May 24, 2024 • 38 mins
In this episode Lacy chats with Corporal Harold Estep, a State Trooper from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Corporal Estep shares his inspiring story about how he lost 50 pounds and kept it off for over 10 years. He talks about his passion for health and fitness and gives practical tips on how to stay in shape.
Key Takeaways:
- Harold’s Journey: Learn how and why Harold became a state trooper
- Harold's Health Transformation: lost 50 pounds and the steps he took to maintain his weight loss.
- Staying Motivated: Discover Harold’s strategies for staying motivated
- Coaching: Find out how coaching works and how you can support those around you with this process.
- Discover how Harold's Used Identity Reinforced his Habits: Harold shares how he started seeing himself as a fitness professional and that kept him on track. He wanted to be authentic!
Resources:
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Now that I look back, I realize I wasn't looking for
him to tell me what to do.
I was looking for him to listento me.
I was looking for someone to bethat ear.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
And to care.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
To care.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Right.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
And he cared enough to respond back to me and that
got me more motivated thananything.
Empathy and being humble andbeing vulnerable are all key
parts to coaching someone tomake them better are all key
parts to coaching someone tomake them better.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of
the ERS Walk Talk podcast.
I'm your host, lacey Wolfe,statewide well-being coordinator
at ERS.
Today we have another inspiringguest joining us, corporal
Harold Estep from the TexasDepartment of Public Safety.
Harold is not only a dedicatedstate trooper, he also serves in
(00:48):
a very specialized role as aregional fitness and wellness
monitor liaison for the CentralTexas region.
In his role, harold is on amission to help both
commissioned andnon-commissioned DPS employees
embrace a healthier and fitterlifestyle.
In this episode, harold shareshis incredible personal story of
overcoming health challenges,losing 50 pounds and maintaining
(01:11):
that weight loss for over 10years.
His journey is a testament tothe power of determination and
resilience.
But that's not all.
Harold is also an amazing coachand a mentor who is helping
others do the same thing.
You'll hear Harold's passionfor fitness, his strategies that
he uses to motivate and supporthis colleagues and some
(01:32):
inspiring success stories fromhis work at DPS.
So whether you're looking forsome motivation to start your
own fitness journey or some tipsto stay on track, this episode
is packed with some valuableinsights.
All right, without further ado,here's my conversation with
Corporal Harold Estep.
Welcome to ERS, harold, it's sogood to see you and thank you
(01:53):
for being willing to be a gueston the ERS Walk Talk podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Of course.
Thank you for having me.
I appreciate the opportunity todo this for you.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Yeah, I'm looking forward to getting your story
out.
I've known you for many yearsand I was really excited when I
ran into you recently andhearing all the great things
you're doing, and I think you'vegot great stories to share for
our listeners.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
So I want to just start out.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Have you kind of introduce yourself to everyone?
Talk a little bit about whereyou're from, what you do and how
long you've been working forthe state.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Well, my name is Harold E Stepp.
I've been with DPS since 2004,so this October will be 20 years
.
In that time, I've been able todo quite a few things.
My first duty station was up inAmarillo, 45 miles north of
Amarillo, actually up in Dumas,texas so I spent a year there
and then I transferred toFloresville in 2006.
(02:45):
And I spent almost 14 yearsthere before transferring to San
Antonio in 2017.
And I've been in San Antonioever since.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Wow, so you've gotten to see Panhandle and South
Texas.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Yes, I've seen a lot of South Texas.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
I bet you have with all the deployments.
Deployments?
Absolutely.
Can you talk a little bit aboutwhy you decided to come to
Texas to become a trooper in thefirst place?
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Wow, that's a really good question, because that's
going to go back quite a fewyears.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
So I was born in Kentucky, a small town in
Kentucky, and my father was acoal miner and when I was
growing up he would always tellme that he didn't want me
working in the coal mine.
And he always told me that hedidn't want me working in the
coal mine and he told me, healways told me that that wasn't
the life he wanted me to have.
He told me if I ever got theopportunity to get out and get
away to do so.
1997, I joined the army whilein kentucky my cousin, my dad's
(03:35):
brother, uh, his son was akentucky state troop and I would
see him come up in his patrolcar and he had a dog, he was a
canine officer and I was like,oh, that's the coolest thing in
the world and he gave me auniform and a pair of shoes that
he wore, and I kept him for awhile, you know, and I was like
man, I really want to be a statetrooper.
(03:55):
So my goal when I got out ofarmy was to move back to
Kentucky and become a statetrooper.
I met a woman.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
A Texan.
A Texas girl she said I'm notleaving Texas.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Yes, I always say this and she hates it, but I
always like to tell her.
I tell people that I found agirl that had all of her teeth.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
And she still has all of her teeth and I married her.
