Favorite Healthy Food: I like all vegetables. I usually eat 3 or 4 salads a week, so probably salad, too!

Favorite Splurge Meal: I love a good porterhouse steak!

Share an Item on Your 2018 Bucket List: I would really like to go outside the country before the year ends, maybe to Great Britain or on a cruise.

Now, how’d you hear about Pack Health? What made you want to sign up?

I lead an MS Support Group through the National MS Society (NMSS) and Pack Health actually reached out to a few of the leaders to share the Pack Health program with their support groups. After hearing what you all do, I felt it would be a good fit for me, personally, as well as for the members of my support group. Since then, I’ve become so excited about the program, that I’ve started representing Pack Health at events local to me. For instance, I attended the MS Walk in Ocean Springs and shared my story with others battling MS.

That’s awesome. And how has your experience been so far with your Health Advisor?

Katie has been wonderful! Yesterday we talked on the phone and reached my halfway point! She helps me set and reach my weekly goals. Lately, I’ve been trying to eat healthier and cut down on my weight, so she’s helped me with my diet and exercise routine. I began a membership at my local YMCA, and have been going there 3 or 4 days a week for about an hour. My Neurologist suggested I take it easy at first and only go once or twice a week, but I’ve found I’m actually doing pretty well going more often, and the exercise has been helpful for me. I’ll start out on the treadmill and elliptical, and then move to something different like weights. I end my workout most of the time by walking half a mile around the indoor track. In the last 3 weeks, I have lost a pound each week, so I think it has been going well so far!

Did you two set any specific Tiny Steps you’d like to share?

Some of the steps I normally have are focused around losing a pound each week, and watching my eating habits. I also bought protein powder for protein shakes, which I’ll have once a day because of how much I am exercising. I have been working on increasing my water intake with Katie too, so I drink about 6 glasses of water a day now. Sometimes I’ll make infused water by adding some strawberries and oranges!

Do you have any advice for someone on the fence about joining Pack Health?

I think Pack Health is a great program to join because it helps people talk about what they are going through, and gives them a support system. There are people I know with depression that should talk about it, and people that deal with fatigue that want help with how to handle it. My daughter has a coworker that was just diagnosed, so I told her to call me so I can help talk through everything with her. Nobody here in Mississippi wants to talk about their issues with a doctor, even though it can affect your hygiene and nutrition, and that’s where Pack Health is so necessary. Pack Health provides a listening ear for everyone to trust.

Pack Health is especially important for people that are newly diagnosed. Having a personalized Pack Health Health Advisor by your side can be very beneficial for someone that is just beginning the process. I know I’ve appreciated it!

Gayva is pictured below, enjoying a beautiful sunset!