Healthy Lifestyles Earn New Award
Baptist Health Honors Local Winners

Jacksonville, Florida, October 2, 2007 -- Three exceptional Jacksonville residents received a hearty salute on September 15 from thousands of participants at the American Heart Association's annual Heart Walk in Metropolitan Park. They were the first recipients of the Start! Lifestyle Change Award which recognizes First Coast residents who work hard to improve their health and quality of life.

Michael Lanier, vice president of Community Health at Baptist Health, the award's sponsor, presented the awards. "Their stories are incredibly inspiring," he says.

Mike McNeil began what he calls his long overdue journey back to a healthy lifestyle early this year. "At 49 years old, I was smoking up to two packs of cigarettes a day, drinking too much, and fried okra was my idea of health food," he said.

One night he realized that he wasn't enjoying these bad habits; they had just become unconscious routine. "There was nowhere near enough conscious enjoyment being had to make smoking, drinking, overeating or being sedentary worthwhile," he says.

McNeil took the reins and turned his life around. He stopped smoking, now rarely drinks, exercises at least an hour a day, eats healthy meals and has lost about 45 pounds. Of quitting smoking, he says "I absolutely love being a non-smoker. I knew quitting would be cheaper and healthier, but I had no idea how much simpler and better life would be."

Martha Clark lost her sight due to diabetes two years ago and is determined to take care of herself. She has two sons and doesn't want to be dependent on them. So, last winter she moved to an assisted living residence and joined Sundance Fitness on Monument Road, where she is one of the gym's most dedicated members. To get to and from her three-plus workouts a week, Clark must rely on public transportation via the JTA Connexion for disabled citizens, which adds close to two hours to her workout commitment. She's adopted a healthier diet, lost 31 pounds, and significantly lowered her blood pressure and brought her blood sugar down to the recommended level. And of the award, a gift basket of healthy, fun items, including a spa treatment and I-pod, Clark says, "Oh my goodness! It's wonderful."

McNeil and Clark tied for first-place awards: Brent Dean was runner-up. It was heart palpitations that frightened him into changing his lifestyle several years ago. "He went from no exercise to daily exercise and a top weight of 434 pounds to 275," Lanier said.

In addition to daily workouts, Dean kayaks and runs in 5K races and eats only healthy foods. He's still losing weight and his cholesterol is going down, too. Dean's fellow workers at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida are proud to witness his steady progress. "Brent inspires me and others that change is possible, and that it is up to each of us," states one of his nominators for the award.

Baptist Health teamed up with the Greater Southeast Affiliate of the American Heart Association to offer these awards, which will be given annually to individuals who adopt a heart healthier lifestyle and inspire their friends and neighbors to join them.