Cindy Holman has set her sights on a healthy future and she won’t let anything get in her way.
Holman, who was diagnosed as pre-diabetic about five years ago, is determined to prevent her condition from turning into diabetes.
When doctors told her last year that she probably would have to start taking diabetes medication, she decided to try something else first. She embarked on major lifestyle changes — from revamping her eating habits to exercising almost every day.
It worked. She had already lost 30 pounds on her own when she read on Facebook that Tanner Health System’s Get Healthy, Live Well initiative had launched a Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) to help people in west Georgia learn ways to avoid developing diabetes.
Enrolling in the DPP provided her with education, motivation and support to help her embark on a healthy new lifestyle.
The DPP is an evidence-based lifestyle change program for preventing type 2 diabetes created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It can help people cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes in half by making lifestyle changes. Participants strive to lose 7 percent of their body weight and get 150 minutes of physical activity a week.
The program focuses on eating a healthier diet by reducing fat and calories and keeping a food journal. The classes also offer strategies for getting more physical activity.
“I signed up because I have been on this journey to lose weight,” she said. “This gave me a lot of helpful information and support to keep me going.”
The group setting also provided motivation to keep working on losing weight and improving her overall health.
“It held me accountable because I knew that every week I’d have to track my eating and go weigh in,” Holman said. “The class was awesome and our teacher was fantastic. I’d recommend signing up for anyone who is trying to lose weight.”
Overall, the DPP gave Holman the perfect boost to continue losing weight and improving her health.
“The program really made everything come together for me and made me want to eat healthy, exercise and be healthier overall,” Holman said.
Since starting the DPP, she has lost another 21 pounds, for a total of 51 pounds lost, and has reduced her blood pressure so much that her doctor took her off one of her blood pressure medicines.
“I have gone from having high blood pressure to blood pressure in a normal range,” she said.
At a recent visit to her doctor, she saw more proof that her efforts are paying off. Her blood sugar and cholesterol numbers were very healthy, setting a new personal record.
“My doctor was really pleased,” she added.
Jamie Brandenburg, a chronic disease outreach coordinator at Tanner, led the DPP class that Holman participated in and wasn’t surprised by her success.
“Cindy really took the material to heart — she lived and breathed DPP — and you could just see that,” said Brandenburg, who is also a master trainer for the DPP.
Brandenburg said Holman never let anything get in her way. She even stuck with her diet plan while on vacation.
“She had an amazing drive and was so determined,” Brandenburg said. “There was never a week that she didn’t try her best. She was so determined to get healthy and she really wanted to make a difference in her future.”
Holman, who is 52 and has two children, has battled weight gain over the years. That struggle intensified after having a hysterectomy, she said. Working full-time in an office had also led to a relatively sedentary lifestyle.
However, daily exercise is now part of her lifestyle. She enjoys walking, especially on the Greenbelt, and doing exercise DVDs for high-impact aerobics.
“If I miss day, I feel bad,” said Holman, who lives in Waco.
She wants to lose 20 more pounds.
“I set a goal for myself and I really want to achieve it. I’m not trying to be skinny, but I just want to be healthy,” she said.
Click to learn more about the Diabetes Prevention Program and register for an upcoming DPP class. The Diabetes Prevention Program is funded in part by the Centers for Disease Control’s Partnership in Community Health Grant.