That's great, so that's why Istayed in Texas.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Good, probably probably, and I know you're
still happily married.
All these, years later.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Yes, I've been married 23 years.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Wow, congratulations.
So you just moved straight downfrom Fort Hood, came to the
Academy.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Yes, so in August of 2004, right after a deployment,
two-year deployment while I wasin, I was in the ROTC at UTSA
when September 11th happened.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Oh, wow.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
So I decided I wanted to be an enlist.
I couldn't go to school andmiss Everybody that I knew was
going to fight a war, so Ire-enlisted and I spent two more
years in the Army and I got outin 2004, August 2004.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
And I started the academy in October well, you are
in a very specialized role atDPS.
There's only two people that dowhat you do, so I'm wondering
if you could talk a little bitabout what your mission is and
your role in your specificposition there well, I am the.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
it's a long title.
I guess we like to use longtitles in DPS we do so.
I'm a regional fitness andwellness monitor liaison for the
Central Texas region.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
So all that really means is I oversee the fitness
testing, command, presence,everything like that for our
department in the Central Texasarea, which is from Waco all the
way to Port Lavaca.
Okay, I like to say that we notonly do we do commissioned
personnel, but we also donon-commissioned personnel as
well, okay, so anyone that isthat wants to come and see me
(05:55):
for anything, I will assist them.
Just, it's really it's reallyeasy to contact us and get those
things done.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
How does that work?
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Can you talk a little bit about kind of day-to-day?
So for the most part myday-to-day operations are people
that are not in compliance.
So if they're not in compliancewith either their PT test or
their PFT, as we call it, ortheir command presence, then I
set appointments with them andwe either do workouts together
or we do them remotely, becauseit's very hard for troopers that
are in the field to break awayand come and meet me at the
regional office in san antonio,if they're stationed, say, in
(06:34):
bernie or wherever that may be,because of their crash
commitments they can't breakaway because there's not someone
else to cover for them.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Got it Okay, so you will go to the people.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
I will go to them, go to them, I have gone to them.
That's amazing.
Many times Wow.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
For our listeners.
A lot of people may not knowthat I came from DPS.
I spent many years working as apart of the fitness and
wellness unit and it'sinteresting to see how it's
grown.
I'm so happy that there'speople in the field that are
doing and that there's adedicated person doing what you
do, because it's so important.
You're helping employees thatneed to and want to improve
(07:12):
their health.
Most state agencies don't havea fitness standard, so a lot of
people aren't familiar with that.
Can you just share with peoplewhat is the standard that people
are required to meet to be inuniform as a state trooper?
Speaker 1 (07:27):
They have to pass a PT test annually.
If they pass the PFT at 80% orhigher and they pass command
presence and I'll get to commandpresence in a second then they
are exempt in the spring psych.
Okay, so if they don't get 80%or higher, they have to take a
PT test twice a year.
Command presence is a waistmeasurement we use, which is 40
(07:48):
inches for males, 35 inches forfemales.
However, we have a 2% buffer,okay so, which allows 41 and 36.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Can you explain what is command presence to people
that don't know what that means?
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Yeah, command presence is how you look when
you get out of your patrol caror you just out in the public.
In general, people look at you.
They're always assessing apolice officer.
They're always looking Can Irun from this guy, would I fight
this guy?
Or whatever.
So it's how you look in uniformand how you present yourself
when you make that contact withthe public to maybe persuade
them not to try to attack you.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
So it's really helping to.
If you have command presence,it can help to decrease use of
force.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Yeah it's like a de-escalation tool.
It's like I said, as soon asthat person sees you, if they
have malice, if they have somebad intent, they're going to see
whether or not they can be likeyou know what I think I can
take this person.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
And it's a lot of it, because I've seen videos of
folks that did attack policeofficers talking about how in
the back of their mind and it'sthat state of fight or flight,
right like if you're in a statewhere you feel like I'm being
attacked or I'm going to go tojail it's sometimes just a
response and not and if yourbrain subconsciously you think,
(09:04):
oh, I could, I could take thisperson.
So it's all very interestingand I really like what y'all are
doing to support people thatare trying to get into
compliance as well with that.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
We are the only agency in the United States I
can think of that uses commandperson.
A lot of them, of course, usefitness testing, but we're the
only one that does any kind ofweight measurement, waist
measurement, body circumference,anything.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Wow, who was behind that?
How did it get?
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Well, I think it all started with Greg Davis.
You know, greg I do know Greg.
As a matter of fact, let mebrag on.
Lacey was one of my instructorswhen I went to the Fitness
Institute.
So that's how we, that's how I.
On.
Lacey was one of my instructorswhen I went to the Institute.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
So that's how we yeah .
