Success Stories

We invite you to share your success stories from Shape Up & Go! With your permission, we will feature your story on this page to serve as an inspiration to other members of the Cleveland Clinic community. If you're feeling shy, we can post it without your name.

“This has been a wonderful motivator for me. I started in February and as I began to lose weight, I was encouraged to rejoin weight watchers. Through the months I increased muscle strength and was able to start jogging again. I am now up to jogging 3-4 miles 4x weekly and have lost over 15 pounds since the start of the program. I have more energy and my overall wellbeing of physical, mental and emotional health have improved. I highly recommend this program to anyone who is willing to listen because it has changed my life. Being middle aged I had pretty much given up hope on being able to lose weight. Shape up and go was the start of a whole new outlook and I am forever grateful to Dr. Roizen and all the folks at CCF that helped to institute this program.”

— Judy Wimmer, RN at the Beachwood Breast Center

“I think this program is helpful and gets me motivated because I am on a team. There is that component of accountability when a person belongs to a team or exercises with someone else. I have started to do some exercise tapes, too, as a result of this program. The team idea is the key for me. I have done some other wellness activities and completed the questionnaires but the team concept has been the motivator.”

— Linda Clarke, Team Ms. Fits, Cardiovascular Research

“I am an obese, sedentary, middle-aged, post-menopausal, pre-diabetic woman! If you add my family history of heart and kidney disease I'm a walking time bomb. But has this made me change much? No! And I was becoming very unhappy with "me" for being so lazy about everything. So, when ShapeUpandGo flashed on my screen I thought, “I think I can give this a try.” So I set my goals and decided I would work at it. Do I walk 10,000 steps per day? Nope. But I am making sure to park farther away, walk the halls a few extra times each day, and even take the steps. And no, I don't do a formal work out, but just by walking more I'm doing more than I've done in the past. My diet has changed and I am even planning to give up bread for Lent (and that is no small feat!). I will walk 10,000 steps before this program is over and I thank my team mates for being so encouraging. Good luck to all the teams! We all win by losing!”

— Anonymous

“I like that you can set your own goals and work towards them at your own pace. In previous programs, like Commit 10, you had to accomplish a goal set by the program. Also, because our team captain and I are EHP members, we can work out for free 4 days a week at the Walker Fitness Center, and it's great. I feel much healthier since starting Shape Up & Go! I've lost 8 pounds and feel wonderful. Shape Up & Go has helped me make lifestyle changes that will lead to a healthier me!”

— John Pounardjian, Recruiting & Development Coordinator, Lerner Research Institute

“I think this program is helpful and gets me motivated because I am on a team. There's accountability when a person belongs to a team or exercises with someone else. I have participated in other wellness activities, but this time the team concept has been the motivator.”

— Linda Clarke, Research Nurse Coordinator, Heart and Vascular Institute

“I enrolled in Shape Up & Go! because it's a fun way to get healthier. It's nice to get back in shape with a happy team that is competitive and fun. Another Shape Up & Go! team we work with is creating some added excitement for us by always bringing in cookies to tempt us! So far we've resisted their efforts to sabotage our progress. Our team spirit is great - everyone pitches in to help each other.”

— Somnath Bose, MD, Clinical Research Fellow, Outcomes Research

“I love the team concept in Shape Up & Go! — and even though I know we aren't on our way to being top 10 finishers, I like knowing I have to do my share of the work for whatever results we get! Great idea–offer it every year!”

— Beth Dixon, Orthopaedic & Rheumatologic Institute (ORI)

“Shape Up & Go! was the jump start I needed to get back into an exercise routine. I lost nine pounds the first month by exercising and watching my diet. Thank you also for the free membership to the gym through the EHP wellness program. I've been going 2-4 times a week and I feel a lot better physically and emotionally. I have also motivated my sister to start working out and getting in shape too!

I really appreciate the Shape Up & Go! newsletter, too. I have been trying to apply at least two things I learn from it into my daily routine and share tips with my friends and family.”

— Suzanne Koporc, Health Services Data

“I enrolled in Shape Up & Go! for health reasons after my doctor told me my cholesterol was 302. I have high blood pressure, heart disease, and also had a mini stroke. Since participating I have changed my diet, am baking and broiling foods, adding more vegetables, walking about 10,000 steps a day–plus, I've joined Curves!”

— Cynthia Wiley-Wade, Administrative Program Coordinator, Digestive Disease Institute