By Dave Schafer and John Perry

The water swallowed his best friend, but 407-pound Leo Bourgeois is determined not to let fat swallow him.

On Jan. 7, David Chen drowned in Taiwan. The drowning forced Bourgeois, a 6-foot husband and father, to look at life differently.

Two days later, he started dieting and exercising. Bourgeois admired how Chen gave 100 percent to anything he undertook. Using Chen as inspiration, Bourgeois, 36, who works in Public Works & Engineering, is determined to shed 187 pounds this year.

With New Year’s just past, many people have decided to get slimmer and healthier. Or perhaps they’ve decided to give up a bad habit or straighten out the kinks in their life.

Those are among the most common New Year’s resolutions. Most people have already broken them.

But that doesn’t mean you have to give up. In fact, March is as good a time to redo you as January. So is May, or June or November. If you want to improve some part of your life, now’s as good a time as any.

Get moving
“There’s no secret to losing weight,” said Veronica Juarez, registered dietitian at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic. “It’s a math game. Exercise more, eat less.”

Before leaving home in the morning, Rochelle Bullock, Parks & Recreation, does Tae Bo. At lunch, she walks five times around her office building. Then, before bed, she does sit-ups, crunches and leg lifts.

Diagnosed with diabetes six years ago, Bullock, 35, said her biggest fear is having a leg or arm amputated because she didn’t take care of herself.

“I’ve done things to better my health on and off, but never stuck with it,” she said.

Recently, though, a friend has been pushing her to take better care of herself.

In the near term, Bullock wants to drop two to four dress sizes. Longer term, she wants to see her 7- and 10-year-old grow up.

“I don’t feel like I’m real big, but for my health, I need to do this,” Bullock said.

Whether to lose weight or just be healthier, exercise is half the formula for success.

Regular physical activity helps control weight and may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes. It helps increase metabolic rates and builds strong muscles, bones and joints, improves flexibility and balance and wards off depression.

Experts recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity most days of the week. To lose weight, increase the amount you exercise. However, exercise should never hurt or leave you feeling very tired. If it does, you’re overdoing it.

Exercise doesn’t have to include a gym membership and a personal trainer. Physical activity can include walking, running, playing a sport, doing household chores, yard work, or walking the dog.

“Just don’t be sedentary,” said Shadston Pittman, Parks’ fitness director. The Parks & Recreation Department puts the fitness focus on walking because it’s inexpensive, low-impact, sociable and allows you to track your progress.

Continued
1 l 2 l 3 l 4 l next >>

Leo Bourgeois, who was down to 385 pounds in early February, is losing weight by changing his lifestyle. Bourgeois started his diet at 407 pounds and is determined to get down to 220 by the end of the year. Benefits Pulse will keep you updated on his progress. Photo by Dave Schafer.