March 15, 2009
Greg Moses walks with a friend during Senior Health & Fitness Day.
Healthy Man Walking
Diabetes Outreach Coordinator Greg Moses “walks the talk” all over town
by Laurie Smith, YKHC Diabetes Prevention & Control
If you’ve lived in Bethel for a while, chances are that you have seen Greg Moses walking around town at some point. Mr. Moses, an outreach coordinator in the Diabetes Prevention and Control program at YKHC, has incorporated walking into a healthier, more active lifestyle.
About six or seven years ago, beginning in his late thirties, Greg noticed his blood pressure was starting to slowly rise. Doctors suggested medicine and Greg refused. At that point, afraid of gaining more health problems, Greg decided to take his health and future into his own hands. “I disciplined myself” and realized that “no one is going to improve my health for me, I have to do it myself.”
Taking his health and future into his own hands, Greg began walking 15 minutes a day for exercise. Soon, it was 20, 30, 45 minutes, eventually up to an hour and a half of walking a day. “My body just got used to walking and pretty soon, if I missed a day or more, my body would start screaming to walk. I had to get out.”
Greg reports that for the past few years, his blood pressure has been normal and that he still likes to walk at least two miles a day—no matter what the weather is like. When asked what keeps him motivated, Greg says that when he walks, it is just time between him and God and he uses it as prayer time. He is also motivated to stay active for his children, saying, “If I want them to be healthy, then I have to be a good role model.”
Work also provides motivation. Greg interacts daily with school children and community members to raise awareness and educate about preventing diabetes through physical activity, eating a balanced diet and making healthy lifestyle choices. Greg’s philosophy is that children need to be shown how to make positive choices, in addition to just being told. He is a great example of “talking the talk and walking the walk.”
When asked if he ever loses his motivation or just wants to take a day off here or there, he shares a story. “I hear a lot of people say ‘I wish I could,’ ‘I used to always,’ even me, one day last year I was walking and wanted to quit because my ankles were sore. And then I remembered that elder Elias Venes told me ‘no matter how sore I get, I keep moving.’ Those words of wisdom motivated me to keep moving no matter how sore my ankles were and about 15–20 minutes later my blood began circulating and the pain left me.”
Greg believes that the reason more people don’t succeed in their personal goals is because they often lose their focus and forget their goals. “You have to make the decision to be healthy—no one can do it for you.” He suggests writing down your goals to help you stay focused. Additionally, saying the goal out loud each day or even having a theme song to help you remember your goal are helpful ideas as well. Lastly, he says that people need to enjoy physical activity and learn to not see it as work. “If you don’t enjoy it, you’ll want to take the easy way out and not do anything to improve your life.”
So the next time you see Greg out walking around town, take a moment to throw a wave of support—or better yet, get out and join him!
For more information about becoming physically active and how to prevent chronic diseases like diabetes, contact the Diabetes Prevention & Control program at 1-877-543-6133 and ask for an Outreach Coordinator.
