This message is meant to
recognize all the executives and employees like Galo Garde, President of First
Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC), who are striving to change their lifestyles
to improve their health and prolong their lives.
By doing so, they acknowledge that obesity is a health problem that breeds life-threatening complications; and that without their personal commitment to take responsibility for their own lives, the consequences could be tragic not only for them but for their loved ones and their companies who depend on them in many ways.
Harvard Medical describes obesity as an excess of body fat, and is one of the most common human health problems. But that is not all there is to it. As weights rise, so do the secondary risks associated with obesity. These risks may include cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and even some forms of cancer.
Successful long-term weight (and waist) management can be achieved through diet, proper nutrition, exercise and behavior modification. This is what Galo began to do six months ago, in October 2007. At that time his weight was 270 lbs; waist and hips were 52 inches respectively; and blood pressure was 120/88.
By March 31, 2008 his weight had dropped by 52 lbs to 218; his waist and hips had narrowed to 42.5 in. and 44.5 in. respectively; and his blood pressure had normalized to 120/80. His weight loss was 100% more than the program target of 26 lbs, while his waistline reduction was 200% more than the program target of 3 inches.
His program was supervised by the head of a leading hospital’s Wellness Dept and supported by a dietician and a psychologist. Thus, apart from his physical appearance that makes him look like a new man, three out of three blood chemistry red flags had been erased during this period! He succeeded in taking himself off the crosshairs of Syndrome X.
This is mainly attributable to “moderated greed” (or feed whichever way you want to call it) consuming not more than 2,000 calories per day, and burning those calories through a vigorous exercise regimen that peaked at 10-12 hours per week from the 2nd to the 5th month of the program.
He has committed to post-program targets with the guidance of his endocrinologist and psychotherapist to ensure the sustainability of his wellness program. He is targeting a weight of 199 lbs and a 40 in. waistline by August through regular exercise and tri-weekly monitoring by his doctors.
Lifelong congratulates Galo
and fellow employees like him in the Lopez Group who have willed themselves
to get on the road to wellness. Taking responsibility for one’s life
is the only way to be well and stay well.
Rafael M. Alunan III
for the Wellness Team