Johnny and Kate's Southern Indiana Wellness Journey Blog |
Johnny and Kate's Southern Indiana Wellness Journey Blog |
Hello my friends! Whew, this has been an interesting week as the journey to health, wellness, and weight loss has begun. It actually started Sunday evening when we attended the seminar at St. Vincent's Church in Bedford hosted by Father Rick. We had a dinner of foods we can eat like chicken breast, broccoli, and other foods. After eating, we were introduced to Father Rick who talked about his journey to losing 150 pounds and becoming more healthy than he has been in a long time. He then turned the program over to Southern Indiana Wellness's Eli Bowling who introduced us to the program and his role in our journey. Then Dr. Frank Bowling took over to give us the real story of why the program works, how it works, and what went into developing the various targets in building better health and losing weight. If I tried to give you all the info he shared it would take a lot of time and writing. Let it be said, if you want to know the whole story and to see if and why it is great for you, attend one of the seminars. You can keep up with the schedules by going to southernindianawellness.com . By the way, both Eli and Dr. Frank also have done and do follow the Southern Indiana Wellness Programs.
Day 1, Phase 1: (Only day of Phase one): Okay, Monday opend with our first radio visit with Rick St. Nick on Super Oldies 105.5 FM adn WBIW 1340 AM at 9 am. Kate and I will be in-studio Mondays and I will be calling in Tuesday through Fridays at 9 am. We then headed to Bloomington for our final consult before the actual activation of the program. We got our supplies including supplements, personal products, review of our body types adn weighed in. I was 505.2. Since it was load-out day, we were then turned loose to eat anywhere and anything we wanted, especially places and things we wouldn't during the program. So, lunch for me was bread sticks, fried calamari, fried mozzarella, beef and pork ravioli, salad, fettuccine Alfredo, (lots of salt as I am so inclined to use) and a diet cola. We even hit the Dairy Queen for a blizzard on the way home... Stuffed! Kate and I stopped for groceries on the way home. We got lean ground beef, chicken breasts, oranges, organic celery, broccoli, cauliflower, and lettuce (and other things I can't remember). Then it was home to get our stuff all set up for day one of Phase two. Day 1, Phase 2: I actually lost a pound to 504.2...big smile! This is gonna be a breeze. Well maybe not that easy. Kate went off to work and I began to prepare my day. I took my supplements, checked my sugar (which was excellent), my blood pressure, and proceeded to assemble lunch. Oh my, I found it much more difficult than I expected. I got confused, frustrated, and even angry. Do I really want to do this? Thank God I have an outstanding mentor and coach. Eli and I had a lengthy conversation and therapy session that got me settled down from my meltdown. I learned how to read the food scale and figured out what I was going to eat- 4 ounces of tuna, 8 ounces of broccoli, with a pinch of pick salt, and a medium sized orange... All followed by my first ever Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar chaser... whoa, that was an adventure in taste, but I felt quite full and satisfied (and a bit surprised I must say). I rested through the day and once Kate got home, we began figuring out what we needed to eat to reach our calories, and foods for the day. Dinner was 3.7 ounces of hamburger, 3 ounces of celery, and a medium sized Jazz apple. Yes, dose number two of apple cider vinegar capped it off (not quite as bad as the first one). We did learn how important careful planning is for our meals and we spent much more time before bed to plan day two. Kate is very detail oriented while I am more of a go with the flow guy. Its not going to work my way, so planning becomes task number one. Another great night of sleep led the way to... Day 2, Phase 2: Hit the scale first thing---what? I weigh 502.2? Lost 2 pounds! Blood pressure and blood sugar are all excellent... Oh yeah this is great! Water, supplements, and a visit with Mr. St. Nick on the radio kick off the day. I am feeling like a martyr until I get a note from a friend who has survived cancer and wishing me good luck, encouraging me, adn praying for me. Boy did that wake me up. How can I get discouraged adn think about quitting when he has gone through so much more and never lost faith. I am renewed in my quest from his note adn some 3-400 other well wishers and supporters. Many I don't even know personally. Okay, let's get our act together, reread literature given to us to remind me what all is taking place with my body and its systems. The balancing of forces within me, healing of chronic ailments, and overall improving health. Plus losing weight! Lunch was ready with chicken breast, cauliflower, and an apple (and an apple cider vinegar chaser). This afternoon was nap time but not because I felt bad but because I felt good and relaxed. Again, I was overwhelmed by the support group that has adopted me and am excited by the inquiries made about the Southern Indiana Wellness Experience. The evening was great with Kate as we shared dinner together, turkey