Layne Huntsman with Imergent

Layne Huntsman of Imergent has concentrated his efforts on improving his cholesterol, achieving better fitness, and losing weight. When Layne started The Apple Program® three years ago, he learned for the first time that his cholesterol was high. This prompted him to see his doctor and take the steps necessary to get his health scores in check.

He admits that at first, he wasn’t very diligent about following the guidelines he was given, but when he saw that his numbers weren’t improving from year to year, he decided to take action. He decided to set a goal in his Apple Wellness Portal designed to help follow his doctor’s recommendations. That constant reminder finally enabled him to see the improvements in his scores he had been hoping for!

Layne knew he couldn’t rely solely on medication to get his health where he wanted it to be, so he also began exercising for 60 minutes, three times per week. The added exercise has given him the increase in energy and improved well-being he had hoped for. His efforts have also led to a weight loss of 16 pounds and his blood pressure has improved as well.

Layne attributes his success to setting goals and tracking his efforts online in his Apple account. “I think tracking has helped the most,” states Layne. “My Apple Health Coach’s encouragement along the way was also helpful.”

He’s grateful that his company joined this wellness program because he didn’t know his health was out of line. “I’ve always felt fairly healthy, but my wakeup call came at my first Apple Health Assessment, where I learned my cholesterol was out of whack. It prompted me to visit my doctor, and I soon learned how serious my condition could become if I didn’t act on it,” adds Layne. “I’ve developed very good habits now that will enable me to stay healthy.”

Layne plans to maintain his success by training for a sprint triathlon, which he hopes to complete this summer. He’s grateful that he has the energy to do this as well as other things he loves including water and snow skiing, mountain biking, hiking, climbing, and teasing his kids whom he states can’t keep up with their “old man!”

To others who are seeking to improve their health, Layne reminds you to, “Set realistic, achievable goals and be consistent in your efforts.”

Jason Russell with Max International

Max International’s Jason Russell has learned the methods needed to maintain a healthy weight and keep his other health scores, including cholesterol, in check through the help offered by The Apple Program®. When he started the program in 2010, his Apple Health CoachSM encouraged him to look at areas of his nutrition and exercise habits that could be improved to achieve the ideal health he desired. “I decided to set goals related to monitoring portions and engaging in cardio exercise,” notes Jason. “As the year went on I became stronger, built endurance, and gained tools needed to keep my eating habits in check.”

When the year began Jason said he was pretty diligent about using his at-home exercise bike. He started with 30 minute workouts four times a week and soon built to 45 minutes five and sometimes six days a week. When the weather warmed up, he was excited to resume his running program. He would take morning jogs around his neighborhood using electronic monitors to track his progress. He went from his usual 5K runs to more than four miles at a time. Jason states, “I used to joke with my kids when I got back from running that I had set a new world record. It's true, because no one else was running that route!”

Aside from focusing on exercise, Jason knew he needed to watch his eating habits. “I love to eat and cook, and the pleasures of food are often hard for me to resist. In that sense, limiting my portions has sometimes been a challenge, but I have become more comfortable with the idea that it's okay to feel a little hungry and there's nothing wrong with having, say, half a Cafe Rio burrito for lunch, and then having the other half the next day.”

To keep his food intake in check, Jason used an online tool to track his weight loss. The tool enabled him to enter his starting weight, how many pounds he wanted to lose, and how quickly. It then gave him a daily calorie budget to help him meet his goals. “My budget was 1,900 calories a day, but I was actually aiming for 1,400 daily calories for most of the summer. By the end of July, I was down to 161.9 pounds; I weighed 175 when I started. I was of course making healthy choices in my diet,” states Jason. Through the course of the year he made healthy substitutions in his eating habits, for example, he began using soy milk with his cereal and later transitioning to almond milk. “I was pretty confident that my efforts would show improvements in my cholesterol, and sure enough the assessment in December showed it had; the overall cholesterol number was down, the HDLs were up, and the LDLs were down.”

