Blake Hall
Retired military veterans are more prone to obesity than civilian retirees due to abrupt lifestyle transitions and a lack of health education. Luckily, tools like ManUP Health are helping veterans develop weight loss plans to stay healthy and build confidence long after they leave the military.
One of those veterans was Henry Banh. As a former Marine, Banh knows what it means to be physically fit. During his service, intense training and exercise kept him in shape despite his less than nutritious diet. But after leaving the Corps, Banh’s declining exercise levels, a civilian desk job, and unhealthy eating habits led to weight gain.
“It’s a common trap for people in the service,” Banh said. “No one tells you about healthy eating. Once you get out, you have to change the way you see and eat food to stay healthy.”
Banh recognized the need to get back in shape when he tried on his old suits for a friend’s wedding. None of them fit and he needed to buy a new one that was three sizes larger. This wake-up call showed him he wasn’t the same person he used to be, both physically and mentally.
“My life was on autopilot, there was no depth to what I was doing,” Banh said. “It was a loop of – wake up, go to work, come home, go to bed.”
Realizing something needed to change, Banh looked for a program that would give him guidance on eating healthier and staying active and hold him accountable to following through with his plan. His search led him to ID.me, where he found ManUP Health.
Before starting the ManUP program, Banh would eat whatever was accessible – oftentimes junk food. Because he wasn’t eating well, he would return home from work tired or dissatisfied. That changed after starting the program. With the guidance of his personal coach, whose motto was “plan the work and work the plan,” Banh started to plan his fuel intake days, sometimes even a week in advance. He also became more physically active.
As Banh dedicated himself to the program, his weight dropped. He increased his physical activity and ate more clean-burning fuels such as lean proteins, healthy fats, complex carbs and vegetables. He found new activities he enjoyed – Crossfit and yoga – which gave him increased strength, endurance and flexibility.
Motivated by his progress, Banh regained lost confidence and ambition. Working harder for promotions at work and making new friends, he revitalized his life. If he felt reluctant to try new things, his coach would ask, “What’s the worst that can happen?” Those words stuck in his head and Banh soon discovered that he could break out of his comfort zone and take control of his life and his health.
The tools ManUP provided allowed Banh to be honest with himself, see the life he wanted to live and stick to a plan that would help him get there. The difference is palpable in his before and after pictures, pictured below.
“People need to realize where they are before they can get to where they want to go,” he said. “Just get started and keep moving.”