Page 25 - HCPVitalityChronicles

Walking Helps Maricruz Vaca Improve Her Cholesterol Readings

As the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding. For Maricruz ing healthy even before, she actually discovered she had not
Vaca, the proof was in the numbers. At the end of February been ea,ng enough calories per day. Now she counts her calo-
2012, her total cholesterol reading was 218 and her LDL read- ries and her protein intake, and the upside is that she has lost
ing was 139. Fast forward to the end of February of this year: inches and 9 pounds so far. She would like to con,nue to lose
her cholesterol had lowered to a healthy 180, and her LDL had some more weight.
decreased to 101. To what does she owe these drama,c im-
provements? Walking, religiously, in the Vitality program. Before this change, she joked that what she had was ‘baby fat,'
and her daughter is now 15
Although she joined the Vitality years old. “I had gained weight,
program when it was first intro- but so had everyone else
duced to HealthCare Partners, she around me, so the thought was,
became more ac,ve over the past ‘Whatever.’”
year thanks to the encourage-
ment of Carol Saylor, with whom Her current thought process
she began taking daily walks dur- does not allow this word any-
ing the workday. At first Vaca more. Her daughter Rebecca
needed the push, and if Saylor encourages her when she’s
could not go one day, Vaca would doing her extreme workout
wait un,l the next ,me they could DVD.
walk together. But now she is mo-
,vated to walk on her own, at a Maricruz Vaca continues walking every day to ensure her The mo,va,on has impacted
good health.
brisk pace, two miles per day. And her life in other ways, too.
at home she is currently doing a 90-day extreme workout DVD. Along with Socorro Lopez, Vaca is now serving as Vitality co-
champ at Bixby Knolls. Saylor couldn’t be happier, seeing
“I’m very excited about this,” said Vaca, pa,ent liaison at HCP’s Vaca’s progress.
Bixby Knolls Office in Long Beach. “When I got my most recent
lab results, I wanted to start doing jumping jacks.” “This year she got not only a big congratula,ons from her doc-
tor, she was thrilled that her cholesterol had improved so
Although she enjoys earning Vitality points, the benefits reach much,” Saylor said. “I was so excited with her. Her enthusiasm
way beyond this. “It’s the mo,va,on to improve my own and relief at the progress she made was contagious.”
health, and to change my lifestyle,” Vaca said, adding that she
was previously not physically ac,ve. She uses Map My Walk to The path Vaca has started is one she will con,nue on. “You can
track her daily walking rou,ne. do it,” Vaca said. “All you need is to start, and believe in your-
self. Get mo,vated. It took me a year, but it happened. It is
Another component to her recent lifestyle change has been a possible.”
greater awareness of her dietary needs. Although she was eat-

All informa,on in the Vitality program is HIPAA protected. Members have chosen to share their personal health accomplishments.
For more informa,on about Vitality, visit www.powerofvitality.com. Contact Janet Galli for further program informa,on.