Stacey Hylton of Hebrew Home at Riverdale

“I’m not as tired as I used to be, and I fit into clothes that I thought I’d never wear again. I also look forward to walking on my break time, because it helps lower my stress and energizes me.”

A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale for more than 13 years, Stacey Hylton said that for her, the Workplace Wellness Initiative at Hebrew Home came along at just the right time. Begun in 2012, the jointly administered Union-Management-Fund initiative spurred the creation of wellness programs and weight-loss and exercise competitions at a number of 1199SEIU institutions and facilities. Though Stacey often thought about joining one, by the summer of 2014, she was ready to jump in. “I haven’t had any health problems,” she said. “But I do have a family history of high blood pressure and have wanted to lose weight for quite a while.”

Like many of us, Stacey put on weight gradually largely the result of eating an unhealthy diet and not exercising, she said. Her doctor began to make note of it during her annual visits and would recommend a better diet and more activity. She eventually took her doctor’s advice and made some changes to her diet even before a six-week walking competition at Hebrew Home began in June 2014. “The first few weeks were really hard,” she said. “I didn’t know what to eat!”

With advice from her doctor and a friend as well as research on healthy eating from the “Protecting Our Health” and “Live Healthy” sections of our www.1199SEIUBenefits.org, Stacey decided ate meat and try a vegetarian diet for three She had no idea that a year later, she’d still be eating fish and other seafood only, as well as lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains or that she’d feel so good about it. “I’m not as tired as I used to be, and I fit into clothes that I thought I’d never wear again,” she said. “I also look forward to walking on my break time, because it helps lower my stress and energizes me.”

Stacey was among the winners of the walking competition last summer, which involved monitoring her steps with a pedometer and walking with co-workers during her lunch break. By the end of the six weeks, she’d lost almost 20 pounds and, perhaps more important, was hooked on a new lifestyle and the camaraderie of getting healthier as a group. In total, Stacey has lost 30 pounds and is dedicated to maintaining her good health. During last year’s seemingly endless winter, she and her fellow walkers would do laps inside the facility, she said, but she couldn’t wait to get back outside. “I used to be winded after walking a couple of blocks,” she said. “Now I can go for a jog!”

Paula John of Flushing Manor Care Center

After making changes to her diet and increasing her exercise, Paula John is 20 pounds lighter and has a whole new outlook on healthy living.

When Paula John came to the United States in 1989 from her native St. Lucia, one of the first things she noticed was the abundance of fast-food chains. As she settled into the Queens neighborhood that’s been her home ever since, she realized the United States was not only a place of great opportunity, it was a nation full of junk food, sugar, excess calories and unhealthy additives. “I was not used to fast food and junk food being so available,” she said. “At first, it seemed convenient, but as time went by, I realized I was falling into bad habits.”

A Certified Nursing Assistant at Flushing Manor Care Center for 20 years, Paula became an 1 199SEIU member about eight years ago. Soon after she became eligible for healthcare coverage through the Greater New York Benefit Fund, she visited her primary care doctor. While she wasn’t exactly surprised to hear that she needed to change her lifestyle, she was finally ready to listen and, more important, to take action. ‘I had gained weight over the years as I was busy raising two kids,” Paula said. “But by the time I saw the doctor that day, I had become unhappy with myself and was feeling short of breath just doing my job and other daily activities.”

Her doctor told her that her blood pressure was elevated and if she didn’t start eating a healthier diet and losing some weight, she’d soon need medication to control her condition to reduce the risk of heart disease. It was exactly what Paula needed to hear. “As soon as he mentioned medication, something clicked,” she said. “I have a family history of hypertension. And as a healthcare worker, I care for residents with chronic conditions every day — I knew I wanted to avoid that path no matter what it took.”

Looking back now, she said, it wasn’t as hard as she thought it would be to make the necessary changes. But at the time, it seemed impossible. To get started, Paula joined an all-female fitness club in Queens, located on the route between her apartment and Flushing Manor. Three or four nights a week on her way home, she’d stop at the club and walk on the treadmill. After getting comfortable with the surroundings and working up to a brisk 20- or 30-minute walk over several weeks, she decided to try an exercise class. Now, Paula enjoys all kinds of cardio classes, dance classes and weight-training instruction. “I never would have had the confidence to take a class before,” she said. “But the group element has really helped me stay with it and not get bored.”

She also made changes to her diet, sticking to a diet low in carbohydrates and high in lean proteins like fish and chicken. She also eats lots of fruits and vegetables and dines out only occasionally. The family drinks lots of water and doesn’t keep soda, ice cream, cookies, chips or other unhealthy snacks in the house anymore. Her husband and their oldest daughter, now 18 years old and a freshman at Dartmouth College, were both healthy eaters all along, but her 13-year-old daughter has had a harder time adjusting to the healthier meals. “She’s a lot like me,” Paula said. “We both like fast food and sugar, but nowadays we save those treats for once a month, not once or twice a week.”

The best part of the changes has been the results, she added. Paula weighed 160 pounds when she began her journey to better health, and for the last year, she’s kept her weight steady at a healthy 140 pounds. For Paula, however, the results aren’t just measured in pounds or inches — her healthier lifestyle has also restored her confidence and enthusiasm. “After I work out, I always feel great and I sleep better at night,” she said. “It’s not a bad feeling to look in the mirror and like what you see!”