John Preston with Clyde Co

John Preston with Geneva Rock has won his battle with type 2 diabetes since joining the Apple Program® last fall. His determination and hard work to get off his medication has paid off. John has lost nearly 20 pounds and no longer has to take his medication for diabetes.

John attributes his success to making lifestyle alterations in the form of small, attainable goals related to nutrition and exercise. One of his goals included cutting back on carbohydrates- especially French fries- and avoiding other deep fried foods. Instead of fried foods, John enjoys foods like grilled chicken, whole wheat foods, oatmeal, and more. He has also cut back on soda and snacks on fruit and nuts. Incorporating these dietary changes led him to making other improvements, like only having one piece of bread when eating a sandwich instead of two and having sweet potatoes or yams instead of baked potatoes. He’s also discovered that sugarless candy is a great substitution when he has a sweet tooth.

In addition to improving his eating habits, he furthered his healthy progress by implementing an exercise routine which consists of walking with his wife for one to two miles when the weather permits. If it’s raining he has a backup plan that involves a treadmill or stationery bike in his house. He’s also made simple changes like taking the stairs instead of the elevator to add to his success.

For a long time John never had to watch his weight or what he ate, but when things started to change, he realized he had to take control. John knew the best thing he could do to improve his current health state was to lose weight. He began tracking his daily goals and making a conscious effort to make changes which would enable him to improve his health. But John has not stopped there! He still wants to lose another 12 pounds, which he plans to achieve by the end of summer. “My doctor told me whatever it is I’m doing, to keep doing it!” He plans to keep on track with his goals and adding another element to his exercise routine, road biking, which he feels will enable him to get to his target weight. From there, he plans to continue setting goals such as possibly cutting carbonation from his diet all together.

He’s grateful that the changes he has made have added years and quality to his life. “I feel great, I have more energy, and I don’t have to sleep as much,” says John. He appreciates the assistance he received from his Apple Health Coach™. “Having a coach to talk to each month is great. She’s provided great support and encouragement.”

John’s advice for others who are seeking to improve their health conditions is to, “Set a goal related to nutrition and exercise and stick to it. Find ways to make it work and keep variety; mix up your foods and your workouts and enjoy foods in moderation.”

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