Tipping the Scales

UPS driver Kevin Boyd recently lost 55 pounds in 72 days through a change in his diet. He didn’t begin a new workout regimen or go on a hunger strike—he simply changed his diet.

Kevin followed a 5-in-1 meal replacement plan through the Optavia program. He heard of the program through two of his friends—both of whom had lost a considerable amount of weight. 

He decided to take the plunge in early August and diligently followed the weight-loss plan.

“I would start each day with a shake, followed by 5 small meals throughout the day,” said Kevin. “It’s all about portion control and also drinking a lot of water each and every day.”

Sixty-four ounces of water per day to be precise. Every two-and-a-half to three hours there is another meal. The plan prohibits the intake of dairy, sugar, sodium, and alcohol. Removing or reducing these items from your diet and replacing them with lean protein and colorful vegetables helps to increase your metabolism. 
    
The program offers a number of different meal plans. You can use the meal replacement program to lose weight, gain weight, or maintain your weight. In essence, the various plans are a nutritional balancing act built on moderation and portion control.

“The plan I chose was very easy to follow,” said Kevin. “It lists for you the proper foods to eat—lean meats and vegetables; the good, the bad, and the ugly.” 

Kevin is 6’2” tall. When he began the plan, he weighed 247 pounds. In just a little over two months on the plan, he weighed in at 192. 

One benefit of being a UPS driver is that you can walk five miles per day on average. You’re also lifting and carrying packages throughout the day—this, too, has its benefits. No matter the season, you’re going to sweat and burn calories. 

So, being on his feet during much of the day helped Kevin immediately lose 17 pounds in his first week on the diet, and 34 pounds the first month. This caused some concern and he promptly visited his doctor—who also happens to be his brother. 

“My brother and I last saw each other before I started the program,” said Kevin. “When I walked in 34 pounds lighter his jaw just hit the floor.”

His brother did blood work and a full exam. He couldn’t believe the results. Kevin was in excellent health. He no longer needs his blood-pressure medicine. He sleeps better than he has in decades and feels energized and ready to go each morning. 

“Prior to my diet change, I used to feel sluggish in the morning,” said Kevin. “I often had back and joint pain from constantly getting in and out of the package car and I was so tired after work.” 
 
With all this new-found energy, Kevin put his legs to work. He and his wife recently celebrated their 25th anniversary and hiked nearly 100-miles through seven national parks during a two-week vacation.

Kevin’s advice to other UPSers is to simply get serious about changing your diet for the better.

“If you follow the plan, stay focused, and don’t cheat, you will reach your goal,” said Kevin. 

At UPS, health, wellness, and living safely are core values for all employees. They have to be because of the physical nature of many of the jobs at UPS. 

Each year, UPS creates a wellness guide to help educate our people and their families on key wellness topics. This guide offers tools to help UPSers make healthy choices, understand obstacles, change behaviors, and measure success to improve their health and wellness.
    
Kevin is supporting that initiative by sharing his story. Moreover, he is now a certified coach with Optavia. He’s helping friends, family, and co-workers who want to lose weight and improve their diet and overall health.