December's Most Valuable Participant

The staff at Sports 4 All Foundation is excited to bring you

M.V.P

Most Valuable Participant 

Kate Johnson competing in a "crab walk" relay during Project HEALTH.

Kate has had an amazing year! I give her and the wonderful staff at Project HEALTH all the credit for what she has been able to accomplish.

A year ago she had been taking a medicine that she needed, but it caused problems for her in that it made her feel hungry often, it slowed her metabolism, and she had little self-control to stop the urge to eat. It became a battle at home. She would even sneak food when I wasn't there to see. She gained an unhealthy amount of weight very quickly, and I had to do something fast.

 

I knew some of the strategies you all had been exposing her to like teaching her to be able to read and understand food labels, talking about which foods are healthy and which are not, and why. So I began to speak that language at home, and we worked on a plan for swimming and walking regularly. You all had laid the groundwork so well that it took, and she started to realize that her health was important. She became motivated once she understood what she was working toward. She began setting up goals for herself like: "I want to lose 10 pounds so I can look good in my dress for my cousin's wedding!" Each time she accomplished one, it motivated her to set up the next goal. The staff at Project HEALTH, Friends Life, and Metro Parks cheered her successes along the way, and that motivated her that much more.

One year later, and she has now lost 50 pounds! She looks good and feels great. I can see such a difference in her mood, as she is happier and more energetic now compared to a year ago. It is not uncommon for her to turn down a cupcake in favor of a piece of fruit! She has taken the information she got from your staff and integrated this into her daily living when it comes to nutrition and healthy choices. She is still working on losing more weight, and exercise is more naturally a part of her daily life.

 

Thanks for making such a difference!

 
Sincerely,
Peggy Johnson
Letter from Kate's mother to Sports 4 All Foundation