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Getting back to that, I think Greg had a lot to do
with that, a lot and it was hisleadership that, and the way he
talked about that, was able toget people in BPS finally on
board, and his relationship thathe had with the executive
leadership is how this all cameto be, I believe.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Yeah, cutting edge.
I mean, no one else is doingwhat you're doing, and it's
interesting because now at ERS Ican see health claims data and
you can see that ourcommissioned officers are
significantly healthier and haveless chronic health conditions
than a lot of populations thatwe see chronic health conditions
in a lot of populations that wesee.
So, and there's there's a lotof things, obviously that go
(10:27):
into that, but I think having afitness standard and the things
that you're doing, makingexercise and physical fitness a
part of every day, and it'ssomething that troopers can
exercise as part of the workdaycorrect.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Yeah, so we're.
We're allowed right now 30minutes a day.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Okay, yeah, three times a week.
That's good.
In your role, you talked abouthow you coach employees, as well
as troopers, that are lookingto improve their health.
Some people it's mandatedbecause they're not passing a
standard, and then some peoplethey just want to be better and
improve their health andnutrition.
Can you talk about that process?
How do you go through like acoaching process?
Speaker 1 (11:05):
yeah, do you want me to talk about the process of a
commission person, someone whojust wants to or someone that
has to?
Speaker 2 (11:11):
let's start with someone who has to.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Usually when you start, when we talk about
someone that has to, thatautomatically them seeing that
they have to makes them not wantto, so it's really it can be
challenging to get that personto do stuff because they don't
want to be told what to do theydo not want to be told.
They don't want to be told whatto do.
They don't want to have a look.
A lot of people think that byhaving this uh standard, that
(11:37):
we're telling them how to look.
We're not necessarily tellingthem how to look, we're just
wanting to be healthy, right?
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Right.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
So they come to you, they come to me or they could
come to any fitness institutegraduate in the state.
So, as one of the things aboutthe position I'm in is, I will
get those, those personnel fromheadquarters in Austin and I
will distribute them to the, tothe instructor we have in the
field, Okay.
That's part of my duties, butright now I currently just have
(12:06):
about nine people that you'recounseling that I?
oversee.
Okay, coaching them, why not toget them through this?
So they are, I'm notified,they're on this um, on this list
of speak, and then I willcontact them and set up an
initial meeting.
And the initial meeting usuallyis about an hour and a half to
two hours because we go over, wehave a laundry list of things
(12:27):
that we have to go over, ofcourse, and then I want them to
feel comfortable with whoever itis they're meeting, because if
someone isn't comfortable withyou, they're not going to work
with you.
Right, I've found that out.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
So you got to establish that rapport.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
You have to establish rapport, you have to establish
from the poor.
You have to humble yourself toaccept that they're not where
you are at.
Yeah, and they can't do whatyou do you know I'm going to
work out, no matter what I'mgoing to get.
My workout in.
Their priority list is waydifferent than mine.
I've got to try and get thatmoved up on their priority list
(13:01):
so they become the last coachwhy do you think people don't
put fitness on the priority list?
Speaker 2 (13:07):
what?
What is happening there?
Speaker 1 (13:10):
I think over time it just becomes something that
they're, they feel like theydon't necessarily need to do, or
they've got comfortable withthe way they are and they know
that if they work out it's goingto hurt.
Right, you have aches and pains.
So once they get those achesand pains just just like when
you, everybody goes to the gymin January right, about a few
(13:31):
days in everybody's hurting orthey're feeling pain and then
the memberships drop off.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Right and you have been through that.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
I've been through that I mean, and I have been
through that I've been theperson who it's.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
It's hard to get the workout in it's.
I mean, I think that is part ofthe human condition, right?
So could you talk a little bit?
Speaker 1 (13:55):
about how you may share your personal story.
Sure, I don't have a problemwith sharing my story at all.
I usually tell the people thatI have that I counsel with.
I usually always lead with that, so that they were like, oh
wait a minute, this guy's notjust talking, he actually knows
what's going on here.
So in 2010, I was in a carcrash on duty and I was lucky I
(14:21):
was able to walk away.
There was a lot of damage and Ihad some injuries, but about
six to eight months after thecrash, I realized that I was
having some pains that I'venever had before.
So I went to my doctor, ofcourse, and told him about it,
and he sent me up for an MRI andthe.
MRI came back, I had two discsthat were deteriorated in my
back in my neck it was c4 and c5.
(14:43):
After a few months of some moretests whatnot I had them
removed.
I had them replaced.
So I currently have a four inchplate, titanium plate and four
screws that connect my neck andmy spine.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Wow, does it bother you still?
Speaker 1 (14:59):
it does not bother me okay and the reason I want to
say that it doesn't bother me isbecause when I had my surgery
done, this doctor was was really, really good and he gave me a
directives after the surgery.
