Inspiring Wellness Stories

I am Lloyd from Greers Ferry AR. I am 85 years old. I have had a weight problem all my life, but it grew worse after back surgery in 2006 caused by nerve damage.

I became very immobile & unable to exercise and my weight just piled on without any hope of losing it until I learned about the GK Diet Wellness Lifestyle.

At first I was skeptical, but thank God I tried it.

I lost 25 pounds and 15 inches so far. The result? I can walk better. And I didn't go hungry as I was eating exactly what my body needed so I had no hunger or cravings.

I want to continue as I have further to go.

Lloyd E.

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Image submitted by Lloyd

This Inspirational Story begins many years ago, and thank heavens it does:

Fifteen years ago I heard about a water program here in town. My mother and I went. We were not in very good shape, could barely get through the first class. Two weeks into it, it was much easier. Ina was talking about getting people trained as instructors. I decided it would be cheaper for me to become an instructor, in order for me to continue. So I thought I can do this. That's how I became an instructor.

Eight years ago I had a massive heart attack. It was what they called a silent attack, I even taught Water Aerobics before I went to the hospital. I didn't have much in the way of pain or symptoms, I just felt that something was really wrong, like I was dying. I had excessive yawning and a little pain in the right side of my jaw-that was it. I drove myself to the hospital; put my cigarette out at the door-my last cigarette.

I walked into the hospital, there was an ambulance driver there and she said, can I help you? I said I just have to go see if I've had a heart attack. She kind of giggled. I said, yea, kind of silly huh. She said, well you don't look like you've had a heart attack. I said well thank you. I went in, they started working on me taking vitals, x-rays, blood work and an EKG.

Twenty minutes later a nurse came back and stuck a big needle in my stomach. She said it wouldn't hurt-but it did. Anyway I had had a massive coronary and 44% of my heart died. That's why they had to give me the shot. I was still having the heart attack at that point. So, my heart was still dying. They wanted to Med-flight me to Little Rock, I said No - can't I just drive-I drove over here. They said no-they would not let me.

I went to the hospital by ambulance and Dr. Doff my doctor said he didn't know how I survived it. I told him I did water aerobics and my resting heart rate was low. My heart attack was caused by medication, and it was also a silent heart attack. This means you don't have any pain or symptoms. I just had a feeling that I was dying. I knew I felt bad, that's all. I was amazed that I had 3 clogged arteries, and was still walking around having this heart attack like nothing had happened. My coloring was good, and I was tired, extremely tired. But my doctor said it was because my resting heart rate was low because of my water aerobics.

Water Aerobics saved my life.

I would like to encourage others to get into water aerobics, although it was difficult for me at first because I had to use a cane. I don't have to use a cane anymore. I still have problems with my feet, and I always will have. I can tolerate the workout better now.

My doctor calls me his miracle because I probably shouldn't have survived it. He said there's a reason for everything,

I think I survived the Heart Attack to teach Water Aerobics and help others.
Vicki Elliot

After being on the Low Glycemic Diet Wellness program I found it to be a diet I can actually stand. That is usually not the case with dieting. I have found this diet to be very different. A way of living that I can very easily do and want to do.

Most diets leave me hungry with cravings, but over the course of this program I have discovered that if I don't cheat, I never get hungry or have cravings!

In only 8 weeks I went from a size 16 to a 12, which was my
normal size when I was younger.

Current update after completing class about 8 months ago:

I still find this program very easy and comfortable to live with. It has become my lifestyle. And, when trying on clothes I notice I have gotten even slimmer.
Betty W

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I have always had a problem with my weight. I have always hated that. I never found a diet that was easy, and handled my hunger & cravings, like this one has.

The GK Diet Wellness program is the best, easiest and most effective program I have ever been on for weight loss. Now that I have made it into a lifestyle, it couldn't be easier. The nutrition you recommended has been so helpful too.

I just pick the foods that you taught us that would not spike my blood sugar. Since I no longer have the hunger & cravings that I have had my entire life, especially with chocolate-although I still like it-the fat has just melted off. I can't get over the complements I'm getting from people.

That's a big change.

Also, my husband is very pleased with how I look.

I have more confidence now than I have ever had, and it sure helps in my job. I no longer have to worry about what I look like. I can just live.

Thank you, this has changed my life.

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Image submitted by Missy

I normally was slim; weighing 120 pounds most of my life. Then, with menopause my life turned up-side-down.

My hormones went crazy, I was in a fog, and my body ballooned to over 150 pounds. I was biting everyone's head off, nearly lost my job, and was making everyone including myself miserable.

Now, after the GK Diet Wellness program including proper nutrition I have my life back. I am back to my old weight of 120 pounds.

I went from depressed, fat and tired to-thin, healthy and happier than I had been in many years.

You'll never regret this program. It is fantastic.

Carmel is an excellent coach.
Juli Thompson

In the last year after 2 years of being nearly a couch potato, unable to walk from the couch to the door, trying out new medications to keep my back from giving out on me I had gained about 50lbs. I had enough, so I started to get active again and teach more lifeguard classes and basic water and rescue, water safety classes and water safety Instructor courses, helping in the arthritis classes water aerobics as well as swimming laps for an hour, three times a week and walking the other days.

My Results; I am now able to walk with out stopping and my back does not hurt. I have now have lost 30 lbs. I still have a long ways to go but I have made a good start. Besides activity and exercise I have cut my food portions on my plate down and I rarely have seconds. Also I have quit having daily snacks - only occasionally. I ate no ice cream -my favorite snack - and dessert this past summer. In fact I rarely have desert. The pounds are coming off slowly but the inches are melting fast. I am almost back into most of the clothes I wore 2 years ago. My goal is to keep losing lbs slowly so I keep the lbs off better this time. Lord willing I plan to lose another 100lbs.

