LifeNotes It turns out that the 200 plus participants in the Birmingham YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program have something in common:
We want to LIVE.
YLife Birmingham
November-December 2012 Volume 7 Issue 6
YMCA of Greater Birmingham Officers
L
ook Around: We know the numbers are against us. One in three Americans is expected to develop type 2 diabetes, which decreases life expectancy by an average of 15 years.1 The truth is we have known this for years. We’ve lost parents and brothers and sisters to this disease. Like everyone else, we’ve seen the warnings and even the occasional celebrity lose their battle with diabetes. The difference is, today we look fear square in the eye.
I
nvest – Tonight, when you are on your way home, we’ll be driving to our Diabetes Prevention support meeting. We will pass every drive through window and convenience store bakery to meet our cohorts and coach at the YMCA. And tomorrow, when the alarm clock goes off, we’ll be lacing up our sneakers before our eyes are fully open. Maybe that doesn’t seem like much to you but for us it is a war. The difference today is we have a battle plan.
V
acate the ridiculous – We don’t have time for perfectionism, fad diets or even guilt. Today, we are rolling all of the shipwrecked willpower, unmet expectations and crippling self doubt into a nice, big ball and chucking it. Care to join us? We’ll be throwing out the ridiculous again tomorrow. For us, diabetes prevention has to be a positive, real life, every day kind of thing.
E
nlist support – We are not alone. We are a community at risk but we are undaunted. We meet together with our coach for support, accountability and for hope. When the choices get hard, the numbers on the scale refuse to budge, and when the next blood test, doctor’s evaluation, family event or class reunion is just a week away, we lean on each other. Maybe some people can change their lives all by themselves. We need some support. Friendship helps us live, and keeps it fun.
Chairman Phyllis Hall vice chairman Joseph Mays, Jr. treasurer Michael Temple secretary David Woodruff
Board Members Tracey Adams Anthony Berryman Cecil Bostany Elizabeth Carpenter Denise Dauphin Sarah Duggan Andy Easterling Mike Ermert Courtney French Eric Frye Ann Haas Phyllis Hall Roderick Hawkins Robert L. Holman Wayne Houston Mallie Ireland Lynn Jones Anthony A. Joseph Robert E. Kelly Scott Kenny Tom L. Larkin John Lauriello Harrison Manning
Joseph Mays, Jr. Ann D. McMillan Dan Monroe John Ott Leigh Davis Perry Rick Player Henry Ray, Jr. Emily Rushing Lloyd Shelton Reeves Sims, Jr. Stephen Smith Walker Sorrell Cedric Sparks Andra Sparks Michael Suco Britney Summerville Michael Temple Chip Watts Tommy Wells Greg Weyandt Sally Hartley Williams David Woodruff
Our simple truth is we want to LIVE.
Board of Trustees Chairman Anne Huckstep vice chairman Bill Clark Joe Bluestein Frank James Allen Rushton James W. Shepherd Judge Scott Vowell
How about you?
Interim President and CEO Norman E. Joyner
So, in this issue of YLife, we share some of our stories with you, beginning on page 20. Who knows? Maybe you will even find something in common with Mary, Teddy or Terri.
YLife Birmingham is published five times a year by the YMCA of Birmingham. Copyright 2006 by the Metropolitan Birmingham YMCA. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the YMCA of Birmingham.
By Debby LaCruz, YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program Coordinator 801-7224 nodiabetes@ymcabham.org Debby LaCruz and Mary Guest Hollis at a recent gathering in honor of Birmingham-area DPP participants.
YLife Birmingham welcomes letters and story ideas. Please send them to: YLife Birmingham, 2101 4th Avenue North, Birmingham, Alabama 35203 or to ylife@ymcabham.org. YLife Birmingham Staff
vice PRESIDENT, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS David G. Hill COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOr Loyd McIntosh designer Tracy Thomas
Join Me at the Y
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2012 Donors
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Circuit
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My Mission
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Mission: To put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Vision: We will lead our community to become the healthiest in America. United Way Partner.