Around The Railroad

Light of Wellness Award

Employee's Lifestyle Change an Inspiration to All

November 11, 2008 | 09:30 a.m. CST

Increasing exercise, improving eating habits and turning an unhealthy lifestyle around led one Kansas City, Mo., employee to lose more than 100 pounds; lower his blood sugar; participate in a 5K charity walk, and win the Wellness Council of the Midlands (WELCOM) Light of Wellness Award within a mere eight months.

Richard Clark, safety coordinator and foreman general, visited the service unit's occupational health nurse in December 2007 inquiring about symptoms he had been experiencing. Clark learned his blood sugar levels were above 300 – the average adult ranges between 70 and 150 – and he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Weighing 377 pounds, Clark immediately began changing his lifestyle. Fruits, vegetables, lean meats and food high in fiber became part of his daily diet. Clark also found ways to exercise at the office by parking in the farthest spot when arriving to work, and walking to an aerobics tape with a group of employees while on break.

By March 2008, Clark had lost 50 pounds. Encouraged by his weight loss, he continued increasing his physical activity by exercising at the local YMCA, bicycling and participating in his first 5K charity walk. By July, Clark had lost a total of 110 pounds, his blood sugar was down, and he exemplified all that a healthy lifestyle should be.

Clark's social, physical and emotional health make him an example to others and a deserving recipient of WELCOM's Light of Wellness Award, which recognizes individuals who have best modeled successful changes in their health habits.

Clark received the award at a Nov. 6 dinner at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, Neb.