{"id":83734,"date":"2021-03-11T06:28:39","date_gmt":"2021-03-11T11:28:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/?p=83734"},"modified":"2021-03-12T09:00:37","modified_gmt":"2021-03-12T14:00:37","slug":"a-journey-to-better-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2021\/03\/11\/a-journey-to-better-health\/","title":{"rendered":"A journey to better health"},"content":{"rendered":"

Longtime Owego resident, Chris Potter, has reached a significant milestone in a journey to better health. He has maintained an incredible 100-pound weight loss over the last six months, and is continuing a quest to sustain it.<\/p>\n

Potter\u2019s official journey started on Jan. 13, 2020. While at a medical examination, the scales weighed him in at 290 pounds.<\/p>\n

Potter remarked, \u201cI was in shock, I didn\u2019t think I was that heavy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The game changer, he said, was the alarming realization that he was pushing 300 pounds.  <\/p>\n

Almost immediately, Potter said he took a long look in the mirror. Depressed about how heavy he had become, self-motivation kicked in. Soon he abandoned hours of couch sitting and binge eating.  <\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

Pictured is Owego resident Chris Potter, in December 2019. Potter has reached a milestone in a weight loss journey, maintaining a 100-pound weight loss over the last six months. His journey began in January 2020. Provided photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

The new goal to establish healthier habits started slowly, but Potter said he was determined to make it happen. And not just for himself, but for his wife and three children, and with thoughts about his daughter\u2019s future wedding.     <\/p>\n

Potter, a veteran, explained that extra weight was an issue when he joined the U.S. Marines in 1991. It was there, he said, that a disciplined routine and regimen helped him shed 60 pounds.<\/p>\n

Potter served four years with a goal to serve longer, but had to leave due to heart issues. It was then, he said, he also began putting weight back on.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have had six heart surgeries, ten back surgeries and knee surgery,\u201d Potter said, adding, \u201cI was depressed and in constant pain, and this all led up to Jan. 13, 2020.\u201d <\/p>\n

The journey featured a whole new mind set about eating. Potter cut back on portion sizes, focused on healthier choices and gave up fried foods, pasta and breads.<\/p>\n

For exercise, Potter shared that he decided to do an activity he knew he could do, which was to start walking.<\/p>\n

Potter\u2019s walking routine took him around Owego\u2019s Village streets for many months. More recently he has ventured out for a change of pace, such as climbing the hilly terrain around Evergreen Cemetery to checking out Oakley Corners State Forest, where walking paths denote challenge levels based on individual abilities. <\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

Pictured, in December 2020, is Owego resident Chris Potter. Potter has maintained a 100-pound weight loss for over six months. By exercising regularly and making healthy eating choices, he has improved his overall wellness, physical and mental. Potter wants to share his story and motivate others, and welcomes individuals to reach out to him on Facebook. Provided photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

Potter, now 48, is pleased with his progress, and especially, too, since he doesn\u2019t need to rely on a walking cane as he did in the beginning. On days when weather plays a factor, Potter works out on his treadmill at home.<\/p>\n

What began with, \u201cAs far as I could go, and then up to 3,000 steps,\u201d Potter has strived for upwards of 10,000 steps a day, and has increased to three-plus miles in one session.<\/p>\n

\u201cI commit about an hour a day to some form of exercise,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

And not only has Potter boosted his physical health – he has also seen improvement in his mental health, sense of well being and self-confidence, too.     <\/p>\n

Along the journey, Potter decided to reach out to his brother Brent for recommendations. Brent, also an Owego native, lives in the Chicago area and is the owner and operator of multiple locations of the health and fitness gym, Anytime Fitness. Potter was linked up with a trainer at one of Brent\u2019s centers, and where he utilizes remote sessions to check in weekly about his lesson plan and progress.<\/p>\n

Potter commented, \u201cMy brother gave me pointers, and then a fitness belt that keeps track of my movements and calories burned.\u201d <\/p>\n

Using an App on his watch, Potter is able to keep track of his heart rate, calories burned and exertion level. And since working with a trainer, Potter has added other exercises such as leg stretches, squats, and other activities using exercise bands.<\/p>\n

Potter\u2019s hard work has resulted in reducing his waist size by about ten inches, and in return has resulted in buying a new wardrobe.   <\/p>\n

As a disabled veteran, Potter visits the V.A. in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. for appointments and treatment, and has since made a new goal to reduce the need for some of his pain medications. <\/p>\n

Potter said part of his motivation comes from the community, too, and he enjoys chatting with people who ask him for advice or talk to him about their own journey. Another motivation came when his daughter joined him on his walks for several weeks. <\/p>\n

Potter remarked, \u201cI probably won\u2019t see boot camp weight again,\u201d and is satisfied and happy with his success to date.<\/p>\n

Potter welcomes individuals with questions to contact him via Facebook. The pandemic, he said, has actually resulted in many people gaining weight, and added, \u201cDon\u2019t think that you cannot change, it can be done.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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