WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Jan. 7, 2015) -- With some help from friends, Veronica Crute completed her 2014 New Year's resolution to lose 62 pounds and she now has another resolution for 2015 -- to lose 50 more.
Crute, a retired Army first sergeant who lives in Huntsville, Alabama, said she got scared when some of her fellow retirees started having heart attacks, diabetes and other weight- and fitness-related ailments once they left the Army -- some shortly after becoming civilians.
Further, Crute said her family has a history of diabetes. That and wanting to see her two sons grow older and maybe someday see future grandchildren, galvanized her into action.
When Crute was in the Army 10 years ago, she could run six miles in less than an hour and met all weight and physical fitness standards. Meeting or exceeding the standards is expected of leaders, she explained, and that was enough motivation to keep with the program.
But once out of the Army, the structure and regimen were gone and keeping fit became a challenge, she said.
The secret, she said, is finding a new team to join. That team for her consisted of local running groups. "They provide all the motivation you need to stay healthy and give you the support you need."
For one of her groups she's the run coordinator, which means she schedules running events. "On some days I don't feel like getting up at 5 a.m., but I know they're depending on me," she said. That accountability and loyalty to the team members provides the motivation.
When Crute started to get into shape over a year ago, she said she could barely walk around the track. By November, she'd completed her first half-marathon, which is 13.1 miles. "That I could make it through a half-marathon without walking gave me a kick," she said, meaning it was a big motivator.
Now, Crute, who is 51, can run 14:30-minute miles and wants to improve in 2015 even more. In 2014, she logged 1,080 miles and wants to exceed that too, she said, adding that she'd like to do 10 half-marathons this year. She admits to being addicted to collecting race medallions.
Members of the running groups are continually challenging each other, she said. They'll post photos and workout routines on Facebook. It keeps everything fun and interesting.
Besides losing weight and being able to run half-marathons, Crute said she feels more productive at work at nearby Redstone Arsenal, where she's a civilian logistics specialist for Army Materiel Command.
She also said she feels good about her body, especially being able to slip into a size 6 dress -- depending on the brand, she added, laughing.
Along with exercise, Crute said she changed her diet from Southern fried cooking to eating chicken, fish and seafood that's grilled, baked, steamed or broiled. She also cut down on salt and sugar and practices portion control.
However, she admits to eating cookies and fried food on occasions such as birthdays.
She hopes others will be inspired to keep their slim-down resolution, perhaps by joining an exercise program. If she wasn't so busy at work, parenting and running, she said she'd like to do yoga and Zumba. Maybe someday, she added.
Crute said she can be can be contacted next year to see how well she did on her 2015 resolution.
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