy lifestyle change is to approach it one day at a time. He admits to having slipped on occasion, but the key is to start again tomorrow.
“In order to work on a healthy lifestyle change you have to be in the right mind-set,” advises Steve. “You can’t do it because people tell you to. You can’t change until you’re ready.”
There are people at The Wellness Center who are happy to help anyone once the decision is made to start on the path to a healthier lifestyle. Sharon Stewart is always ready and willing to help people work toward personal activity goals. There are reasonably priced classes offered to suit many different tastes from yoga to Pilates to dancerobics to cycling. There’s a weight-loss class offered once a week. Support is always available in one way or another.
As Steve Eisenberg has learned on his quest for a longer, healthier life, “You’ve gotta do it for you. You’ve gotta do it for your life.”
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