breast, lettuce with a bit of pink salt seasoning and strawberries. Then an apple cider vinegar chaser-which I'm actually starting to ALMOST like. Then off to bed to see what the next day held. Day 3, Phase 2: Well, here we go, the old scale opening. Oh My GOSH! 500.0! A loss of 2.2 and a total of 5.2 already. Bring on those supplements and let's get rolling. The blood pressure, pulse and blood sugar are all right on the nose as to where they should be. One happy camper for sure. Did the radio visit at 9:00 AM and took my supplements and prepared for the day. Today I am taking a big challenge. Every Thursday I meet my Aunt Rowena and friends for lunch at Lillie's in Orleans around 10:30 am. I took my food and supplements with me and joined them as usual. It didn't take long for someone to ask what I am doing there. Oh, the power of the radio and social media. I am not an expert on how everything works but I can tell you what it is doing for me and why it is important. I can also tell you how to get in touch with the folks at Southern Indiana Wellness who can help you the most. Well, lunch went great. I had my hamburger salad, drank some water and had an apple for my fruit. And yes, I had that apple cider vinegar chaser, which is starting to grow on me. After lunch, I went to my cousin Pat Hall's place- Pat's Plants - to get some fresh asparagus he grows. By then it was early afternoon and I was getting tired, so went home for a short nap before Kate comes home. Dinner is all planned out, but before eating we find a glitch in our planning. We under figured our calories on the hamburger for lunch and it is going to affect our dinner plans. So, once again we called our coach Eli, who got us through the crisis with understanding and a plan for an evening meal. The support system is so vital to this journey. We got dinner ready with some tuna, celery with some pink salt, and an orange...and an apple cider vinegar chaser. Kate is off to play practice and I am writing this journal of my first few days. I am feeling great and think I am getting in the rythym of this whole thing. I joined Eli on WBIW's Talk of the Town at 8:30 am and made a visit with Rick St. Nick on Super Oldies 105.5 at 9 am. Then we had a meeting with station personnel and with my coach Eli to review how best to share with you, my friends, this wonderful life-changing program of health, wellness and weight loss. Thanks for your comments and notes of support and questions about why and what I am doing. I will answer as best I can but again, I encourage you to reach out at southernindianawellness.com for more information. Wow! What a Week this has been is an understatement. Phase one only had one day and it was a day of eating what we wanted before we began Phase two. That is exactly what we did too! After meeting with our coach, Eli, we headed for Olive Garden and had out lunch. It was fun and we did eat our fill.
Tuesday was the first day of Phase two. It was busy, confusing, satisfying, awesome...the list goes on. Just as with anything you start that is new and out of your comfort zone, this too had its moments. But together, Johnny and I worked it out. We remembered our training, checked our notes, emailed Eli, and made it through the day with plenty to eat. Really! I didn't think I would, but it was more than enough. I was very surprised as to how full I felt. We were told in training that this would happen, but when I think of what I had been eating compared to what I am eating now, it just didn't make sense. So ok, I am now a believer! Each day we are to take our blood pressure, test our sugar, and weigh in. Each day I can see an improvement in all three. This too was explained, but it isn't until you actually see it do you realize that I must be doing it right because it is doing what it is supposed to do. It has taken us some time in figuring out our meal plans, but I know that will come easier in time as repetition becomes a habit! My math teacher would be proud as we figure up each meal to meet the level we need to be at in order to lose weight. Speaking of losing weight, I was amazed that after three days, I have lost 5.6 pounds! I started at 266.2 and am now at 260.6. That is so awesome! I needed to go to the grocery on Wednesday, and I will admit that I had a small anxiety moment. When you go into the store, the first thing you come to is the bakery section. For a sugar addict to have to go through that in order to go into the store was almost more than I could bear. However, before I went in, I have a LARGE drink of water, and I kept reminding myself of what we were doing and why. I want to get healthy. I want to improve my lifestyle. I don't want a cookie or doughnut to derail this program! So I focused my eyes straight ahead and keep walking. Don't look... Don't see... Don't buy. I won't say it wasn't hard, but I just have to set my mind to it and do it! So as we continue to learn, mess up, do again and learn more, this lifestyle change will work. It is out of our old norm, but the new norm will be so much better in all possible way I can think of. Thanks for all of the support, encouragement and prayers. They are so appreciated! Until the next blog, blessings to you as well! -Kate These are some encouraging comments that were sent to Kate and I.
