I’ve always had a huge sweet tooth. I kept my pantry, fridge, and cabinets well-stocked with cookies, cake, pie, ice cream, etc. Every night after dinner, I indulged my sugar addiction.

My doctor ordered blood work to check my cholesterol level, and I learned I had high cholesterol. My doctor wanted to put me on a statin, but I refused and sought help from a nutritionist.

I met Mary Roberts-Curran, a Marathon Health nutritionist at the Hampton City Schools Employee Health & Wellness Center. Mary is amazing, she’s been my biggest cheerleader. She taught me how to properly read food labels, which really opened my eyes to what I had been consuming for years. I was literally killing myself with my fork and spoon.

Mary advised increasing my water intake and exercising at least 150 minutes per week. I went cold turkey on sweets and began keeping a daily food and water diary. I consistently walk on my treadmill and do Zumba. I read food labels on everything.

I think the greatest thing Mary did was to foster a sense of awareness about my eating habits and the negative effect they were having on my overall health.

Today, I am a changed individual! I feel so good. I thought I couldn’t live without sweets, but now instead of sweets controlling me, I control them. I have more energy and fewer aches and pains in my knees and joints. My health is great. I recently had my cholesterol rechecked, and the results were amazing! — Member Nan Williams

I was literally killing myself with my fork and spoon. Today, I am a changed individual! I feel so good.