A New Mindset, A New Life

Facing a growing list of health complications tied to obesity, including the possibility of daily injections among a list of necessary medications to manage obesity-related health conditions, was the wake-up call Marie needed to start a journey toward better health. 

“I said, ‘Self, you’ve got to do something about this,’” she recalls with a smile. Marie began a new routine: three hours a day at the YMCA. Through dedication and movement, she lost more than 150 pounds over the last decade. But keeping it off was another challenge.

Her primary care provider recommended the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) offered through MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital. Designed to help people at risk for Type 2 diabetes, the program teaches participants about nutrition, physical activity, and sustainable behavior changes.

Marie immediately saw the program’s value. “I was shocked when I started logging what I ate — I had no idea how much fat I was consuming,” she says. The DPP gave her insight into how to fuel her body, not just feed it.

This spring, she completed her second session of the program and is now down 187 pounds from where she first started. “It’s helped me change my mindset,” she said. “I feel better than ever and I finally understand what I need to do to sustain a healthy lifestyle.”

Scholarships are available through your generosity for those who can’t afford the fee.