Valerie Gurr

BMI 33

A food lover, like many of us, Val entered the competition because she wanted and needed to change her way of eating and the way she views food. About food, she states, “It is a social thing for me. I love getting together with family and friends and having a great meal together.” Having tried other methods of weight loss, Val has decided that now is the time to be better to her body. Val knows the struggle that many face with their weight and offers this advice: I would tell those in the same boat to just take it one meal at a time. If you look at the big picture, say losing 50 pounds, it seems unattainable. But, if you just take one meal at a time, that is all we have control over at that moment. A mom to three boys, Val finds her inspiration in wanting to celebrate every milestone in their lives with them. She is also inspired by her profession as a pharmacist. “Every day I work, I am faced with people dealing with the effects of obesity--pain, depression, anxiety, infections, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, shortness of breath. I do not have these health issues yet and hope to avoid them by getting my act together,” she claims. Val has an extensive support system including her husband, children, and other family who are loudly cheering her on and encouraging her along the way. Her goal for the competition? To maintain a healthy weight, be active every day, and keep up this healthy lifestyle for the rest of her life.