Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ - #healthynurse Spotlight Series - Kyri Miller, RN
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Nurse adjusts lifestyle to lose more than 100 pounds.
Forward is forward no matter the pace.
While many people associate this phrase with running, it holds true for multiple areas of health. Weight loss is one of them.
No matter how long it takes, how many plateaus you hit, or how many hurdles you jump, losing weight to become a healthier version of yourself is rewarding. It might take time, but any progress is still progress. That’s what #healthynurse Kyri Miller has learned since her weight loss journey began in 2018.
At that time, Kyri weighed 270 pounds and felt unhealthy. She would often binge-eat when stressed and knew that she needed to change her lifestyle. Determined, she took aim on improving her daily habits through nutrition and exercise.
Kyri formed a love of exercise through kayaking. It gave her a burst of energy, but as the seasons changed and the weather got cooler, Kyri shifted to exercising in a gym. She favored cardio and got a personal trainer to help with muscle-building and accountability. To this day, Kyri runs several times a week and does cardio workout videos at home.
Food as Fuel for the Body
The next lifestyle change was nutrition. Kyri decided to count calories and only give her body the food it needs — not the unhealthy foods she craved. She shifted from high-calorie snacks like cookies to more satisfying, lower calorie options like carrots or pretzels. Some of her favorite meals include chicken, broccoli, and rice — and they keep her full for hours.
“When you give your body what it needs, you don’t need more,” says Kyri. “Especially with dinner, I choose something that’ll fulfill me for the rest of the evening.”
Kyri also began taking vitamin supplements to help boost her immune system, prevent migraines, and repair her muscles after exercise. To do all of this, Kyri takes:
- Magnesium
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Zinc
Keeping an Eye on the Prize
Throughout the past 4 years, Kyri has set multiple health goals for herself. She chooses smaller, more attainable goals to keep her moving forward, slowly but surely. At the beginning of her journey, she set a goal to weigh 200 pounds. Once she accomplished that, she changed her goal to 150 pounds. She eventually beat it by getting down to 143 pounds, which meant a total weight loss of 127 pounds!
“I started having more faith in myself in the process,” says Kyri. “I got down to 143 pounds, but I felt too small. Now I’m comfortable at 165 pounds, and I’m proud of the weight I’ve lost since I started.”
Turning to Support
To stay motivated, Kyri credits her support system of family and friends. Her journey hasn’t always been easy, but she’s gotten over the hurdles and past the plateaus with encouragement from loved ones.
“I’ve had injuries and setbacks, like when I pulled a muscle between my Achilles and calf while running,” says Kyri. “I wore a boot for 2 months, but I refused to give up. I started using the elliptical and doing whatever I could to keep the weight off.”
Kyri also credits deep tissue massages as a “game-changer” for keeping her active despite injuries and soreness. She has massages regularly to help heal inflamed muscles and correct any malformations.
Kyri’s Advice
Losing more than 100 pounds (or any amount of weight) is no easy feat, but it’s possible. Kyri is proof. No matter what your health and wellness goals are, remember Kyri’s advice as you make positive lifestyle changes:
- Pick your hard: Life is hard in general, but you get to pick which hard you face. For example, would you rather have a hard time bending over to tie your shoes because of your weight, or have a hard time waking up in the morning to exercise?
- Set goals: Find something to work toward, whether it’s small goals that change over time or a big goal that takes longer to accomplish. Find what works for you.
- Refuse to give up: Life comes with challenges and setbacks — don’t like them derail you. Find a way to get back on track.
Kyri Miller, RN, is a nurse at CenterWell Home Health.
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#healthynurse Spotlight
12/06/2022 3:45pm CST
The #healthynurse Spotlight is a shout out to nurses who are making changes in their lives to improve their health and wellness. You can too! Read their stories for inspiration here.
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