Jason has known for some time that he needed to take steps to reduce his cholesterol. “My doctor was not ready to put me on medication, but having worked now at a few places where wellness was a focus, I was aware of the implications of high cholesterol. My weight has never been much of a concern for me. I've been around 166-167 for years, but in the fall of 2009, my weight was slowly but steadily going up. I was hovering around 175 for awhile, with occasional spikes up to 179. I wanted to get back to where I had been instead of making 175 my new normal.”

Jason adds, “I had actually tried an online tool in the past but only briefly. I think working with The Apple Program gave me much more discipline to make the online tracker work for me. It was like a perfect storm of wellness. I can't imagine I would have been as successful without this program; it gave me the full awareness I needed. My Health Coach was also a great help. The monthly follow-up calls motivated me because I didn't want to report in that I hadn't done my ‘homework’ as it were. She gave me some good techniques, such as target heart rate, and gave me some good input on healthy snack choices. A previous employer had a wellness program, but the follow-up wasn't nearly as robust, so it made a big difference this go-around.”

“I feel like this program has made me more aware of what I'm taking in, in terms of calories. I have been running fairly regularly since 2005, but didn't see a concurrent drop in weight or improvement in my cholesterol. I believe the missing piece was a better understanding of how each calorie adds up. I had previously been careful about saturated fat in my diet, but of course the foods we eat all have calories. For example, I was shocked when I learned how many calories were in a serving of rice. Most people would probably consider rice to be quite healthy, and I agree with that but having the knowledge of its calorie content really opened my eyes. The arithmetic is pretty simple: to lose weight, you need to expend more calories than you take in, and having the follow-up of this program, coupled with the knowledge I was accumulating both from within and without the program, made it all happen.”

“The changes I’ve made have given me the confidence that if I see my biometrics heading in the wrong direction I know how to make better choices that will get me back on the healthy path. I'd also like to think that as my kids see my exercising four, five, and even six times a week, and making healthy dietary choices, they will be motivated to do the same. My advice to others is once you decide you are going to make a healthy change in your life, act on it immediately. Instead of telling yourself, ‘I’m going to start an exercise program next month.’ Why not start it now? Don't create barriers for yourself. Make a commitment that you will continue to work at it. Even if you can only run 400 meters today, you can be running five miles in just a few months!”

Mark & Jesslyn Weaver with Ancestry.com

Together Mark and Jesslyn Weaver of Ancestry.com have lost 120 pounds, and for the first time in several years they are both at a healthy BMI. Change began for this couple shortly after their initial Apple Health AssessmentSM in 2010 (right before their twin girls turned one). Their scores prompted them to take action on their health for the benefit of their children. Exercise and eating habits soon began to evolve, and they’ve since had tremendous success in their health, not only in dropping pounds but also in lowering blood pressure and blood sugar levels!

They started with small steps, but soon those steps turned into habits, and habits became a lifestyle. They took their first step forward by using equipment they already had access to by putting their home gym to use, which they had set up but had neglected before their twins were born. They note, “Tracking our goals each week in the Apple Portal really helped develop these small steps (such as exercising regularly and eating smarter portions) into a new lifestyle. Our Apple Health CoachesSM were also a help! Checking in with them monthly helped us keep our goals in focus. It’s so easy to forget the big picture, get tired, or frustrated, but they were great cheerleaders when we needed them.”

They attribute many of their changes to The Apple Program®. Mark comments, “Setting realistic goals, tracking them regularly, and discussing them with our coach was a huge key to our success. Our weight loss program was the other piece missing all these years. We almost never drank soda and rarely ate junk food but we now know we were not eating a healthy diet. We ate sporadically, rarely included enough vegetables, and our portions were completely distorted. Now we eat six small, healthy meals a day. We understand proper portion control and have learned that incorporating the right food is easy.”

