Employee Voices

Beverly F. - Member Since June 2008

"[Before joining,] I went to Disney World with my kids. I walked about 12,000 steps that day and was sick for two days afterward because I had overdone it. I had very bad knee problems, trouble breathing, borderline high blood pressure and a lot of health issues that probably would have led to type 2 diabetes. I weighed 245 lbs at 5’5”.

I started the Virgin Health Miles program in June of 2008.... I started walking and monitoring my steps. I got about 2,000-3,000 steps a day. I kept it at this level from June to July [2008], just getting myself aware of my steps.

I joined the YMCA in January because it just got too cold to walk outside. I walked on the treadmill. I admired the people on the elliptical machines but never thought I could do that. In March or so, I decided to try it. I got on an elliptical for literally 5 minutes and stopped. Now, I do an hour every time and some days I do 2 hours (of course, not right in a row YET!).

 Today, I weigh 175 lbs. A normal day is 14,000 steps. A good day is 20-23,000 and a great day is 30,000! I eat healthy choices because I want my body to be able to continue for a long time. I want to be the kind of grandmother who takes her grandchildren places and doesn’t sit on the couch and have to have a nap!

Over the year and several months that I have been doing this, I have gained myself back! ...It has been a long journey that I will never give up. I can never thank Virgin HealthMiles enough for this program. It saved my life."

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