Whiting resident Frank Gonzalez was overweight most of his life. At 66 years of age, he reached 245 pounds. Once he retired from LTV Steel, he realized he needed to take better care of his health, get moving and lose some weight.
“Your body is like your car, you have to give it a tune up with exercise,” Gonzalez says. “I joined St. Catherine Hospital’s Well Walkers Club at the Whiting community center which is now the YMCA. I watch my diet and walk every day of the week. It is a commitment. I watch what I eat and stay away from sweets and fast foods and drink a lot of water. I am now down to 165 lbs.
“It didn’t take long,” he says. “I started walking ½ mile each day. I increased the distance and it took about four months to notice a drop in my weight. I bought a treadmill at home for times I can’t go out. I get my steps in no matter what.”
“Today, my blood pressure is great, my cholesterol is perfect, all around my health is fine, but I have to give exercise all the credit,” Gonzalez says. People that I know and haven’t seen in a while don’t recognize me. They ask, is that you Frank? I’m 73. They tell me I look 45.”
“I encourage my friends and family to walk for their health,” he says. I tell them to get off the couch, turn your TV off and get up and go out and get some exercise. You need to exercise your lungs and your heart for life and Well Walkers’ is a good place to start. I go through a lot of shoes!”
Gonzalez says he especially likes the Community Healthcare System medical professionals who come in and talk about different topics, such as diabetes, each month.
Well Walker’s Club is for adults over the age of 18. Receive a FREE pedometer with membership. Monthly meetings feature guest speakers discussing a wide range of healthcare topics. For more information call 219-392-7104 (East Chicago), 219-313-3934 (Highland) or 219-392-7135 (Whiting).
Gonzalez says he especially likes the Community Healthcare System medical professionals who come in and talk about different topics, such as diabetes, each month.
Well Walker’s Club is for adults over the age of 18. Receive a FREE pedometer with membership. Monthly meetings feature guest speakers discussing a wide range of healthcare topics. For more information call 219-392-7104 (East Chicago), 219-313-3934 (Highland) or 219-392-7135 (Whiting).