"I may not need to lose weight, but I do need to eat better. You guys are the actually giving inspiration to all of us. You and Kate are inspiring! I am watching you very closely." - Coach Lou "WIN! It stands for "Whats Important Now." Win for you and Kate is a lifestyle change that will put you guys in the Winner's Circle! You have the entire 'Henderson Nation' behind you!" -Holtz Today is day three of our fat burning phase. Kate weighed in at 260.6 lbs. She is down 5.6 lbs. I weighed in at 500.0 and am down 5.2 lbs. -Johnny Day 1 of Phase 2... Hey Grandpa, what's for lunch? Looks like my protein will be 3 oz of well drained tuna (90 calories), my veggie is 8 oz of broccoli (80 calories), and a medium orange (62 calories) for my fruit. For grand calorie total of 232! While trying to feel like martyr today for the hardship to get healthy and lose weight, I received an encouragement from a young friend who has fought and beat cancer. While I do not have cancer, I do have a deadly lifestyle. I began to think of how he battled through treatments, sickness, and every day he refused to give up. Today, I too refuse to quit, no matter how much I may want to. There is still life to live. Thank you L.R. for reminding me how precious life is. God Bless! -Johnny Today is the first day on the road to my getting well. It is the day that I start the Southern Indiana Wellness Weight Loss Program. My name is Kathryn "Kate" Henderson.
I am the daughter of John and Marlene Conner, and the younger sister to Debra Woolston. I was born in Bedford, Indiana and began growing up in the French Lick/West Baden area. Just before I turned six, my family moved to a little, red cinder block house at the corner of Tater Road and Hwy 150 East, also known as Trotter's Crossing in Paoli, Indiana.We lived there until the spring of my Senior year of high school. That's when I became a "town" girl. I spent the next two years in Terre Haute, Indiana where I went to Indiana State University as a Business Administration major. I have many hobbies that keep me very, very busy. Some more than others, and others I wished that I had more time to do! I enjoy sewing, quilting, yard sales and auctions. But the two that I enjoy the most are doing theatre and singing music. I am the Music Minister at the church where my husband, Johnny, is currently pastor. We are members of the Lost River Missionary Baptist Church in Claysville, Indiana. If you don't know where that is, I usually say go to the middle of no where and turn right! My music education came from my Irish tenor Dad. He taught my sister and me to sing harmony by ear when would would be driving somewhere in the family car. No music. No piano. Just four of us singing our hearts' content. I always say that I get my ability from my Dad, my enthusiasm from my Mom, and the gift from my heavenly Father. Church is where we would sing the most, so it didn't come as a surprise when I was ordained as a Minister of Music a few years ago by the congregation of Lost River. Theatre has played a most important part of my life. I have been involved with several community theatre groups over the past forty years as well as my high school involvement. Theatres from Salem to Bedford to Spring Mill Summer Stock to Floyd Central High School as a guest artist to Orange County Players in Paoli are just a few. In the Summer of 1976, I met a young man while doing a production of "The Music Man" with the Orange County Players, and two years later we were married. Johnny and I will be celebrating our 39th anniversary come July 15. See?...Theatre can really change your life! My work life also keeps me very busy. I have been the Area Office Manager to five offices and fifteen franchises with a cable television company. I then moved on to spend twelve years as a customer Service Operations Manager at the furniture company of Paoli, Inc. I went from Furniture to the hospitality industry when I was hired as the Administrative Assistant to the Accounting Department at the French Lick Resort/ West Baden Hotel. I have spent the last five years of my nine years there as a General Cashier for both hotels. Over the years there has been a lot of moving around and going through fast food restaurants. Johnny and I have also had a wonderful social life that usually involves going to our favorite places to eat with friends. So with so many years of eating involved, my weight has greatly increased. I have never been a low weight person, and it has always been a struggle for me. In the year 1988, Johnny and I decided to try to do something about it. He went on a liquid diet, and I went on the Richard Simmon's Deal a Meal program. I was on the diet for two weeks before I stepped on to a scale where I weighed 205 lbs. The plan promised that you would loose at least ten pounds of water weight in the first week, so I know that i was at least 215 lbs. to begin. I lost down to 165, and felt wonderful! But then the moving started. And then came the heart attacks that Johnny had...five in all. Then surgeries came for him and me. Before I knew it, the weight came back on and then some. Fast foods on the go were my worst enemies and my best friends. I have always been a comfort eater, and I eat when I am bored. Add that to my sugar addiction, and I could put it on pretty quick. After a while, I didn't really care. I figured I was in my fifties, and with everything else that I was dealing with, my food and eating habits were the least of my problems. So I put my weight problem and eating habits on the back burner (excuse the pun) and focused on what I had to do to live life on an even keel. It wasn't until I started having health problems with my sugar that I had my wake up call. By then I was way overweight, and I was not sure what to do about it. I would try several of the diets that I had done in the past, but nothing seemed to motivate me to be faithful to them. Then came the offer to Johnny about the Southern