SUCCESS STORY: OVER 100 LBS LOST IN 1 YEAR

We applaud past Hilton Head Health Guest, Jan Gregory, for all her hard work! She stayed motivated and focused and lost over 100 pounds. But we're not just proud about her weight loss, we're estatic about what she's gained through the process. She can not only see her results but she feels much healthier and happier.

After finally deciding she needed to make a healthy change, she choose to come to H3 for some help on making that change a reality. She has accomplished more than just a drastic physical transformation, she's achieved a mental transformation. Keep on keeping on, Jan! 

Read what she wrote about her journey to a healthier lifestyle.

Wes McCullom Success Story

Wes had never considered taking a weight loss vacation…that is until his wife Bee suggested he escape to Hilton Head Health for a week in May of 2014. Wes was “fed up.” “I was disgusted with how much I weighed. I had always been an athlete, but for the last nine years I let everything else get in the way of exercise,” said Wes, a lawyer from Alabama. He cherished his wife and daughter, but knew that his health was stopping him from getting the most from their relationships.

So, Bee called and set the two of them up for a one-week retreat at H3. “I never expected it would have such an impact on me,” commented Wes. Admittedly, he was nervous at first. “What would I be eating? Will I be able to do all the exercise? I’m so glad that Bee joined me, without her support I wouldn’t have gone in the first place.” Wes met with Director of Education, Bob Wright, on the morning of his first day to review his health assessment. “I was 40 pounds overweight, but Bob emphasized that this shouldn’t be about a number. He convinced me it was about a ‘lifestyle change’,” said Wes. Throughout the week Wes attended as many sessions as possible. “I could feel my mind changing gears. I started thinking - I’m going to be an athlete again.”

To Wes, two things he said stuck out the most: the ‘Unwise, Better, Best’ mantra that he learned in a restaurant guide class and a metabolism test that he had scheduled with Bob. “All the other diets I had tried were extreme. The Unwise/Better/Best principle simplified the process.” Wes would go on to make smarter choices back at home and when faced with several food options he’d pick the ‘Best’ possible choice. “I find myself reverting back to that mantra on a daily basis.” The metabolism test, a scientific way of analyzing caloric expenditure, helped him realize that he was drinking far to many calories. “It was a wake-up call. During my consultation I learned that I was drinking over 1400 calories of sweet tea each day.” Wes hasn’t had a sweet tea since, and avoids sugar as much as possible. “As I removed sugar, other things started tasting better. Strawberries never tasted so good!”



 

Wes felt rejuvenated. He had a newfound commitment, a plan for success and a supportive atmosphere at home. “Having a wife committed to fitness and daughter that plays a collegiate sport has been important. They’ve been so helpful. And I am very thankful for them.” In less than 6 months Wes has lost a total of 55 lbs. He completed the 30-kilometer bicycling leg of a team triathlon with his daughter and her boyfriend. (pictured above)

But, “I don’t want to make everything sound easy. It really isn’t.” says Wes. “A friend told me early on when I started a run/walk program, ‘just put one foot in front of the other’. I would hope that when people read about my story they see someone like themselves who simply decided he had enough and was going to do something about it. Inspiration comes from within. I guess what I’m getting at is that H3 makes me feel like part of a team that is invested in my success. My wish would be for folks to see themselves in my story and realize that you can accomplish your goals with some effort on your part and some support from others.”

Sharing Success: Lyle Orr

As guests make their transition back home, most head out our doors with vision of a changed lifestyle and a new way of living. Lyle Orr took his vision one step further and said in 3 months, I will be able to do anything I want to do. I will be road biking, playing softball, kick boxing, and my overall feeling will be completely different. I often ask guests … what makes this important to you? Lyle unwaveringly said this is for my kids, my wife, my family; this is so I can change my life and then be compassionate towards others. To narrow down the motivators and the vision is the first step, but would he translate this over? I had no doubt in my mind and here is his story…
Lyle Orr checked into Hilton Head Health in late April and stayed for 4 weeks total. During his program, Lyle was a ball of energy that spurred everyone to push harder and motivated everyone alike in our patented Hilton Head Health Treading Class. His yips and yells could spook even the most fearless, but the fight and motivation he showed during his H3 Journey was rare and infectious. Day in and day out, Lyle would come into every fitness class and lifestyle lecture ready to work, ready to commit to a new way of living. After successfully losing 23 pounds and 8 inches there was not stopping Mr. Lyle Orr, he signed up for the http://www.h3daily.com/h3athome/h3athome-coaching/and as his coach, I knew he was going to hit the ground running.
To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure how he was going to do it. Leading a busy work life, caring for two kids, D.J’s on the weekends, finding time to spend with his wife Jess, oh and knowing he’d be flying to Fort Lauderdale every week, how was he going to make this work? Well he did and below is only a few of the incredible strategies he came up with dating all the way back to his first day outside the H3 bubble.
1. The Breakfast Whack!
½ Cup Fiber One Honey Crunch, ½ Cup 1% cottage cheese, ½ Plain yogurt (add splenda, vanilla extract) and top with cut blueberries, strawberries, or blackberries. This is Lyle’s go to breakfast and its spread like wildfire to wear his family and co-workers can’t get enough!
2. Unwise, Better, BEST – how he wants it
During meals on the plane or in business meetings, Lyle shoots to make the BEST choice he can and the fact is he doesn’t settle. I remember one meeting he was in the thick of things, ran out of metabo meals, but at first chance jumped out the hotel door for a healthy option from Subway. He orders the salad dressings on the side, lets the servers leave the butter off, and tells them exactly what he wants.

Get H3 Inspired: Patricia Andrade

Every week here at H3, we have the privilege of being a part of a life changing experience.  Whether it’s someone finishing a 5K run, learning they love vegetables, or just realizing what’s really keeping them from achieving their weight loss goals – each accomplishment is one to celebrate. 

The camaraderie within the program speaks volumes on the importance of a support system when attempting to make changes in one’s lifestyle.  We are here to encourage you when you want get frustrated, angry and reach your breaking point.  We are here to motivate you when you just need an extra push to finish.  These stories are what keep us going – and we enjoy sharing them with you.

One of our most recent guests sent us this letter, which will hopefully inspire you as much as it did us. 

 

Patricia’s Story

My stay at H3 was an incredible experience. You have an amazing program and great team. I have learned so much from you guys that I will be very happy if I can bring a little of it to my everyday life. I have been to many places like this but all of them were so obsessed about the numbers on the scale that I would always leave feeling like the worst person in the world for not losing 10 lbs per week. For the first time, I am actually leaving feeling very proud of myself, and I can actually see how I can incorporate what I have learned. Even though I am only 22, I have been fighting weight for 10 years now and the main lesson I will take home with me is that “weight follows behavior.” I couldn’t phrase that better! For the first time, my goal is to change my behavior and not the scale. I guess what I am trying to say is thank you for guiding me and preparing me for this journey that is only beginning.

When I first got here, I decided that I would choose my favorite instructor so I could say good things about them in this letter but this is just impossible. Your team is filled with great people and it would be unfair to say names!

Thank you Hilton Head Health team for my wonderful 3-week stay!

 

If you have a story you would like to share, email us!  We will feature you in our blog or in the next e-newsletter.