When our Community Center opened up it gave me the chance to teach regularly and helped me to achieve the success I have had so far. I pray I can continue to come in the New Year.
Barbara L Hite
Instructor / Trainer
Bee Branch.

Picture donated by Barbara

Weight gain and dieting has been a lifelong struggle for me. As the years went by the battle became more and more difficult and the aches and pains were increasing. I made the decision that I had to make some changes in my lifestyle to help make my remaining years more healthy and productive. I began to make a few changes in my eating habits, which helped some, but starting one of the water aerobic classes at our new community center made a big difference in how I felt physically and mentally.

After reading Carmel's column in the paper for a long time I became interested in learning more about the glycemic index way of eating. I have learned to make the right food choices for my body type and to keep a journal of what I eat, my exercise and my water consumption. It is a challenge, but it has held me accountable.

My Results: I have begun to lose weight and inches. And I really appreciate another thing. One of the best benefits is an amazing increase in energy. I love feeling like getting up and going every day.

Ruth Anne Toland

Wanted to add: Ruth Anne went through this program during the holidays and a cruise, and with everything in her life she has lost 10 lbs and 20 inches, and also has had a great increase in her energy--What a wonderful result!

Picture taken by her husband

Hi Carmel,

Since September I started to watch my carb and sugar limits. Most days I succeed in staying at 16 grams of sugar or less for the day.

When I have a day (usually as a result of a social event) where I go over my limit, I just get back to business the next day.

Making this adjustment, along with the real food technology solutions that I have been using for years.

My Result: This has returned my blood pressure to normal readings (in the range of when I was in my 20's) and allowed me to lose 15 pounds and over 30 inches.

Additional Note 2-10-2011 Lorie has continued to lose, losing an additional 5 lbs.

In the last year I have been trying to eat better, and organic. I have been really cutting back on those wonderful desserts. I don't have ice cream in the fridge any more. I brush my teeth after eating in the evening so I don't snack again before I go to bed.

I do the Silver Sneakers Exercise program at the Y on Mon.Wed and Fri. We are having a Christmas party tomorrow morning with games and food. It will be interesting to see what people bring at 9 in the morning. I'm taking fruit. I take good supplements that give me energy.

My Result:

I'm on no medications and I keep a very busy schedule between music and my vibrant health business is growing because people see that I'm doing so well for my age (83).

Also, although it is really a cold winter here. I'm coping with it better than I did several years ago. So, I guess what I'm doing for my health is working.

Dalton Richardson an 86 year old family health care provider Needed Stress Relief:
Our Health Center is the best thing to happen in our town. I go to Silver Sneakers, and I love that therapeudic pool. I go about every day. I am limited, not by any health issue, but by being a health care provider.
Results: It is hard to put into words. I'll say it has done me worlds of good. I have more energy and I am better able to cope with what I need to do. I love it!

Pictured: Donated by Martha Barker. She is 82 in this picture

GlycoNutritionals help the pain of colon problems: by Pat Garner age - 79

My sister and I had suffered with bad colon problems for years--she much more so than I. About 6 years ago we started taking a dietary supplement called glyocontrients that supports the immune system. From the start we had wonderful results.

She is 84 years old and I am 79 --so age is no draw back to good results. But a word of advice. What you take into your body does make a difference, either for good or for bad. So we also try to make good choices in our food and drink as well as the glyocontrients.

The Result: No more hospital stays for her and no more horrible pain for either of us.

Patsy Garner

Click here if you would like to learn more about immune support and whole food nutrition.

Picture submitted by Patsy Garner

In Geneva's own words:

First I want to say that I read your column every week and love it. I sent the one of us at our Aquatics class to my son in Washington. He could tell it was me in the picture.

I don't know how to express it well enough. The pool is wonderful. Exercising in water is one of the greatest exercises. Everyone is great to me. They meet me with a hug. I love - those hugs.

I started Aquatics class 8-1-2010. At 91 years old, I didn't know what to expect. When I first went in I couldn't even walk in the water. I started out in the corner of the pool. Now I can exercise with everyone and am also able to walk in the water.

Results: I have been helped in all kinds of ways. Everyone is just so wonderful to me - giving me hugs. I'm improving all the time. My hands and my knees are moving much better and even my thumbs are able to move. It has helped me so much - I just love it.

Ron Suhm 71 with Diabetes and a Back Issue:

I went to the doctor and found out that I am one point above being a diabetic, that's not real serious, but you are starting to become a diabetic.

So the first thing we did was cut down on carbohydrates and we cut food almost in half.

I have a severely deformed back, a childbirth defect, called Spondylolisthesis.
I found out that the track at the Center, has a rubber pad on it, and it is not invasive, so on an average I walk from 3-5 days a week at least a mile.

The Community Center is just excellent with swimming classes, aerobics for the ladies and the weight room for those that can use it-I am not able. There are also 5 or 6 good machines up there to use too.

The facility is not build cheap, it is built right, including the furniture.

I feel that that center is going to be a real blessing to the seniors in our area for many years. I am glad it's here.. We needed something like this years ago. Our numbers are increasing there all the time. The staff is tremendous, and Ina Brown, the Aquatic Dept. head does a tremendous job.

My results: My weight has gone from 212 to 196 in about 2 months. And, I feel 100% better.
My wife has gotten good results too,