As a new grandfather, Richard was ready to change his life for the better.

By Richard, Oshkosh Employee, on Virta for 10 months

Have you ever looked in the mirror, been surprised by what you saw, and asked, “How did I get here?”

That was me about a year ago. In high school, I was a cross-country runner. Back then, I could eat anything and never gain a pound. But as I got older and life got more complicated, my exercise habits slipped, along with my diet.. I gained a few pounds here and there until I weighed over 240 pounds and barely recognized myself. COVID and my love of home-brewed beer probably didn’t help.

I think I’m like a lot of men my age, avoiding the doctor’s office unless something was very wrong. That changed in 2021, however, when I found out from my daughter that I was to become a grandpa. At this incredible news, I took a hard look at myself and decided that I needed to make a change in my health. I wanted to be the grandpa that could share my love of nature and exploration, and to do that, I needed to be healthier. My first step from there was to see my doctor for a check-up.

It was at this appointment where I learned that not only had I gained a few too many pounds, but my A1c of 7.2% meant that I had type 2 diabetes. I asked my doctor if there was any way to get my blood sugar back down without medications and she replied, “Yes, but it isn’t always easy. It would take dedication.” She introduced me to the Mediterranean diet and explained that weight loss through eating “clean” was the secret to getting my A1c back down without medications.

Coincidentally, I received an email that same week from Oshkosh, my employer, announcing a new type 2 diabetes reversal benefit called Virta. The email mentioned that Virta uses “food as medicine,” and I figured it was worth looking into. What I especially liked about Virta was the support I would have from a health coach to keep me on track. I didn’t need to do this alone.

What really surprised me about the Virta treatment though was how easy it was for me to stick with it. I have tried various diets before, but I always felt hungry or that I was depriving myself of something. With Virta, I can eat foods that I really enjoy with tons of flavor and still lose weight. It’s incredible! Even swapping the home-brewed beer for the occasional snifter of bourbon feels worth it to look and feel this good.

In the first three months on Virta, I saw amazing results. I lost over 30 pounds and got my A1c back down to 4.9%!

And while I am not quite where I want to be—I’d love to get back down to 170 pounds—but I can say, I haven’t looked this good in years!

For those still weighing their options, I hope my experience is enough to convince you that now is the time to try Virta. You will be amazed at what you are capable of.

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