Tori’s Story
Tori’s Story
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My employer promotes ConnectCare3 services to our clients. I was inspired by the success stories I read from those who had participated in their wellness programs and thought to myself, “Why not me?” I was approaching 30 years old, need to lose weight, and another motivator was my strong family history of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. I am looking forward to having a family someday and want to be around to care for them and live life to the fullest!
I set an ambitious goal to lose 100 pounds, but I knew I couldn’t do it alone. That’s when I reached out to ConnectCare3 and began working with a health coach. From our very first conversation, she listened with care and compassion. I admitted my diet was poor and that I often made unhealthy food choices. There were days I’d skip meals completely or eat something unhealthy and then starve myself for the remainder of the day. Even though I played on four softball teams in high school, I did not exercise consistently throughout my 20’s. My health coach helped me identify where I could improve and promised to create a plan tailored to my needs. I told her I was ready to do whatever it took to live in a healthy body.
Together, we focused on creating SMART goals—specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. She suggested I utilize a food and exercise log for tracking meals and exercise and MyPlate to guide my portions and food balance. She also encouraged me to follow the 80/20 rule: eat healthy, nourishing foods 80% of the time and allow room for indulgences 20% of the time.
My fiancé is a big supporter of my goal, and we found meal planning and preparation to be a great bonding experience. We quickly realized we could eat healthier things when we planned a meal at home, and the money we saved by doing so was a bonus!
After a few months, I decided to take on a self-improvement program designed to build discipline, fitness, and mental toughness. It helped me to follow a healthy diet, complete more exercise in a day, and focused on drinking more water each day.
I’d tried countless diets before, but most were too restrictive to sustain. This time, my health coach encouraged balance—filling my plate with fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. She provided recipes, snack ideas, and ongoing encouragement. I now drink plenty of water, skip soda and coffee, and limit empty calories from alcohol.
In addition to transforming my diet, I began exercising consistently—working out 5–7 days a week with a mix of walking, cardio exercise, and strength training.
Today, I’m proud to share that I’ve lost 60+ pounds and will continue my weight loss journey with the healthy habits I’ve built. I’m happy to report my glucose level is down over 15 points, my A1C is now acceptable at 5.1, and my risk for diabetes dropped from 33% to 5% via a biometric screening. In addition, my overall cholesterol and HDL and LDL now fall within a normal range. I’ve also celebrated non-scale victories like buying my wedding dress in a smaller size and comfortably fitting into a rollercoaster at Hersheypark!
This experience has been truly life-changing. I’ve done a complete 180 in how I approach eating and exercise. While I put in the effort, I owe much of my success to my ConnectCare3 health coach, who gave me the tools, accountability, and unwavering support I needed on this journey to better health.