Jesslyn states, “It’s very likely we would still be struggling had this program not been available to help us turn our desires into actions. It definitely came at the right time. Many years of struggling without success proved something was missing. We have both battled obesity since high school. Losing weight hasn’t simply been a goal; it’s been a heavy burden weighing on our shoulders for many years. It was the main cause of our health problems and was the biggest change we wanted to make in 2010. At the beginning of the summer we started exploring options to make our weight loss happen faster and were blessed to discover an easy eating program; it helped us solidify our goal of healthy eating and we both lost 50 pounds before Christmas! ”

Their future goals are to maintain their weight loss and help others achieve their goals. Jesslyn plans to start Latin dance classes again; Mark wants to finish a marathon before he’s 40; and they both want to complete a mini triathlon. Mark says, “If you had told us a year ago that next year we’d be at healthy BMI’s and helping others achieve their goals, we would’ve had a good laugh.” They’re now living the life they’ve dreamed of for so long! Mark adds, “We hope our girls never remember us as overweight and out of shape; instead, we want to be great examples to them of living an active, healthy life. It will greatly increase the chance of them never struggling with weight like we did.”

They remind others that, “Reaching your goals doesn’t happen by being perfect; it happens by being persistent. Some days were easy, some days weren’t. Track your small goals and before you know it you’ll have reached your big goals!”

Bill Yetman with Ancestry.com

Bill Yetman of Ancestry.com has made tremendous changes in his lifestyle since his initial Apple Health AssessmentSM last winter. Follow his assessment his evaluation indicated he was overweight and had high blood pressure. Bill felt like a “fat boy with high blood pressure” who needed to make modifications. He decided to start making changes by getting in shape and staying that way. He’s since lost over 50 pounds, dropped five pants sizes, and consequently lowered his blood pressure!

Bill accomplished these improvements by biking over 2200 miles on his road bike this year and hiking in the Draper trails even when if it was cold and rainy. He also learned to improve his eating habits by eating and enjoying more greens and limiting fatty junk food. His wife, Liliana, also helped him improve his eating habits by following the 30 Minute South Beach Cookbook and planning and preparing healthy meals for both of us. “She found recipes that were tasty and good for me,” reports Bill. He adds, “My daughter, Shanna, also visited me shortly after my assessment and taught me how to count calories. It was an eye-opening revelation to actually write down what I ate in a single day and calculate the calories. I learned that if you change what you eat, you could ‘diet’ without being hungry and if I went back for seconds it was for vegetables or a piece of fruit. That was a big change.” He realized his tactics were working when he lost his first 10 pounds. “I felt better and that made it easy to keep going.”

“The Apple Program® was the final straw to get me moving,” Bill says. “I was thinking about doing this but being part of the program helped me go from thinking to doing. Without the program I would probably still weigh above 240 and still be thinking about losing weight and getting in shape.”

Bill states that his Apple Health CoachSM was also very encouraging and positive. “She suggested some core exercises for me to compliment all the leg work I was doing on my bike. Having someone you must contact once a month and check in with helped keep me on course. It was nice to have an extra reminder.” At various times in Bill’s life he’s been very athletic and in shape. In college he swam and played water polo, working out twice a day, 6 days per week. At that time he weighed 180 pounds. He indicates, “I was 21 and in the best shape of my life. Right now I am only 10 pounds away from that weight and almost in as good a shape--and I’m a lot older.”

Bill’s future goals are to maintain his fitness strength and keep the weight off. To do this he plans to workout at least one hour a day for a minimum of five days a week. His added energy, focus, and drive keep him motivated to stay in shape. He has also seen that his ability to climb hills on his bike a lot easier, and his added strength and stamina that he thought he had left behind for good years ago also help keep him focused on his goals. “The process was painful, and I had to get in shape slowly but it worked!” reports Bill.

