
Simone’s story: Overcoming cancer

My name's Perry Yule. I'm 65, turned 65 in July. I used to live in Los Angeles for 30 years and returned home to care for my mother with severe diabetes and pseudobulbar effect.
I wasn't really taking care of my health, certainly better than my mom was but it was really when my mom started getting worse that I started thinking about it. I learned a lot through her doctor visits and hospital tests. This led me to start focusing on my health. I got free therapy as a caregiver dealing with my mom, and in those therapy sessions I got a lot of help.
I went every Saturday, and it was really time for me to focus on myself. When I started I wasn't seeing a doctor. It was around the time of COVID and when I went to get a test I liked the doctor and she became my doctor. She showed me how to get the insurance here in Maryland, she got me looking at my weight, what I was eating and the fact that I wasn't exercising.
With the help of a doctor and a therapist, I began focusing on my health, eating healthier, and exercising. I lost 20 pounds since March, joined a gym, and improved my A1c and blood pressure. After my mother passed, I realized the urgency to take care of my health. It was a wake-up call to focus on myself again.
I stopped drinking soda and eating sweets, which helped me lose weight. I went from 280 to 260 pounds. My diet got cleaner, and I began strength training and cardio exercises.
I aim to lose 50 more pounds and get to 210. I'm focusing on a cleaner diet and more exercise. Now that I have been hitting off the smaller things on my list I am aiming for the big things!
Join a gym, focusing on strength training and cardio, a high protein, low-calorie, sugar-free diet is helping for me! Start with changing your diet and exercise habits little bit by little bit.
Yes, definitely. I thought it was just about filming myself taking medication. The messages and calls were supportive and motivational, and the way the care team prompted me to think about what I needed to do for my health worked well for me.
It was great they helped me with my health goals. The accountability was helpful. The care team would check in on my progress, encouraging me to take baby steps towards my health goals.The team got me to write a list and they would even call me asking, ‘Have you signed up to the gym?’ ‘Have you gone to the eye doctor?’. It was everything health related, before I knew it the entire list was finished. I did everything.
I follow the Mediterranean diet now, avoid desserts, sugary drinks, white flour, and focus on whole foods. It's important to be aware of what you're eating and read labels.
I don't beat myself up, I'm not perfect. When stressed, I focus on not overeating, getting enough rest, and using the HALT approach (Am I hungry, angry, lonely, or tired?) to think through what I am feeling.
My name's Perry Yule. I'm 65, turned 65 in July. I used to live in Los Angeles for 30 years and returned home to care for my mother with severe diabetes and pseudobulbar effect.
I wasn't really taking care of my health, certainly better than my mom was but it was really when my mom started getting worse that I started thinking about it. I learned a lot through her doctor visits and hospital tests. This led me to start focusing on my health. I got free therapy as a caregiver dealing with my mom, and in those therapy sessions I got a lot of help.
I went every Saturday, and it was really time for me to focus on myself. When I started I wasn't seeing a doctor. It was around the time of COVID and when I went to get a test I liked the doctor and she became my doctor. She showed me how to get the insurance here in Maryland, she got me looking at my weight, what I was eating and the fact that I wasn't exercising.
With the help of a doctor and a therapist, I began focusing on my health, eating healthier, and exercising. I lost 20 pounds since March, joined a gym, and improved my A1c and blood pressure. After my mother passed, I realized the urgency to take care of my health. It was a wake-up call to focus on myself again.
I stopped drinking soda and eating sweets, which helped me lose weight. I went from 280 to 260 pounds. My diet got cleaner, and I began strength training and cardio exercises.
I aim to lose 50 more pounds and get to 210. I'm focusing on a cleaner diet and more exercise. Now that I have been hitting off the smaller things on my list I am aiming for the big things!
Join a gym, focusing on strength training and cardio, a high protein, low-calorie, sugar-free diet is helping for me! Start with changing your diet and exercise habits little bit by little bit.
Yes, definitely. I thought it was just about filming myself taking medication. The messages and calls were supportive and motivational, and the way the care team prompted me to think about what I needed to do for my health worked well for me.
It was great they helped me with my health goals. The accountability was helpful. The care team would check in on my progress, encouraging me to take baby steps towards my health goals.The team got me to write a list and they would even call me asking, ‘Have you signed up to the gym?’ ‘Have you gone to the eye doctor?’. It was everything health related, before I knew it the entire list was finished. I did everything.
I follow the Mediterranean diet now, avoid desserts, sugary drinks, white flour, and focus on whole foods. It's important to be aware of what you're eating and read labels.
I don't beat myself up, I'm not perfect. When stressed, I focus on not overeating, getting enough rest, and using the HALT approach (Am I hungry, angry, lonely, or tired?) to think through what I am feeling.
My name's Perry Yule. I'm 65, turned 65 in July. I used to live in Los Angeles for 30 years and returned home to care for my mother with severe diabetes and pseudobulbar effect.
I wasn't really taking care of my health, certainly better than my mom was but it was really when my mom started getting worse that I started thinking about it. I learned a lot through her doctor visits and hospital tests. This led me to start focusing on my health. I got free therapy as a caregiver dealing with my mom, and in those therapy sessions I got a lot of help.
I went every Saturday, and it was really time for me to focus on myself. When I started I wasn't seeing a doctor. It was around the time of COVID and when I went to get a test I liked the doctor and she became my doctor. She showed me how to get the insurance here in Maryland, she got me looking at my weight, what I was eating and the fact that I wasn't exercising.
With the help of a doctor and a therapist, I began focusing on my health, eating healthier, and exercising. I lost 20 pounds since March, joined a gym, and improved my A1c and blood pressure. After my mother passed, I realized the urgency to take care of my health. It was a wake-up call to focus on myself again.
I stopped drinking soda and eating sweets, which helped me lose weight. I went from 280 to 260 pounds. My diet got cleaner, and I began strength training and cardio exercises.
I aim to lose 50 more pounds and get to 210. I'm focusing on a cleaner diet and more exercise. Now that I have been hitting off the smaller things on my list I am aiming for the big things!
Join a gym, focusing on strength training and cardio, a high protein, low-calorie, sugar-free diet is helping for me! Start with changing your diet and exercise habits little bit by little bit.
Yes, definitely. I thought it was just about filming myself taking medication. The messages and calls were supportive and motivational, and the way the care team prompted me to think about what I needed to do for my health worked well for me.
It was great they helped me with my health goals. The accountability was helpful. The care team would check in on my progress, encouraging me to take baby steps towards my health goals.The team got me to write a list and they would even call me asking, ‘Have you signed up to the gym?’ ‘Have you gone to the eye doctor?’. It was everything health related, before I knew it the entire list was finished. I did everything.
I follow the Mediterranean diet now, avoid desserts, sugary drinks, white flour, and focus on whole foods. It's important to be aware of what you're eating and read labels.
I don't beat myself up, I'm not perfect. When stressed, I focus on not overeating, getting enough rest, and using the HALT approach (Am I hungry, angry, lonely, or tired?) to think through what I am feeling.