Wellness Wednesday — Clapper’s inspirational road leads to WELCOM award

For Lori Clapper, the bottom came in July 2007.

At that point she was significantly overweight and her cholesterol levels and blood pressure were through the roof.

“My health was failing and I felt really bad all the time,” said Clapper, an accountant in the College of Medicine’s Dean’s Office. “I decided it was time to do something.”

Once the decision was made, the changes were fast and dramatic.

In that instant, she decided to eat better, exercise more and simply get healthier. Gone were the sweet and fatty foods that paved her road to poor health and in came fresh vegetables, smaller portions and lots and lots of walking.

Lori Clapper with some of the tools she has used to drop nearly 100 pounds and drastically reduced her blood pressure and cholesterol levels in about a year and a half. She has received the Light of Wellness Healthy Behavior Award from the Wellness Council of the Midlands (WELCOM) for her transformation.

The results came steadily. The pounds melted away and her cholesterol and blood pressure levels dropped. Aided by UNMC’s 1 Million Step Challenge, which gave her added incentive to walk, and supportive co-workers who quit bringing in sweet treats, Clapper entered the dimension of good health.

Fast forward to today, Clapper walks about three miles a day. She still eats lots of veggies and smaller portions. Elevators serve basically no purpose for her, nor do the sugar and fat filled comfort foods that eventually made her very uncomfortable.

She’s dropped nearly 100 pounds and no longer needs blood pressure medication.

“And almost anyone would love to have my cholesterol levels,” she said.

For her lifestyle change over the past year and half, Clapper has been named a recipient of the Light of Wellness Healthy Behavior Award from the Wellness Council of the Midlands (WELCOM). As part of the award, she will be honored at a Nov. 6 dinner.

“Lori’s story really is remarkable and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award,” said Jayme Nekuda, UNMC’s director of benefits and worklife programs. “The progress she’s made in less than two years is both unbelievable and inspiring in that it shows what can happen when people make up their minds to be healthy.”