The Facebook phenomenon - most people log on for a little social interaction or to find high school friends, college friends, old flames, new flames and colleagues. Personally, I enjoy the current healthy news, such as motivational status updates and progress reports from my clients. Facebook has become an amazing tool for me to track a client’s health journey. And, it is an ongoing journey. For instance, my client Chris Garcia, provides status updates such as, “Headed back to the gym,” “Back at the house working out,” “About to hop on the treadmill” or “Headed to the gym before tonight’s festivities.”

When I met Chris about ten months ago in September 2008, he was not living this kind of healthy active lifestyle. He was living quite the opposite. Chris was 27 years old, 100 pounds overweight, unable to exercise and claimed to have very unhealthy eating habits. It wasn’t until Chris became very ill with severe diabetes symptoms - immediately requiring insulin - that he found the motivation to lose weight and to take better care of himself. Chris made great progress by January 2009. He had shed 50 pounds and no longer needed insulin.

April 6, 2009, Chris wrote via Facebook: It’s been about 8 months since my dad and I first met with you. I just wanted to give you a positive update on my health status. When I first met with you, I believe I was weighing about 286 pounds or so, but as of this morning, I am now weighing 199 pounds. I just have 13 more pounds to go til I reach my goal weight. The last time I met with Dr. Schaffer, he could not believe my progress and according to my lab results, he says he has every reason to believe that I am no longer diabetic. That was back in January, but it’s like you told me, it’s a lifestyle change. I still continue to eat the same way you advised me to and haven’t strayed from it at all. Just wanted to say hey and thanks for all your help in helping me get my health back on track !

July 20, 2009, Chris wrote via Facebook: I have hit another big milestone in my quest to get ripped by officially losing 100 pounds. I am now at 186 pounds.

Chris is thrilled with his current health status. His daily routine is to log on to Facebook to spread his healthy news and to get continual support from friends. He shares with them when he is eating something healthy and what his exercise intentions are for the day. He says, “It makes me more accountable if I write a brief note to tell everyone that I am going to the gym.”

Now that Chris has lost so much weight, he enjoys posting pictures of himself in his biking gear or when he is lifting weights in the gym. Of course, he receives several comments by inspired friends. Facebook is Chris’s proof in the (low-fat) pudding that he is actively pursuing a healthy quest for a lifetime. Now that’s my idea of a healthy and productive Facebook status update. Continued good health! Let me know if I can help you.