An Update on Tammy Griswold, a patient who took back control of her health through Mercy Health Lifestyle Clinic
Tammy Griswold, then age 60, made it her mission to get healthy following a visit to her primary care physician (PCP) in 2017. Her PCP, Nicholas VandenBosch, DO, shared crucial lab results with Griswold, who had struggled with weight her entire life. A family history of heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure made her decision to get healthy even more important.
When she began her journey toward fitness, Griswold was a size 14, had high blood pressure, and was both pre-diabetic and morbidly obese.
“My biggest goal was not to become diabetic,” she declared. “Because of my high body mass index, Dr. VandenBosch invited me to be a charter member of the Mercy Health Lifestyle Clinic in downtown Muskegon, which has made all the difference for me,” said Griswold.
Mercy Health Lifestyle Clinic provides regular check-ups with a physician as well as a variety of exercise classes that are local and convenient. The clinic team includes a registered dietician who can create a customized nutrition plan when patients are ready to take additional steps toward a healthy lifestyle.
Now a year later, through a combination of medication, nutrition and exercise, Griswold has traveled far toward her destination of better health. Her determination has paid off dramatically. In the past 12 months, Griswold:
- Has lost 36 pounds
- Has stopped taking four of her medications
- Is managing her blood pressure
- Is no longer pre-diabetic
- Is no longer morbidly obese
Down to size 12 clothing, Griswold boasts that she also has more energy. “In our classes, patients hold each other accountable and form a natural community of support.” She continues to exercise through the Lifestyle Clinic three times a week.
There came a time when Griswold was feeling like she was in a slump and needed help to stay motivated.
That’s when Dr. VandenBosch met her during one of her exercise classes and said to the class, “Okay, Tammy needs a push,” which helped her stay on target with her regimen. Griswold also heard a story about a person who met her a year ago and then saw her just before the holidays. “The person didn’t recognize me, I was told, except by my tattoos,” she said with pride. That’s how much her body has changed!
When it came to modifying her diet, Dr. VandenBosch made a simple suggestion. “We started with me watching carbs, and now we’re looking at fiber too,” she said. Griswold hasn’t stopped eating carbohydrates — she just watches how many grams she eats per day. Paying attention to how much cereal she eats, for example, is just one of the basic changes to her diet that have improved her health.
For 2019, Griswold has identified two goals: “I want to get the word ‘obese’ off my medical records, which requires me to lose 11 more pounds. And I want to buy a new bathing suit!”
She also hasn’t forgotten about her long-term goal: being healthy enough to donate a kidney anonymously to a patient with kidney disease. Raising awareness of kidney disease is passion for Griswold.
Her advice for others is simple: “If you think you can’t do it, you can. If you think you won’t like it, you will. Give yourself a chance.”
Thanks, Tammy, for sharing an update about your inspiring weight-loss journey!