He said you need to do this.
You do this and take it easyand do this.
Go to physical therapy.
You know, wear this bone,magnetic bone thing.
(15:21):
I had to wear a stimulator.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
I had to wear around my neck.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
So I did all the things he told me to do and I
healed in 90 days and I was backto work in 90 days only because
I listened to what he said.
But in that time, from thesurgery to that 90 days, I
gained a lot of weight because Iworked out before that but I
didn't have the passion for itthat I do now and I think this
is what sparked my passion Right.
So after that 90 days I wasjust eating.
(15:48):
You know cause I eating andsleeping was the only thing I
was doing.
I was an exercise, so I wasn't,I didn't have any activity and
my movement was limited.
I was probably.
I would be lucky if I had 500steps a day.
Cause you know you just walk tothe kitchen, or you walk to the
restroom, bedroom, living room.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
You know you don walk to the kitchen or you walk to
the restaurant, bedroom, livingroom.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
You know you don't have much activity.
So I gained.
I weighed about 190 before thesurgery.
After the surgery, I was uparound 235 to 4.
When you look in the mirror andyou don't like what you see,
you always hear the phrase Idon't like the skin I'm in.
So I remember that and I waslike, oh, this is not me, this
(16:27):
is not working.
So I started working out and Idecided that I was going to run
a half marathon one year to thedate after the surgery, and I
did so you set a goal, I set agoal, it's awesome and that's
one thing that a person has todo when they start something
like this is they have to have agoal right.
So my goal then was to run ahalf marathon, so I did.
(16:52):
I ran the.
I ran the alamo half, whichstarted in front of the alamo
santonio and in front of thealamo and San Antonio, and ended
in front of the Alamo and SanAntonio.
I got a really cool picture ofme crossing the finish line in
front of the Alamo at some point.
What I'm getting at with thisis I ran a lot and I was doing
all these other things, but Iwasn't watching what I was
eating, so I wasn't reallylosing any weight.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
So you were just running, I was just running,
still eating, I was yeah to eatwhat I wanted to right I was
working out, so I could eatwhatever I wanted and what did
that include here?
Speaker 1 (17:24):
well, you know, I drank a lot of soda, uh-huh you
know or tea, and every morningbefore I went to work oh, this
is so bad I had a banana and apop tart wow, yeah and you know
so my sugar is.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
It's through the roof , right right that's those two
things but you didn't know whatyou know now, no idea so I was
just getting something that Icould eat in my patrol car so I
go to work right, something easy, grab and go, and then that
soda is probably keeping youawake during the day or the
night, depending on when you'reworking.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Yeah, so I was like what, what's wrong here I'm, I'm
, I'm missing something, I'm notrunning, I'm not losing your
weight.
So then I discovered crossfitor you know wasn't really
crossfit, so it's because Ididn't join a crossfit gym, but
I discovered crossfit and I usedit in my own way you know, at
the gym I was going to and I dida lot of high intensity
(18:17):
workouts and then, I started.
I've got to do somethingdifferent here.
I'm still not really losing anyweight, so I contacted, at the
time, Sergeant Greg Davis in2013.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Really and.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
I told him that I had a neck surgery and I needed
encouragement to work out.
I still have the email I sentGreg and he responds to me with
I'm glad you reached out to me.
You can try some of theseTabata style workouts and you
can get going with these andcontact me if you have any more
information.
Well, I wasn't really looking.
(18:52):
Now that I look back, Irealized I wasn't looking for
him to tell me what to do.
I was looking for him to listento me.
I was looking for someone to bethat ear.
And to care, to care Right, andhe cared enough to respond back
to me, and that got me moremotivated than anything and I
was able to continue it fromthere.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Wow, powerful.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
And then over the course of the next year I
realized oh, if I change my dietand I do these things like I'm
supposed to, then it will work.
So this took a course of abouta year and a half two years.
I lost six pounds.
That's amazing, I was 185 whenI started the fitness institute.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
So, for people who don't know what the fitness
institute is, I want to sharejust a little bit and I'm going
to let you talk about it.
I came to DPS in 2014 and wasable to help build that program,
and you came through in classtoo, and it was so wonderful
because it basically we weretogether for six weeks and it
(19:51):
was broken up one week and thentwo weeks, two weeks and then
one week, and y'all were so fitI mean by the time you finished
that Institute because every dayyou were doing those workouts
with Greg and then it was justcomplete immersion in health and
wellness.
Right, you came in fit.
That gave you something totrain for.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Oh yeah, I was training for it.
I was also training forSpartans.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
Oh, that's right.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Yeah, so that was a big goal of mine was to complete
the three Spartans in a year.
