From: Maureen Allen, MPH
It’s the wake-up call no one wants to receive. You’ve hit middle age and middle age spread. If you’re lucky, you haven’t done any damage yet. If you’re not, you may get the message Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee received three years ago. Diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, he decided to turn his ship around. And at 300 pounds, it was a pretty big ship. Huckabee had to lose 100 pounds to become healthy again. Younger folks get the call too, but sometimes indirectly, like Kevin Clayton of Sacramento. As a college football player he consumed and burned lots of calories. But by age 31 he had grown into a sedentary 300-pounder. Big clothes hid his body, but when his 60 year-old father died of a massive heart attack, he was roused from his denial.
Both men made drastic life changes, neither relying on surgery or pills. Huckabee went on a very low calorie diet, similar to the diet at the Obesity Treatment Center. Clayton reduced his calories and began to exercise.
The two found new lives. They are now competitive marathoners. Clayton is even training for the Ironman World Championship Triathlon in Hawaii next month.
Clayton’s family is extremely supportive of the new, healthier Kevin. Not so the case for the Governor in the fishbowl. Southern states are known for foods that make your heart quiver to even think about, like fried chicken and buttery grits. It’s the birthplace of Krispy Kreme for Pete’s sake! Arkansans have poked fun at Huckabee for bringing his own cooler filled with healthy foods to the many functions he attends when no suitable food is served. They were fearful when he toyed with the idea of sending kids home with their BMI number. It got shot down.
Patients at OTC sometimes face similar criticism. Family and friends are often anxious for the patient to be through with the diet so life can get back to normal - as if getting back to normal will keep the patient’s weight off. Like Huckabee and Clayton, patients have to dig deep when they choose the grilled chicken over the fried chicken and hear, “I thought you were done with that diet!”
Both Huckabee and Clayton stand up to the challenge.
I enjoy seeing and helping my patients stand up to the same challenge!
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