Bill’s advice to other is, “If you’re trying to get in shape and exercise, start slow, and build up a little at a time. Build an aerobic base and then push a little farther and challenge yourself. Consistently making little gains over long periods will result in big changes. Finally remember the slogan, ‘Just do it.’”

Dale Watkins with Washington County

Dale Watkins of Washington County is winning his battle with weight loss with the assistance of The Apple Program®. Throughout Dale’s life, he’s wanted to lose weight but never saw any lasting progress. This changed on Memorial Day of 2010 when he and his wife decided together that it was time to make changes. With his wife’s assistance and his Apple Health Coach’s SM support, Dale has lost over 30 pounds since June 1st and has improved several other aspects of his health biometric scores.

When Dale initially joined The Apple Program® he designed goals for himself that were good, but not very challenging, because he wasn’t extremely committed to making a change. When he saw little improvement at his next Apple Health Assessment SM he knew something really needed to change. Dale indicates he was “a health disaster waiting to happen.” He adds, “I think everyone wants to take better care of themselves, but truly doing something about it is where the rubber meets the road. You have to decide to act. I didn’t and I saw the consequences, but with the support of this program and my wife, I am now reaping the benefits. I feel better mentally and physically, and I weigh less. Without this program, I would still be in denial, starting other programs and eventually giving up, but with this program I get support, praise, and encouragement to keep me motivated.”

Designing real goals helped Dale have success. Walking was a key component for his fitness. “When I walk with my walking partner, Brinkley, my golden retriever, I feel better; it energizes me, and I consequently have a better attitude when I wake up in the morning! I have found a new willpower and I am not willing to look back.”

Dale plans to lose another 30 pounds by next June and anticipates seeing more improvements in his scores at his next Apple Health Assessment SM. To accomplish this he will continue to follow a quote that has motivated him to get make changes thus far, “The pain of change is never overcome until the benefit of the change is realized.” Dale indicates, “I used to set goals but would find ways around them, thus I never realized the benefit. I have now realized the benefit of a healthier lifestyle, and it is good. Another quote I live by is, ‘Kites rise against, not with, the wind.’ Resistance is a fact of life; what we need to do is learn to harness or control those things that are thrown against us and use them to our advantage; when we have overcome them or subdued them then we rise above and are in control of the resistance, rather than it controlling us.”

Jacob Case with Max International

When Jacob Case with Max International finished college in the fall of 2009, he decided it was time to get in shape. For six years he had faced frustration with his weight, excelling in school but not in his health. Shortly after graduation he began making changes. His workplace then teamed up with The Apple Program® and he’s since lost 50 pounds!

Jacob has known for some time that he needed to improve his blood pressure, but he didn’t realize that his weight was also putting him in high risk health categories. To move his scores to normal levels he set goals related to nutrition improvement and increased exercise. Jacob states, “My goal this year was to run 365 miles and ride my mountain bike for 750 miles. I’ve run 620 miles and biked 650 so far!” Several weeks have passed since, so Jacob has likely well exceeded his goal.

“The Apple Program® has helped me in numerous ways. I knew I was heavy and needed to lose some weight, but it was learning of the other factors (hypertension, high body fat percentage, and BMI) that really reinforced my purpose to get healthier. Talking with my health coach has also helped generate new ideas. For example, I try to eat about 2,700 calories each day, 30% from protein, 50% from carbohydrates, 5% from saturated fat, and 15% from unsaturated fat. Trying to maintain calorie amounts and ratios became a challenge until I discussed this with my health coach. She gave me several new ideas about foods to integrate into my diet. She has also helped me with running advice and discussion with exercise such as why I should have good running shoes and how important stretching is,” notes Jacob. He adds, “I think the program has added knowledge and motivation that I wouldn't have otherwise had. I learned more about my health, as well as gained support and ideas about how to maintain variety in my diet and workout plan.”