I did the sprint, the super andthe beast all in one year,
which the sprint was three tofive miles with 20 obstacles,
we'll say, and then you've gotthe super, which is 10, up to 10
miles with 20 to 30 obstacles,and the beast is like 14 to 15
miles.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Okay, so tell when, when you set these goals,
obviously that is very helpful.
And then when you sit down totalk to somebody who wants to
change, improve their life,sharing how you did it, I'm
guessing, is very, very helpful,very helpful yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Because they begin to realize that they can set goals
and they know that they don'thave to do it overnight.
Right, because I explained tothem you know, this is this is
never going to happen overnight.
You're not going to walk intothe gym and work out for a week
and come back out and see anykind of difference at all.
So I always tell them it'sgoing to take time, believe in
what I'm telling you and believein the process and it will pay
off in the long run.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
That's great.
Well, and when we think aboutlifestyle changes, it's very
difficult.
I mean it's definitely an upand down and around process to
create sustainable long-termchange, and it seems like you've
lost 50 pounds and you'vemaintained it for 10 years,
(21:34):
which is almost unheard of Mostpeople when they lose weight
it's because of a drastic changein lifestyle, like going on a
diet for a while, lose 30, 40pounds and then revert back.
I mean, we see it all the time.
How did you maintain that levelof commitment to your health.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
It's really hard, but when I got back from the
Institute I was labeled as thefitness guy.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Oh, interesting.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
So when you, when you have all the cause, because I
mean you learn a lot in thefitness institute.
Not only do you learn how towork out, but you learn science
behind it.
You learn dps, policies andprocedures, so everyone looks to
you as that subject matter andthe nutrition yeah, everything
everything, yeah so when youcome out as that subject matter
expert, everybody's like what'sthe policy on this, what's the
policy on that?
(22:21):
So I could quote it to themwithout going and looking in the
manual.
So I was labeled as the fitnessguy.
I was also able to.
This is really interesting forfolks, in my opinion.
I was able to go.
There was a building in SanAntonio at our regional office
that was a CID storage buildingand it was full of just stuff.
(22:42):
There was a car lift in thereback in the 80s and 90s when
they used to search cars andthings like that Just a bunch of
junk.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Just a bunch of junk.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
That was never used.
It's a two-car garage typebuilding with an office.
So I went to the CID captain inSan Antonio I said hey, I just
got back from the institute andfitness is never going to go
away.
We've started this program.
It's not going.
It's never going to revert,we're going to just keep going
forward.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Okay, I said so we this might be beneficial.
Although some people might wantit to go away, it's here to
stay.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
I said we need, if we're going to require employees
to work out by policy, you know, if they're not in compliance,
by not offering them a place todo that is it's not beneficial
to the employee.
I said let me turn that oldstorage building into a fitness
center.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Oh, okay.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
And they were like well, how are you going to do
that?
So I laid down how I thought Icould do it.
I contacted Greg again and saidwhere do I get equipment?
And they gave me half of thebuilding.
After about a year the gym wasgetting used so much we couldn't
have enough space.
So I went back to him I saidcan I have the rest?
They said if you can get thatcar lift removed, you can have
(24:03):
the rest of the building.
So I diligently worked and gotall the junk that was down there
.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
And.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
I got rid of it, either by, you know, relocating
it somewhere or just trashwhatever it was.
And then I contacted a companythat does that and they came and
got the car lift and they tookthe car lift to another facility
and the troopers now use thatcar lift to search cars or
whatnot, instead of having touse on the side of the road oh,
it's a win-win.
(24:29):
It's a win-win, right yeah thenI got the rest of the gym and
then, uh, the office that wasthere on recently.
I just knocked that wall down.
About a year ago I knocked thatwall down in between the two
buildings.
Now it's wide open and I hadair conditioning installed
because one of the complaints Igot was it was too hot in there
all the time.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
So I had AC installed and now we've got a fully
functional fitness center with achanging room.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
That's amazing, and you were doing all this while
you were doing your job as atrooper.
Like you weren't even in thisdedicated job yet.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
So at that point I was still stopping cars, taking
people to jail and workingcrashes, all my requirements
that were still required of meas a trooper, and all of the
divisions pitched in to buy theequipment, which is really cool.
So we had the Rangers, cid andHighway Patrol all pitching in
to buy the equipment for thefacility.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
So you had a lot of support, a lot in to buy the
equipment for the facility.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
So you had a lot of support, a lot.
That's amazing, and that'sleadership too, right Well?
Speaker 2 (25:24):
at the time, the original director was Freeman
Martin.
Oh yeah, okay, Well, that makessense.
Yeah, good support as well aspulling together that funding.
That is amazing, so muchpassion to make all of that
happen.
