Spencerport man uses low impact walking to reduce weight
Six years ago Abraham Hernandez weighed 400 pounds. The now 62-year old had tried everything to lose the weight he had gained over years of traveling for his work. Abraham was considering surgery, but found in his research that the statistics were not good.
“I weighed 161 pounds when I got married,” the Spencerport resident recalls. “Gaining the weight happened over a long period of time. It was a long journey to get to that weight and I knew it would be a journey to get back. There’s no quick fix.”
After consulting with his doctor, Abraham decided to make a simple but profound lifestyle change: He would get out and walk 4-5 days a week and would limit himself to one plate of food at meals. No diets, no weight loss pills, just a commitment to start slow and work towards a healthier lifestyle.
The program has been remarkably successful – Abraham has lost nearly 200 pounds and looks and feels great. He says his ultimate goal is to get down to 180 pounds – he has about 40 pounds to go.
When he began his lifestyle change, he was working at a bank on Winton Road in Rochester and would walk up and down the street on his lunch hour.
Motorists noticed Abraham’s daily walks and that he was losing weight. “People were cheering me on,” he says. “When I started, I could barely walk. You have to start slowly, it gets better in about three weeks.”
In 2-3 months, Abraham says he was up to walking one-half mile at a time. Today, he walks at least four days a week – 1.5 to 3 miles a day – and in addition to regular walking – runs in 5K races.
Abraham credits one of his nine grandchildren with finally helping to make the decision to change his life. He and a grandson were in the backyard when his grandson said, “I wish you weren’t so big, so I could play ball with you … I decided that if I didn’t lose weight, I might not be around for my grandchildren,” he remembers.
Abraham is now sharing his experience and encouraging others through his business called “Healthy Journey Now,” speaking to children and adults at community centers, churches and one-on-one. Physicians now refer overweight patients to him for help and guidance.
“I feel very strongly about the plight of America and how its citizens are becoming more obese,” Abraham says.
By the year 2030, he says, it is predicted that 83 percent of the US population will be overweight and half the population will be obese. It’s a serious problem, he explains, which leads to increased medical costs and impacts businesses and employers. Workers who are overweight tend to have more health related problems and end up taking more days off.
Half of all Medicaid benefits go to treating diabetes and related health issues, Abraham adds.
He observes that weight is a problem that is rarely spoken about. Overweight children are subject to being picked on, and for adults, job opportunities may be limited. “You can’t hide weight, it’s like a scarlet letter,” Abraham says. Being overweight can also lead to emotional and mental distress and can even lead some to become suicidal, he says.
What worked
Abraham says fad, get-thin-quick diets and pills are not the answer. Walking and eating in moderation are a simple permanent change that are accessible to anyone, he explains, and the benefits of walking are remarkable and seemingly limitless. They include improving physical health and well-being as well as mental, emotional and spiritual health.
“There’s no membership, no age limit, it’s easy to do,” Abraham says. “Walking is a natural thing, God made us to walk.”
Abraham has done extensive research on the benefits of walking – included on the long list are improved circulation and increase of fluids which lubricate the body; strengthening of bones; improved immune function; help with arthritis; reducing of constipation; reduced risk of hip fracture, heart disease, cancer and even Alzheimer’s.
Walking also promotes socialization because you can walk with friends, family, children and even get to know your neighborhood.
After he started walking, Abraham says he began to notice, “Spencerport is beautiful … it has beautiful homes and beautiful trees. What a way to become part of the community.”
He encourages members of the Spencerport community to take advantage of the fact that the Spencerport School District opens three elementary schools from 4 – 7 p.m. Mon.-Fri. to allow the public to walk in a secure, warm and safe area. (Advance registration required).
“It really saddens me that (in) a town this large, more people are not taking advantage of this great opportunity,” Abraham observes. “There is no charge to our citizens and when you realize the incredible benefits to walking, it blows me away that more are not taking advantage of this opportunity.”
When he speaks with someone who is discouraged that the weight is not coming off faster, Abraham says he tells them that slow weight loss is better, because you are more likely to keep the weight off.
He weighs himself everyday with a doctor’s scale – however – “I control the scale,” Abraham says, “It doesn’t control me.”
He is not ruled by how many pounds he may be losing, but likes to gauge progress by purchasing a shirt that is slightly too small and celebrating when he reaches the point where he can fit into it.
“My hope and wish is to eventually go into my closet and find only one size,” Abraham says.
He also is not worried about gaining the weight back because he enjoys his new lifestyle and its many benefits.
“I’m healthier than I was 30 years ago,” Abraham says. He is off high blood pressure medicine, no longer needs to check blood sugar and sleeps like a baby.
And he also says he loves carbs … and continues to eat pizza and pasta – but in much smaller amounts. “Diets keep you from things you love … you can still love it and eat it, but be careful and really enjoy it,” Abraham advises. “I have really started enjoying food. I don’t eat and run, I don’t eat and watch TV.”
Abraham says he will continue to “be a catalyst” to help others to lose weight. “People need to know it can be done,” he says. For information visit the Healthy Journey Now FaceBook page.