Jacob has learned things from his Apple Health CoachSM that he otherwise may have never known, for example, he though his sodium and caffeine consumptions were at normal levels, but then learned he was actually consuming 300% of normal sodium requirement. Jacob’s coach helped by giving him ideas to reduce his intake of those ingredients, which has helped him lower his blood pressure to a normal level. Jacob states, “Talking with a health coach is good because you know they will ask you about your goals and give you ideas about them. Tracking the goals is also great because it's a way to hold yourself accountable. Just having a health-minded mentor there to bounce ideas off of and check yourself with is a great advantage. Furthermore, although I already know much of the material at the quarterly brown bag meetings, I always come away from the meeting with at least a few new ideas and concepts that I can integrate. Some things that I already knew I still need to be reminded of, and the brown bag meetings are good for that.”

Jacob knows that his success would not have come unless he was able to change his behaviors. “I remember saying ‘I have a slow metabolism,’ but that was before I started tracking my diet and learned that I didn't eat well. After taking ownership of my diet, I found that my metabolism is not slow at all. The Apple Program® and the health coach helped to facilitate the process of improving my health. Specifically, I would say that goal setting and periodic evaluation of those goals with the health coach is how I've succeeded.”

Jacob suggests, “You have to decide why you want to reach your goals and believe in those reasons; they're different for everyone. This summer I got into racing mountain bikes. Much of my motivation and purpose for wanting to lose weight, in addition to getting healthy, was to be able to compete in the mountain bike races. I competed in 5 mountain bike races, 2 half marathons (Ogden and Park City in 1:45, and 1:47 respectively) and ran the St. George marathon in 3:50:22. While losing the weight and conditioning, I went from running a 10:30 mile pace to around an 8 minute mile. Physical performance is one of the biggest reasons I've become so concerned with my health. It's very satisfying and adds a level of fulfillment to my life.”

Saying yes to challenges and stepping out of your comfort zone is important to Jacob. He was invited by a team to run the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay last June when they had a teammate drop out at the last minute and needed a replacement. Because a member of the team knew he was training for the St. George marathon, they invited him to join. He was uncertain about it, but did it anyway. It was a great experience for him. He made several new friends that weekend, and they all formed another team for the Las Vegas Ragnar, which was just last weekend. Jacob states, “Doing activities in groups and gaining friendships with people who are into fitness is important, because values rub off on one another, and you can gain insight from those friends when you talk to them. That's why it's also important to get your spouse on the same page; my wife and I are on the same page with our diet and exercise, and it helps tremendously.”

Jacob’s future goals include maintaining the fitness he’s implemented and become more competitive with mountain biking and running. He’s grateful that he has achieved efficacy (the capacity for producing a desired result) in his life and is able to do what he wants with physical activities.

His advice to others is to, “Find balance and sustainability. You have to keep balance in your life or the program that you're on is not Sustainable. I see the need for balance when I start to get annoyed with not eating appealing foods because of its nutritional content. When this happens, I loosen my diet for a meal or two. I don't go overboard; I just force myself to be ok with eating a less than perfect meal, such as having desert, or a larger portion. It's better to eat one or two less than perfect meals than it is to fall off the bandwagon for several weeks. By the end of the month, if you've eaten a handful of less than perfect meals but the rest of the time you ate clean, then your overall diet is excellent. It's also good to remind yourself that fitness will ebb and flow to a certain extent. When I start to get burned out of exercising, or a certain type of exercise, I'll try to switch it up, or replace it with another activity. Sometimes I realize that I haven't spent as much time with my wife as I should be, so I won't work out that day and go do something with her instead. Also remember that early on, you will get extremely sore from exercise. This is also when it's the most discouraging. Keeping balance in your life will help you from getting burned out and discouraged and is the best way to find a sustainable, healthy routine to adhere to over the long run.”

Scott Murdock with Wheeler Cat

Scott Murdock with Wheeler Cat has noticed great changes in his lifestyle since joining The Apple Program®. Being accountable to someone has encouraged Scott to set and meet short and long term goals. As a result, increased energy and vibrancy in life are just some of the benefits Scott has noticed.