I know they probably have agreat deal of appreciation for
all you've done to make to makethat facility and that'll live
on beyond you, right.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
When I went to the board for the position that I
have, it's one of the things Isaid was I've been able to
create this place out here andthis will be my legacy.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Wow.
So I love what you said Goingback to everybody saw you as the
fitness guy, because I think itreally connects some.
I don't know if you've read thebook Atomic Habits by James
Clear.
He talks about havingidentity-based habits.
How we see ourselves will oftendetermine our behavior, and I
(26:14):
think that's so powerful and Ithink a lot about.
If you're in a role wherepeople are looking to you for
advice or support, then you haveto step up and be that person.
It makes you feel.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
I think that's one of the when you ask me about how I
do that, I think that's one ofthe things I have to check the
balance.
You know, if I don't look likea fitness guy, I'm not going to
be a fitness guy.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
Right, you're going to feel like you're not
authentically, yeah, and thatdisconnect between the behavior
and not feeling authentic is nota good place to be.
It makes so much sense.
So we talked about how hard itis to change behavior.
You have changed and havemaintained this for 10 years,
(26:54):
and I know that you're helpingother people do the same.
Can you share any successstories you have, maybe from
without sharing anyone's name?
Or personally identifiableinformation.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
So I've contacted a few of my previous.
We call them FIPS.
That's the Department.
It's a fitness improvement plan.
So, yes, I've contacted acouple of my FIPS and I was able
to.
I talked to him and he's like Iwould be honored if you share
my story because it helped you.
You know, you've helped me alot.
He was almost 400 pounds.
(27:27):
His waist was closer to 50 thanit was 40.
Ok, you know.
So he was struggling but he waswilling to change and I think
that is so important.
Right, it's almost a first step, in my opinion is you have to.
If you're not willing to change,you're not going to change.
(27:48):
But he was willing to changefor his job.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
Right, he wanted a better life, his life, his job
he knew all around.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
if you change, everything would be better.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
So how do you do it?
Speaker 1 (28:01):
It's interesting.
Okay, so he was in a placewhere we couldn't meet a lot but
man, we blew each other's phoneup.
He would send me videos, he'dsend me pictures, whatever he
was doing workouts.
I would share workouts with himand I would check on him
constantly and then I wouldmeasure him his weight.
I'll do his waist measurementevery other month, take his
(28:21):
weight every other month, youknow, ask him about nutrition.
And after about six or sevenmonths the phone calls and all
this stuff were not as frequentas they were because he already
figured out how to do it.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
So he didn't need you .
Speaker 1 (28:37):
Well, I don't know, he didn't as much, he didn't
need me as much.
He still called me and told me,like I'll never forget, he
called me and said hey, this isreally working.
You know, I really appreciate,uh, everything that we've been
able to do, but I think I'mplateauing a little bit.
What do you think about orangetheory?
So he was taking me uponhimself to figure out.
(28:58):
How can I change this?
Speaker 2 (28:59):
wow, how can I do better?
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (29:01):
so I said, hey, I think orange stew is a great
idea.
I said you're in, you're out,you're high intensity for 30 to
45 minutes.
Go back home right.
A few months later he called meand said hey, have you heard
about this meal prepping placeover in san antonio?
They make meals.
You know I go over there.
I was like, no, I haven't, itwasn't.
He sent me the website for him.
I was like, hey, I think that'sgreat if that's how you.
(29:21):
And he sent me the website forhim.
I was like, hey, I think that'sgreat.
If that's how you want to spendyour day, meal prepping is a
great thing to do.
So after all of this workout,meal prepping, he changed his
lifestyle, changed his diet,everything.
He ended up losing 202 pounds.
He's just amazing.
I can't say enough about him.
His pictures from when hestarted until now.
It's just so, so cool to see.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
And then one of the last things he did, I'll never
forget this he sent me a videoone day.
He has a home garage gym.
Also, he put 202 pounds on abar well, a bar and weight 202
pounds.
And he walked the block of hisneighborhood and he sent me that
video and said I wanted to knowwhat it felt like to carry this
(30:07):
much weight around.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
Wow, wow.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
And I was like man.
That's one of the coolestthings I've ever seen.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Cold chills.
Yeah, I mean, he did that.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
Yeah, I didn't have.
I hate to say I didn't haveanything to do with that, but I
influenced him in such a waythat he wanted to do those
things.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
And to me that is my reward.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
This whole coaching relationship.
I think it's so important andwe know it works right when
people can, and it doesn'talways work.
I mean there's, like you said,you have to be willing and want
to change, but when you havesomebody who cares about you and
cares about your success andthat is supporting you and
asking the right questions,that's really where the magic
(30:49):
happens, Right?
So and I think that was one ofthe things that in the Institute
that I always wanted to impartupon folks is the empathy.
