A Real Go-Getter

Eurydicea ‘Katrina’ Warren: Polysomnographic Tech III, Sleep Center

September 2024

Katrina had always been active, regularly going on walks and watching what she ate, but she would celebrate her healthy choices by going out to eat and treating herself, which she found was counterproductive. She changed her thought process and set her mind on losing 55 pounds. Eurydicea not only surpassed her goal but also challenged her husband and other family members to join in.

Where did your wellness journey begin?

I went to the doctor last year, and all my numbers were normal except my BMI. I decided right then that I was going to make a change. Even though I had always tried to stay active and eat well, I was celebrating after I finished a walk by going out to eat.

I was at a meeting where they were talking about a wellness program, and I decided to attend that to get started. I did the program for about four months, and it taught me how to eat, when to eat, and how to not make food a priority but a necessity instead. After I changed my thought process, I set a goal on my birthday to lose 55 pounds by my next birthday. And I also challenged my husband to join me. His goal was to lose 60 pounds by his birthday.

Have you both met your goals?

Within a year’s time, I lost 57 pounds. My husband lost 62 pounds.

What changes did you both make to reach your goals?

We eat differently now. We treat food differently. Even when we go out to celebrate, we pay attention to what we eat: ‘We can split that’ or ‘We don’t need to have that,’ or ‘We don’t need to have an appetizer and a meal.’ We made sure we didn’t eat a lot of bread and sugar. We got rid of foods that made us groggy and tired.

We also started paying attention to our evening meals and eating lighter. That’s what you’re going to sleep on. It needs to be vegetables, protein, and no bread or sugar. When we changed that evening meal, it changed the whole dynamic of things.

What does a typical day of eating look like for you?

I usually get up in the morning, have one cup of coffee, and head out the door. At about 10:00, between patients, I may grab some fruit, like melon or pineapple. It’s usually fruit from home that I cut up and put in a baggie. At lunch is when I might splurge a little. But in the evening, I’ll have baked chicken and grilled vegetables. I also drink a lot of water throughout the day.

What do you do to stay active?

My husband and I walk and go bike riding. It’s a good stress release to go for a walk during the week. But if we can’t do it during the week, we definitely do it on the weekends. Or, when we’re going to be out running errands, we’ll do that after we eat lunch instead of before so we can work it off. When I come to work, I walk three flights of stairs and take the stairs as much as I can. Plus, I’m moving around with patients all day. But I just make sure I’m always doing something extra to stay active.

What motivated you to stay on track?

I went through a spell when my dad was sick. He would always tell me, ‘You’re looking good, baby girl!’ That encouraged me. He’s no longer with us, and when you’re going through something like that, you find comfort in food, but that encouraged me to persevere. It was just a matter of changing my mindset, changing my view on how I want to live and how I want to feel. And also trying to encourage others to do the same. Plus, I weighed myself every day. When you see that you’ve lost pounds, it encourages you to keep going. It’s those little day-to-day reminders that remind you of what your goals are and setting those small goals to reach the big goal.

What would you say to someone who says, ‘I’m too old to make changes’?

I advise people to just stay true to who you are and stay in tune with your body. We want to look a certain way because others say we should. We need to stay true to our bodies. I have friends my age and older who run miles every day. I’m not doing that. I’m going to stay true to who I am and do what works for me. You also need to stay focused on your goals.

Now that you’ve met your initial goal, how do you remain motivated?

I surround myself with people who are positive thinkers. I stay motivated by understanding what my true passion is, because if we don’t stay true to our passion, we will not do well. My passion comes from understanding that I have a purpose. It comes from within. You can’t rely on others to motivate you.

Where does that inner strength and passion come from?

My father recently passed away from pancreatic cancer. He was a civil rights foot soldier. He marched so we could vote. He found out he was in Stage 4 right after he walked his last march across the Selma bridge for the reenactment of the civil rights march. He did it every year. I like talking about it because it makes me proud. He was an inspiration to others, and he showed me how to be.

What were the keys to success in your journey?

Staying focused, having passion, and loving life.

Did you learn anything new about yourself during this journey?

I learned that I’m strong, I’m passionate, and I’m a go-getter. We can lose that when we’re raising kids. We put all of that energy into them. I learned that I have willpower. I mean, I love to eat. I’m from Alabama. We love to eat. When I first came to Houston, I gained about 40 pounds. There are so many good restaurants. But I learned that I could stop eating. I had the willpower to do it.

Have you and your husband gotten closer through this journey?

We have because in the midst of our busy schedules, we take time to look out for each other. We try to meet in the middle to make sure we make our goals.

Have any other family members joined in?

Yes. We have a group chat every Monday morning. So, you have to be careful what you eat on the weekends. We keep a chart to see the ups and downs. We encourage each other. And it works. My sister lost 62 pounds, and now she’s able to get some work done to her knees and she feels better. My brother lost 32 pounds. Another sister lost 28 pounds. As a family, we’re trying to get there. We’ve been doing it together for a year.

What’s one last piece of advice to others who might be struggling to get on a healthy path?

Consult with a healthcare professional and really talk to them about what your concerns are. Look at your numbers. Not everyone’s journey is the same. See what you need to do to feel better.