Ever gone for your annual physical thinking everything was going to be business as usual only to find out that something serious was going on? That’s exactly what happened to my client, William, a 64-year-old husband and grandfather.
William knew he wasn’t 100% in perfect health, but he didn’t expect to find out that he had prediabetes with an A1c of 6.2, and his triglycerides were very high at 284.
“I knew I had to do something,” William recalls. “I started cutting back on food and walking more. While I lost 5 pounds and felt a little better, it wasn’t enough. My blood work still showed I was headed in the wrong direction.”
That’s when his primary care physician recommended he meet with me. One of William’s biggest personal goals was to get his weight down to 200 pounds (from 221), a number he hadn’t seen in years. Being an athlete most of his life, he wanted to feel fitter.
A Plan for Prediabetes and Weight Loss
From our first call, I knew that a rigid, cookie-cutter plan was going to be right for William. His previous diets were initially successful, but unsustainable. The weight would always come back, plus more. So together we created a plan that would work for William and his lifestyle and goals. Here’s what we did:
- Increasing protein at meals to stay fuller and protect muscle
- Reducing simple carbs while keeping meals enjoyable
- Adding vegetables at every meal in easy, doable ways
- Learning how to handle dining out, travel, and parties without getting off track
- Incorporating light strength training alongside his walking routine
Another important element was educating William on “the how.” How can these clear strategies can improve prediabetes, insulin resistance, and cholesterol levels. Knowing the “why” behind the changes helped him stay motivated and consistent.
“I liked that Martha didn’t give me a menu to follow. She worked with the foods I already ate and gave me practical strategies that made sense for me. I really appreciated Martha’s support. Even when I wasn’t seeing results on the scale, she helped me stay motivated. Over time, things started to shift,” William said.
Want to learn about the bigger picture? Read what the science says about whether type 2 diabetes can be reversed in my blog post: Science on Reversing Type 2 Diabetes
We met every 3–4 weeks on Zoom, which William found very convenient. Like most people, he had ups and downs. He lost weight, hit plateaus, and sometimes felt frustrated — but with encouragement and small adjustments, he kept going.
“I really appreciated Martha’s support,” William said. “Even when I wasn’t seeing results on the scale, she helped me stay motivated. Over time, things started to shift.”
The Numbers Don’t Lie
And here are the results of William’s work during the last 4 ½ months:
- Multiple graduation parties and a lot of traveling didn’t stop him from losing 15lbs – 215lbs to 200lbs.
- His A1c went from 6.2 to 5.7 — VERY close to being in the normal range.
- Triglycerides fell by 100 points, from 284 to 184
- HDL (the “good” cholesterol) rose from 30 to 36
- Blood pressure improved enough for his doctor to cut his medication dose in half!
- Even his hip and knee pain improved as the weight came off.
“I feel so much better,” he said. “My numbers improved, my pain is better, and I have more energy. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished, and I’m not stopping here.”
William’s next goal is body recomposition. He is currently at 24% body fat and has set a new goal of reaching 21%.
“I like having another goal to work toward,” he said. “It keeps me focused and motivated.” William is working with me once a month to help keep him on track.
Your Key Takeaways
William’s story is a perfect example that it’s never too late to take charge of your health. With the right support and strategies, you can lose weight, improve your numbers, and even reduce your need for medication. Strict diets and gimmicks won’t get you there long-term.
Have you been told you have prediabetes, high cholesterol, or want to reduce body fat, and are having challenges trying to figure it out alone?
I can help you create a plan that works for your life and gets results. Contact me to learn more!