Put yourself in someone else'sshoes.
Right, yes, and I think you'reyou nail that I mean, and that's
the, that's the secret sauce isit is empathy and being humble
(31:12):
and being vulnerable are all keyparts to coaching someone to
make them better.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
If you, I can't say enough about it, but you know I
love his story and every chanceI get to tell it I do.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
Thank you for sharing that story.
It's very powerful.
Before going through all ofthis and learning how to coach
and how to support people, Wouldyou have shared you know these
parts of yourself, or would youhave been embarrassed or ashamed
to share?
Speaker 1 (31:42):
I would probably tell it to someone trying to make
myself look good right I don'tthink I would tell it as a way
to connect with someone.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
It's interesting, that makes sense yeah, yeah,
like I did this, I overcame this.
But instead of that being thethe the way that you're
sharing're saying I've beenwhere you are.
I know how you know, or I canunderstand how that must feel
it's all about yeah, it's allabout your presentation I had to
talk to someone about it, forsure.
Speaker 1 (32:13):
Yeah, I could sit in there and say, hey, I did this,
this is the way I did it andthis is how you need to do it.
It's not going to work for thatperson.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
Right.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
And I you've got.
This is how you need to do it,it's not going to work for that
person right, and I understandthat I can say look at my wall,
here I've got all thesecertifications.
That doesn't mean anything tothat, so it's not about all that
.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
It's about how I can empathize with them and send
them on the right path that'sgreat and the ones that have
listened so far been verysuccessful so if you were
talking out to podcast land tofolks that you don't know, that
may never get to meet you inperson, and there's somebody out
there who may want to changetheir life and don't have access
(32:53):
to you or you know theresources available, what would
you tell somebody?
Where to go, what books to read, where to start to actually
create a long-term, sustainablelifestyle change?
Speaker 1 (33:08):
yeah, there's so many , so many books, you know
there's.
I mean to me, once you, onceyou start this lifestyle change,
then you can start readingbooks.
I think I don't think that thebooks are going to get you going
necessarily.
At first, I think you have tomeet someone.
I think you have to talk tosomeone to see how they were
(33:31):
able to do it, or or just sharethe stories like support.
You need support from someoneto to really get going.
I think okay then.
Okay, then, once you like me,once I started getting into it,
then I started like I was like asponge.
I wanted to learn everything Icould, all about it, not just
(33:52):
one thing.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Because it is.
It's all the aspects of health,they're all interconnected.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
It's like a big wheel , yeah, with several spokes.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
Yeah, even when you think about financial health,
mental health, I mean, they'reall interconnected.
What are your thoughts on howwe're, how are we addressing
mental health, and do you thinkthere's enough being done around
that space, in that space?
Speaker 1 (34:20):
It's interesting that you bring that up.
We had a mike harper.
He has uh, we have thesemeetings, these uh teams
meetings, um, every other week,and one of the ones we had a few
weeks ago was on mental healthand uh, that's why we've read,
that's why I think that's one ofthe reasons they wanted to
rename um pt with the trainees.
(34:43):
Now it's now mpc mentalphysical conditioning.
So, um, I think that's a hugething.
I think it's just as huge asphysical conditioning is.
Uh, I really can't speak a loton it.
You know I don't have that muchknowledge on it, but I will say
that we have programs in DPSthat can help you if you're ever
(35:08):
going through anything that youneed to.
And the reason I say that youcan meet them and you have to
get up to six sessions with themI think it is before you have
to go see a higher level right,it's because I know, because
I've had those six sessions.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
Right and it helped you and it helped me.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
There's nothing wrong with admitting that you need
help and then but that's thefirst step and that's what for
me.
I had to realize I needed to dothat and the support my wife
was able to get thataccomplished and I came out on
the other end a better personfor doing that.
(35:45):
But there's nothing wrong withasking for help or seeking
counsel.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
Yeah, and I do think it's so.
I mean, we work so hard tode-stigmatize but there is still
, unfortunately, a stigma aroundgetting help for mental health.
But you sharing the fitness guygot help for mental health,
like in the end all the thingsthat you're exposed to correct
it's completely normal that youshould need somebody to help you
.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
There's a lot of things over the years that I saw
and then there's certain thingsthat triggered that.
There's one thing in particularthat triggered that, so I
seeked help and it really didhelp me a lot.
Speaker 2 (36:21):
That's great that's great and there's so much that
can be done.
The earlier you know, theearlier we address things.
