Merlene Hardy
Registration Associate, Northwell Health
WHY
Following knee surgery and weight gain, Merlene, a mother of five, faced a prediabetes diagnosis that became her wake-up call. With determination, she embraced her doctor’s advice and began a transformative journey toward a healthier life.
Merlene Hardy, a Registration Associate at Northwell Health Imaging at Great Neck, comes from a family dedicated to caring for the health of others.
However, only a few years ago, she faced a challenge in managing her own health. After knee surgery following a car accident, Merlene experienced significant stress and turned to food for comfort, gaining 40 pounds, which led to back and knee pain. As a mother of five, she faced a turning point when she was diagnosed with prediabetes. Motivated to lose weight, she began her health journey by embracing her doctor’s advice to make lifestyle changes.
She started taking lunchtime walks—sometimes by herself, sometimes with co-workers—and later added dancing at home to her routine. “I like to work out by moving to the music,” she said. Reggae, a lifelong favorite, keeps her energized: “It just makes you feel so good!”
Merlene also began eating healthier meals, incorporating homemade shakes and cutting down on white bread, pasta and fried food. Instead, she chooses Greek salads, along with baked or broiled proteins, seasoned with garlic, onion and a touch of olive oil. “My shrimp and salmon still get crispy in the oven,” she said. “I get all the flavor without the fat.”
Merlene’s hard work has paid off. She lost 50 pounds and her A1C numbers are back to normal levels.
In addition, her doctor prescribed a low-dose GLP-1 that she plans to stop taking once she reaches her goal weight. She believes it will be possible because of her healthy diet combined with a simple but effective technique. “When I’m full, I stop eating,” she said. “I drink water before meals and unsweetened green tea after, and it keeps me from eating between meals.”
Merlene’s hard work has paid off. She lost 50 pounds and her A1C numbers are back to normal levels—dropping from 6.0 to 5.1!
With her future looking bright, Merlene has been spending time on her favorite hobby—making body butters and skin-care products under her own label, Body by Sweets. “Doing research on natural oils and how to make lotions for smooth skin is something I really enjoy,” she said. “And now that my numbers have improved, I can focus more on that. I know I’m still a work in progress, but I feel like anything is possible for the new year!”
