WEST CHAZY — Rob Simpson and Michelle Christon met and fell in love in their mid-40s.
They both shared an interest in the outdoors and hoped to spend their lives hiking, climbing mountains and doing the things they loved together. But they shared something else that might stand in the way of pursuing their active interests: They both battled weight problems that were impacting their lives.
"I needed to make some changes," Rob said of the realization about a year ago that he was responsible for taking his health into his own hands. "I was approaching 50 and had passed 300 pounds. My dad had died from heart disease at the age of 52. I was highly motivated to make changes."
Both Rob and Michelle work in the health-care field and know all about healthy lifestyles. But they also understood how difficult it is to change lifestyles without support.
That is when they turned to Weight Management for Life, a weight-loss program that incorporates sound nutrition with regular exercise and group support to emphasize a healthy lifestyle.
"I tried a year before this to eat more fruits and vegetables," Rob said of his desire to improve his eating habits long before he turned to Weight Management. "But I was still at 300 pounds and finally said, 'Enough is enough.' I needed help."
Rob had heard about Weight Management and decided to take a proactive approach by stopping in at the Plattsburgh office to sign up for the program last spring.
"Michelle was my fianceé at the time," Rob said of his spur-of-the-moment action. "I wasn't sure that she wanted to do it with me, but one week later she went down and signed up as well.
"We were both very determined to do something different (to promote a healthier lifestyle)."
The program begins by simplifying food choices: Participants pick and choose from a variety of food options for their daily meals while "checking in" during weekly group sessions. The program never focuses on how much weight a participant loses each week but looks at nutrition and how to make healthy food choices.
"In the beginning, they remove all of the guess work," Michelle said of the program. "With pre-determined portion sizes, you know you are receiving proper nutrition."
Working with other people is also a benefit, Rob noted, but going through the program with Michelle made it so much easier.
"We were both there for one another," he said. "There are days when you are not as motivated as you should be. If I'm having a good day with my exercising and she's not, I can push her, and if my day's not going well, she can push me. We've helped each other stay motivated."
The program also stresses "baby steps," not trying to do too much at first but building an exercise program that expands with growing confidence.
"When we started, we'd just go for a 10-minute walk," Rob said. "The next thing you know, we're walking 90 minutes."
Rob and Michelle also began riding bicycles, first pedaling the 4-mile ride around their country block but now enjoying a 12-mile pedal without difficulty.
They have also learned to do without. Pizza and wings was a routine for them prior to starting the program. Now, they will make pizza at home using whole wheat and other healthy substitutions, and any dinner out will feature healthy options from the menu.
"We do need to know our limits, where our weaknesses are," Michelle said of the constant reminder that a healthy lifestyle is a permanent job. "But I no longer have any desire (for those less-than-healthy food options that were a normal part of life prior to joining the program).
"It's important to look at the labels on packages," she added. "You would not believe the things you might be eating."
Chips, cookies and other sweets are no longer found around the couple's home, replaced now by a plethora of fruits and snacks.
Rob and Michelle tied the knot last October and chose healthy food options for their wedding reception.
Rob dropped from 310 pounds to 210 and is 10 pounds from his desired goal. Michelle went from 190 pounds to 130 and has reached her goal.
Besides the weight that each has lost, their cholesterol figures dropped dramatically, and both are feeling 100 percent better.
"I have much more energy," Michelle said. "We would feel bad if we didn't do our daily 12-mile bike ride."
"We've learned the skills to maintain this for the rest of our lives," Rob added.
Email Jeff Meyers at: jmeyers@pressrepublican.com
