Today was the big Million Step March kickoff in Asheville. What better way to mark the occasion than by hearing from Cathy, whose husband is having great success through lifestyle changes, including walking. Here's Cathy's story in her words:

"The real story is not about me but my husband. Doug was diagnosed with Type II diabetes and high cholesterol in early February. Being about 40 pounds overweight and not really active, his doctor said, 'Lose the weight through diet and exercise and you can nip this is the bud.' Being overweight myself, I decided it was time to make some changes as well, and we could do this together.

"Eight weeks later, he has lost nearly 30 pounds (and I've lost 20) by changing our diet and walking. His cholesterol is much better and his A1c count is down nearly 4 points. He has visited a dietitian and we are learning how to read and understand labels. Knowing more about ingredients makes all the difference. Learning about portion size has really been key as well. Who would have thought that a portion-size bowl of our favorite cereal was just a cup and not half the box!

"We feel great, and the positive comments from others are very encouraging. We hold each other accountable, and doing this together is really fun. We grocery shop together and really put our heads together about the best places to eat out. Since we try to have one 'free' meal each week, eating out has become a big deal! This 'free' meal allows us to still have our favorite foods once each week. Even then, we find ourselves being very selective and aware of portion size. Walking each evening gives us time together that we never had before. It's something that we've made a priority.

"I'm so proud of Doug! I never thought I'd see him trade pizza and chicken fingers for grilled fish and broccoli or exchange his beloved fries for a fruit cup. If he can do it, anybody can."

Shared on April 1, 2008 Share your story

The Million Step March is about you.

You have a story to tell. Did you keep active by playing sports – but now consider your "playing days" over? Have you tried a dozen different diets, but found that you gained the weight right back? Did you start a daily fitness routine because your doctor told you to – and then wound up sticking with it because you liked how it made you feel?

One of the best features of this Million Step March Web site is that you get to tell us your stories. Many of them will be inspirational, but they don't have to be – after all, it's your own experience, and no one can reasonably dispute it. But a lot of us can learn from what you have to say.

On this site you'll see a box that says Share Your Story. Click on it (and be sure to register), put your story in your words, and hit Submit. We're taking a lot of your stories and sharing them in the blog. We posted the first story in a March 27 blog entry by Kathy Higgins.

We look forward to hearing your stories.

Posted by Kyle Marshall on March 31, 2008