Indiana Wellness Weight Loss Program. We went and talked to them, but to be honest, we were not totally convinced that this wasn't a "sell you our plan" program that would empty our wallet before our weight. We prayed over the situation, and went to the appointment. I will say that they convinced us to try. Notice that I said us and not just Johnny. The program made sense, and above all was their passion to get us healthy first, and then the weight would come off. That was the difference. Yes, they could see that we needed to loose the weight, but they could also see where we would be if we didn't make moves to get our overall health back first. So here we are. Starting a forty four day of intense life changing wellness program that will continue for the rest of our lives. The question most people have asked is what is my goal for the program (notice I said program and not diet, because I believe that is what it really is). The obvious answer is to have better health and loose the weight. But the answer is so much more in the very simple things that will change my life and that I took for granted when I weighed less. Things like being able to wear my original wedding ring. Long hugs with my husband. Bending over to tie my shoes without feeling like I'm going to pass out. Having to plan walk in advance so that I know I could make it if there wasn't someplace to stop and sit down to rest. being able to buy pretty undies instead of granny panties. Being able to dance and move on stage without being winded. Being able to keep up with my house cleaning and going up and down the stairs to do it. The list goes on and on. The simple things in life. This program will take dedication and planning. But you know what? I have decided that I am worthy of effort. I love the man that I am married to, and I want a long and happy life with him. My Lord has given me these gifts, and I am so very grateful. I don't want to waste one of them because of something that I can control. So wish us luck, but more than that cover us with your prayers! We can do this, because I can do all things through Christ!
At the age of 65 and weighing 510 pounds, I continue a lifelong battle with weight, diabetes, and other health issues. I was born in 1952 to Gerald “Jake” Henderson and Rachel Chastain Henderson and lived in Orleans, In. My childhood was pretty normal I guess – at least until my brother, Ron, came along in 1961. So now you know about who my family was growing up. We had lots of family in Orleans and the area and those BIG family dinners were an important part of our lives... and we had cooks in the family! I was not necessarily a “fat” kid, but I was big. I was the one who always got “stout” size clothes. I graduated high school in 1970 at 180 pounds … pretty big size for a short guy of 5'6”. I was never a great athlete but I played baseball, basketball, football, and other activities growing up and into adulthood.
I went off to college and did pretty good until I discovered alcoholic beverages and in the last two years of school I gained 100 pounds because you don't want to drink on an empty stomach. The roller coaster was on. I battled back and forth, sometimes with diet pills which were abused by me. These aren't excuses but facts of how I have battled through the years. I met my wife, Kate Conner Henderson, in 1976 during Orange County Players summer production of “Music Man”. I would be lying to tell you she couldn't resist me but that is another story. The truth was I was on those diet pills and a bit erratic. Kate wouldn't go out with me until I quit them ...I did. And, I gained again. We were married in 1978 and have been together ever since....through many diets, weight gains, and other stuff. While working for WBIW and WQRK in the 80's I was given the opportunity to participate in a diet program through Dunn Hospital. It was a liquid diet and I lost 168 pounds in about 8 months. Like now, I did the program while reporting daily on the radio. Many of you will remember running me out of restaurants because you knew I couldn't eat there … it was hard to even go in and get a water! I maintained my weight loss for a couple years and a couple job changes before things and habits changed again... and the weight gain returned. Since then I have gone up and down many times … lost when I had my heart attack and before my open heart surgery - 75 pounds in 6 months. Yet, I still didn't keep it off. Needless to say, I have fought until I just finally gave up and said it is what it is. Hey, I am 'The Big Guy”, might as well live up to it. But I have to tell you, it isn't fun and it isn't healthy. I have type two diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, and who know what else. A couple years ago I even had to give up covering sports for the Mitchell Bluejackets and it hurt a lot more than I let be known. It has even gotten to where I am unable to lead my church services standing up, I have to sit. I don't go to the movies, shows, concerts, ballgames, and many other things because I can't find seating that I can fit in or will hold me, I can't walk very far without almost collapsing, and just lost a lot of life's enjoyment. Now, I have a chance to change that. I thank the staff of WBIW,WQRK,WPHZ and the folks at Southern Indiana Wellness for giving me this opportunity. It is not going to be easy … but I am encouraged and motivated to see this through. It is great that Kate gets to go along with me and me with her. I will be telling you all along the way how I feel, what progress I make, hardships I have, and what I am learning. In return, I ask your prayers , patience, and encouragement along the way. I am not getting on any horse to ride (don't get along with the beasts) but I am going to travel this road to better health and a “new” way of living. The journey begins at 510 pounds ...Come along and hang on … here we go. |
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