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Tangible Improvements in Her Health Keep Elaine Castillon, RN,

Walking the Good Walk

Elaine Castillon, RN, Care Manager, apples, and avocados,” Castillion
HCP Mariner, attributes her better said, adding that she encourages
overall outlook to all of the endor- her husband to also partake of
phins released while walking. Her these healthier foods.
journey to better health started
nine months ago, and in that time, At work she has paced off steps for
Castillon has lost 44 pounds and is people. She recently showed an
off of cholesterol and blood pres- out of area physician a 900-step
sure medications. She reaches at loop they could walk.
least 10,000 steps on her FitBug at
least five days a week—and she Castillon has completed some of
walks every day, both in her neigh- the online Vitality nutrition
borhood and at work. courses, and she prints the really
good ones to share with friends
It was a conscious lifestyle change and family.
Elaine Castillon during one of her walks during work.
she decided to make. Some years
ago she had been walking three miles a day, but when she She has enjoyed some fun moments with the Vitality pro-
started to take care of her father when he became ill, making gram. Her initial Vitality Health Review, an online health as-
time for exercise went on the back burner. For about three sessment, put her age at four years older than her actual
years she was sedentary. age. Now, her Vitality age is two years younger than her ac-
tual age. “I love watching my age on Vitality drop,” she
Now, many people ask her how she does it. And she has a laughed.
variety of suggestions. “Just make the changes you can
make, even if they are small,” she said. “Do it slowly and add Seeing great lab results also makes her happy, as does the
onto it. Start for a couple of weeks so that you get into a pat- fact that she has needed to shop for some new clothes, as
tern.” She also has suggested to people to keep a food diary even her clothes from prior to losing weight were too loose
to become more aware of what you can cut out; she does on her.
this mentally.
Her neighbors who see her walking and her fellow team-
Her own pattern for better health has included several com- mates at work continue to cheer her on in her efforts. The
ponents. In addition to walking, she has been eating health- greatest benefit is how she feels. “I have a lot more energy,”
ier. She and a teammate paired up for Match the Mayor VIII Castillon said. “I have a different feeling for life, I’m a lot hap-
in June, and encouraged each other to eat healthier. She re- pier, and even when I am stressed, I can deal with it a lot
alized she needed to eat more produce. “Now my refrigera- better. I just feel better and healthier.”
tor is regularly stocked with all kinds of berries, grapes,

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