The emotional toll also took a physical toll on both parents.  They turned to unhealthy eating habits to cope with the stress and many months in hospitals.  “Cheeto’s and Oreos from the snack closet and red wine were staples of my diet,” says Lesli.  Both Dan and Lesli packed on the pounds.  “Walking alongside my son as he struggled to take 100 steps per day after his transplant wasn’t enough exercise to offset the calories I was consuming,” says Dan.

Last December Dan and Lesli joined EMP180 °and together have lost over 85 pounds – and are still going strong!  Both had tried to lose weight in the past but were never satisfied with their losses – and gained the weight back.

EMP appealed to the Creedons because it wasn’t a diet, it was a lifestyle change.  “When we went to EMP we met with their professional dietitians and had a new perspective on how to move forward.  The food, personalized support and weekly check-ins made the difference for us.  Now I understand how body mass and visceral fat affect my health, not just my appearance” says Dan.  “At 53,  I feel better now than I did when I was 43!”

Now Dan and Lesli are taking the next step in their wellness journey: training for a one-day 26.6 mile hike to raise funds for Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic.  When Jack was diagnosed, he was given the opportunity to have his one-true-wish granted: a trip to the Maldives to see the bio-luminescent ocean.   “Dreaming about taking that trip once he could safely travel brought our family hope and joy throughout Jack’s treatment,” says mom, who became the organization’s president and CEO in 2018.  Now, the family is giving the gift of a wish to other families in northern Virginia, DC, and Maryland.

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Or, to learn more about hiking yourself, Click Here  The hike is designed for all fitness levels.