Prior to joining the program, Scott had asthmatic problems and was often tired but now he’s improving his cardio endurance by engaging in activities such as spin classes. Since Scott began doing this, he’s noticed improvements not only in his physique with weight loss, but he’s also experiencing fewer asthma related complications and isn’t as tired as he once was. “I have more energy to play with my kids and accomplish my tasks,” Scott says.

One thing that motivated Scott to begin pushing himself was purchasing a watch with a heart rate monitor which has helped him get his heart rate up to his target zone. This has increased his stamina and endurance and has enabled him to set goals he was once unable to achieve, like attempting to bike up mountains. Scott’s said, “It’s nice to be in enough shape that I can actually do that type of activity.”

Scott reports that he wouldn’t have had the success he’s had if his company hadn’t offered The Apple Program®. He’s said, “The accountability and educational aspects of the program have helped me; it’s exactly what I needed. My Apple Health Coach™ has helped get me on track by answering various questions related to my dietary goals.”

His goals for the future include continuing to lower his body fat. He plans to do that by creating a caloric deficiency, cutting back between 200 and 300 calories per day. “I’ve found that I’m able to do that by eating more protein and fiber, which helps me stay full longer. I’m also eating smaller meals more often.”

Scott is grateful that these changes are not only creating savings in terms of health care, but also increasing the quality and years of his life. His advice to others is, “If I can do it, you can too!”

Paul Stokes with Clyde Companies Inc.

Paul Stokes of Clyde Companies Inc. has lost 35 pounds over the past year by altering his eating habits and exercise routine. His determination to get back to the physical shape he was in years ago led him to his path to change. By participating in The Apple Program®, Paul notes that he became more aware of his health habits and gained the education needed to improve his lifestyle.

He started by cutting back on sugar and limiting his snacks. Paul also started to gradually incorporate exercise, and notes that each month, “My coach helped challenge me to add a new goal to continue my progression and take me to the next level. I have now lost the weight I wanted to and have not gained it back.”

Losing weight is something Paul has wanted for a long time in his life. He knew that he needed to get his health in track, so he could avoid the risk of developing heart disease in addition to improving his overall heart health. Paul states, “The wellness program has helped me learn how to be a better eater and more active person. I understand why it is important to exercise regularly and eat healthy. I have made the decision to change my eating habits and to exercise. The combination of these things has helped me maintain my weight loss. I attribute my success to the Apple Program and to my wife. Working together as a family has made it a lot easier to change the way I treat myself.”

Paul plans to maintain his progress by focusing on eating healthy and exercising regularly. He hopes to run a triathlon sprint next year with his brother-in-law. He also adds, “I don’t think I will do anything crazy like run a marathon, but who knows? Maybe I will get in good enough shape that I will feel like doing that someday!”

Paul is grateful that the changes he’s made have given him more confidence and enabled him to be a better example to his children and family. “I want all of us to live a healthy life, and I feel that these steps I’ve taken will help.”

Paul concludes, “My advice to others is, find a way to take little steps to becoming healthier. If you don’t like to exercise, make small goals to walk longer each day. Little by little, you will find that you like to exercise. Also, enjoy the outdoors. It is great to go outside, breathe fresh air and enjoy the beautiful scenery. My last piece of advice is simple, eat less sugar and starches and consume more veggies.”

Gail Duarte with South Shore Medical Center

Gail Duarte of South Shore Medical Center has made tremendous changes in her health and lifestyle in the past two and half a years. Her path to a better wellbeing began when she turned 50 and had an annual physical with her doctor at South Shore. Her results came back, and she discovered she weighed almost 270 pounds, was borderline diabetic, and had cholesterol and blood pressure levels through the roof. Her desire to change came that day when her physician took her by the hand and brought her down to see Laura, a physician assistant specializing in diabetes. This was just the beginning of her journey.

