Gary Long did it with the Center for Weight Management
Gary L. Long, COO, Virtua Voorhees and Marlton Hospitals
“Imagine being a hospital executive who manages the care of tens of thousands of patients a year, but struggles to manage his own weight and fitness. That was my life just a few years ago. I needed a change. The change I needed was right in front of me at Virtua’s Center for Weight Management,” says Gary L. Long, COO, Virtua Voorhees and Marlton Hospitals.
Unlike other weight-loss solutions, the team at the Virtua Center for Weight Management gave Gary a step-by-step program. He had private consultations with a dietitian and learned why 64 ounces of water is needed each day, and that Greek yogurt has double the protein and half the sugar of his usual fruit-on-the bottom yogurt. Gary also worked out at the Center for HealthFitness, and optimized his workout to burn fat and build muscle.
Were there days that Gary didn’t feel like keeping with the program?
“Absolutely. But, I kept myself on track by maintaining a journal of what I ate and of my exercise goals. I also had the guilt factor working – I told everyone at Virtua that I was doing the Virtua Center for Weight Management’s program, so accountability followed me everywhere I went,” said Gary.
Gary updated his progress with weekly meetings with the team from the Center for Weight Management. Within a year he lost 30 pounds of fat and built 10 pounds of muscle. “I just didn’t lose weight, I lost my old habits for a lifetime,” Gary explains.