Get H3 Inspired: Huntley Galleher

I am a 50 year old man who has been in the education field for 26 years. I was once a math and science teacher, as well as a football and tennis coach for 13 years. In all my years of being a coach, there were only four of my players that could beat me in a set of tennis. I have always considered myself an athlete, and I still do today! However, I did not realize how out of shape I had allowed myself to become these last 12 years. Then 7 months ago my weight truly became an issue. I needed to walk from one location to the next, which I had done many times before but had not walked this exact path in several years. My mind said no problem, but after several minutes I realized it was going to be a challenge to get to my destination.  My breathing became irregular and my lower back was in excruciating pain. I found my whole torso hunching forward. I knew right at that point that my weight was the number one issue. That day I found myself thinking of all the issues I had been dealing with the last several months, and some the last several years. Every morning I had been waking up knowing that once I stepped out of bed I was going to be dealing with pain in my legs, feet or my back.

So I began my search for a change - I started first by asking my diabetic doctor for the opportunity to have lap band surgery. After a long discussion she actually convinced me to make a different decision. Her message was that my last blood test showed considerable progress and she told me that surgery was considered the last option. I listened and I took her advice; she and I even discussed Hilton Head Health in that conversation. So I was out the door, on my computer that night and looked into about eight different facilities throughout the country. Hilton Head Health kept coming up in my searches, and the stories and examples of the people that had been guests at Hilton Head Health continued to impress me. On March 2, 2011, my 50^th birthday, I decided Hilton Head Health was the place for me and I was not going to let this opportunity pass.

Highlights of H3

This time of year we start to focus in on program offerings for the upcoming year. I like to take some time to reflect on what aspects of our program our guests really enjoy. In speaking with guests in the program, I like to ask what the “highlight of the week” has been for them. Here are some of their answers:

• Bob’s Portion Control Class –embracing that concept will make me successful


• Treading with Katie


• Completing the H3 bootcamp class when I thought I couldn’t do it

Get H3 Inspired: Dale Bornstein

[caption id="attachment_5892" align="alignright" width="420" caption="H3 Roommates! Mary Kruse (right) and Dale (left)"][/caption]

 

I think I truly underestimated what stress can do to one’s mind and body. For the past two years, I was living in what I called “a perfect storm” – the combination of working full time in a senior leadership role at a global public relations firm, raising a pre-schooler with special challenges and heading into my late 40s with hormones dancing in all directions.

In February, I hit bottom. I found myself 35 pounds heavier than my usual adult weight and it was having a serious impact on my ability to function day to day and also manage my chronic health issues.  

No matter what I tried, I couldn’t make change stick. That’s when I realized I needed to get away. I needed to be able to wake up each day and make my health my priority.

Once I made up my mind, I got to work researching the possibilities and that’s when I found H3. 

For me, it was a big decision. If I was going to take precious time away from my family and my work, I needed to make sure that this would be the right place for me. I scoured the website, talked to Michelle and other H3 consultants and even connected with some folks who had just returned from the program. And as they all raved about the program and the people, I kept thinking, “this just can’t be as good as they say.” But everyone was right. This was among the best experiences of my life and the greatest gift I have ever given to myself.

H3 in 60 seconds

I have to give it up to Weight Watchers, because man are those new Jennifer Hudson commercials inspiring! From the song to her hew look, everything about those commercials makes me want to throw out all the junk in my pantry! As I watch this new series of commercials from Weight Watchers, I can’t help but to think what a Hilton Head Health commercial would look like. How do you capture the essence of Hilton Head Health and the program in 60 seconds?

This is a breakdown of my vision for a Hilton Head Health television commercial: (Please note that I am not in the film industry so go easy on me. :-) )

There’s a panoramic view of the outside entryway to Hilton Head Health, then slowly the camera focuses in on one guest nervously entering Calibogue for the welcome session led by none other than Bob Wright. Bob goes over the basics of the program and then asks this specific guest to introduce himself. The guest then shares where he is from and why he decided to visit H3. Through a series of clips you see the guest meeting other guests from all over the nation, taking in the beauty of the sunrise on the beach with Beth Leermakers, getting some resistance training in the pool with Adam Martin, sweating it out in cardio boxing with Amber Shadwick, learning some low calorie tricks in a cooking demo with Chef Jen Welper, increasing his incline while getting “pumped” in Jeff Ford’s treading class, developing personal goals with Jessica Lynn, and finally enjoying a relaxing message the day before leaving H3.

You then see him doing all the same activities at home. He’s cooking healthy meals, has joined a gym where he can continue to attend some of his favorite cardio classes, and you even see him on a thermal walk during his lunch break with friends from work.

The catch is, that throughout the whole commercial, other than the full body shot shown in the opening scene, you only see the guest’s face as he does all these activities. In the end, you see the new him sharing his testimony in a video found on H3Daily. During the video he talks about the people he met and still keeps in touch with, how he lost not only pounds, but inches, and his sugar and triglyceride levels lowered as well.  It is then revealed that this is the real-life story of an H3 guest. Now I think that’s an inspiring story! Who needs Jennifer Hudson when we’ve got so many encouraging and motivating people right here in our own H3 family?!

How would you describe H3 in 60 seconds?