A year later Gail found herself 80 pounds lighter! She was still fearful, however, because she had lost weight like this in the past but then would put it back on. She knew it is one thing to take the weight off, another to keep it off. “I’ve since learned that to be successful with managing weight loss, you have to make a lifestyle change and be an overall healthy being; until you learn that and live by that day to day, you won’t achieve your goals,” says Gail. “I was able to maintain my weight for a full year, and then The Apple Program® came in. I needed a coach only because of BMI, as my ideal weight for my height is 140. I’m nearly 10 pounds away from my ultimate goal weight and plan to reach that by my next Apple Health Assessment™ in December!”

At Gail’s most recent annual exam with her doctor her scores came back better than ever with a blood pressure of 118 over 70, an A1C reading down from 10 to 5.0, triglycerides at 117, glucose reading of 89 down from 113 only six months ago, and a total cholesterol of 131 with HDL’s at 40 and LDL’s at just 69!

Gail has picked up several tips over the past three years that have led to this success. She reports that cutting back on carbs and doing little things like chewing on sugar free gum, contemplating her food choices before each meal, or simply getting a breath of fresh air have all helped. “I try to stay away from any white foods except cauliflower! I’ve cut out a lot of potatoes and breads and have substituted it with things like soup, lettuce wraps, or vegetables. If I do have carbs I try to eat them earlier in the day (for breakfast or sometimes lunch), so I can burn it off; even when I do eat carbs, it’s complex carbs such as brown rice, low cal whole wheat breads, or whole wheat pasta.” Gail has also found exercises that she loves including Zumba classes and brisk walks. “I try to do 70 minutes of cardio, three times per week,” says Gail.

Gail would like to thank all those who have attributed to her success. “The Coaches at The Apple Program are all great. I’m also appreciative to those at my medical center who have helped me get me fit. We’re asking others to be healthy, so we have to be healthy ourselves, which is why our company took on The Apple Program®. It’s been a full circle, and I couldn’t have done this alone. My husband of 34 years has been a great support, as he’s altered his cooking to help us both be healthy.”

For more tips, Gail suggests reading Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch. Her advice to others is, “To change our lives, we must first change our minds. You have to make a lifestyle change; you can’t lose weight and think you’re done.”

Rhonda Sanchez with Harmons

Rhonda Sanchez of Harmons has made tremendous lifestyle improvements since joining the Apple Program®. Not only has she implemented changes in her eating habits by reading nutrition labels on foods, but she’s also quit smoking and has implemented an exercise routine in hopes of improving her long-term health including her cholesterol levels.

“In the beginning,” Rhonda admits, “I joined the Apple Program® because of the financial incentive. As time has gone on, however, I’ve realized I need to make changes in my health. I am a proud single parent of a beautiful, amazing, 13 year old daughter, and it became apparent that if I didn’t make changes, I may not be around to watch her become a successful adult.” With the support of the Apple Program, including an Apple Health Coach™, Rhonda received the tools needed to get her health on track. “There’s no way I would have ever been this successful without the program. I’ve had a tremendous amount of support.”

Rhonda began focusing on making small changes with her health in order to combat smoking. “My coach gave me tips on quitting. For instance, we talked about how I could go a whole day at work without smoking, and how I could refrain from smoking on my days off. One helpful thing was locking my cigarettes in the trunk of my car, so if I wanted one I would have to go down three flights of stairs and unlock the trunk to get one. That helped because it made me assess whether or not I really wanted one.”

Rhonda now feels like she has the support and tools to make healthy choices for the rest of her life. She’s grateful for the encouragement offered by her daughter as well as her Apple Health Coach, and for the opportunity to be in the Apple Program. She’s especially delighted that her daughter has a healthy example and will no longer be exposed to the effects of secondhand smoke. She reminds others to, “Take it one day at a time and never give up. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. We’re all a work in progress.”