And I just say that becausethis bi-directionality of health
like if you're hurting mentallyyou're not going to want to go
work out right or eat well itcan lead to anxiety and
depression and I just want todistance myself, avoid these
feelings and drink alcohol andsleep and watch Netflix right,
(36:43):
distance myself avoid thesefeelings and drink alcohol and
sleep and watch Netflix Right.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
It's interesting that you bring that up and it brings
me to bring something to mymind that I listened to a
podcast myself, and it was amilitary podcast that was sent
out to us again by Mike Harper,but it was about holistic health
and how the military usesholistic health.
I listened to that and I stilllisten to it because I think
what they're doing is it works.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
Right, right, it does .
Yes.
Well, I really reallyappreciate you being willing to
share your story, your journeyand just the passion that you
have for helping people.
It's contagious, and I knowthat people are going to hear
your story and want to get outthere and do something for
somebody else All right.
Speaker 1 (37:25):
Thank you, lacey, appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (37:26):
All right.
Thank you so much for tuning into this episode of the ERS Walk
Talk podcast.
It's been an absolute pleasurehaving Corporal Harold Estep
with us today.
Harold's journey and hisdedication to promoting health
and wellness within the TexasDepartment of Public Safety is
truly inspiring.
Harold, thank you for sharingyour story and the amazing work
(37:48):
you're doing to help othersachieve their goals.
Your passion and commitment aremaking a significant impact and
we appreciate all that you doTo our listeners.
We hope Harold's story hasmotivated you to take steps
toward your own health andfitness goals.
Remember it's never too late tostart, and small changes can
lead to significant improvementsin your overall well-being.
(38:08):
If you work at DPS, you haveaccess to great folks like
Harold who can help you directlyon your wellness journey, and
anyone who works for the statehas access to amazing well-being
benefits that can support youin living a healthier and
happier life.
I'll include more details aboutthese benefits in the show
notes.
If you enjoyed this episode,please make sure you subscribe
(38:31):
to our podcast and share it withothers that might benefit from
these amazing people and stories.
Stay tuned for more episodesfeaturing guests who are making
a difference in the world ofhealth and wellness in the state
of Texas.
Until next time, keep walking,keep talking and keep striving
for a healthier you.
I'm Lacey Wolfe, and this isthe ERS Walk Talk podcast.
(38:56):
Take care.
Now that I look back, I realize I wasn't looking for
him to tell me what to do.
I was looking for him to listento me.
I was looking for someone to bethat ear.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
And to care.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
To care.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Right.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
And he cared enough to respond back to me and that
got me more motivated thananything.
Empathy and being humble andbeing vulnerable are all key
parts to coaching someone tomake them better are all key
parts to coaching someone tomake them better.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of
the ERS Walk Talk podcast.
I'm your host, lacey Wolfe,statewide well-being coordinator
at ERS.
Today we have another inspiringguest joining us, corporal
Harold Estep from the TexasDepartment of Public Safety.
Harold is not only a dedicatedstate trooper, he also serves in
(00:48):
a very specialized role as aregional fitness and wellness
monitor liaison for the CentralTexas region.
In his role, harold is on amission to help both
commissioned andnon-commissioned DPS employees
embrace a healthier and fitterlifestyle.
In this episode, harold shareshis incredible personal story of
overcoming health challenges,losing 50 pounds and maintaining
(01:11):
that weight loss for over 10years.
His journey is a testament tothe power of determination and
resilience.
But that's not all.
Harold is also an amazing coachand a mentor who is helping
others do the same thing.
You'll hear Harold's passionfor fitness, his strategies that
he uses to motivate and supporthis colleagues and some
(01:32):
inspiring success stories fromhis work at DPS.
So whether you're looking forsome motivation to start your
own fitness journey or some tipsto stay on track, this episode
is packed with some valuableinsights.
All right, without further ado,here's my conversation with
Corporal Harold Estep.
Welcome to ERS, harold, it's sogood to see you and thank you
(01:53):
for being willing to be a gueston the ERS Walk Talk podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Of course.
Thank you for having me.
I appreciate the opportunity todo this for you.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Yeah, I'm looking forward to getting your story
out.
I've known you for many yearsand I was really excited when I
ran into you recently andhearing all the great things
you're doing, and I think you'vegot great stories to share for
our listeners.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
So I want to just start out.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Have you kind of introduce yourself to everyone?
Talk a little bit about whereyou're from, what you do and how
long you've been working forthe state.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Well, my name is Harold E Stepp.
I've been with DPS since 2004,so this October will be 20 years
.
In that time, I've been able todo quite a few things.
My first duty station was up inAmarillo, 45 miles north of
Amarillo, actually up in Dumas,texas so I spent a year there
and then I transferred toFloresville in 2006.
(02:45):
And I spent almost 14 yearsthere before transferring to San
Antonio in 2017.
And I've been in San Antonioever since.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Wow, so you've gotten to see Panhandle and South
Texas.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Yes, I've seen a lot of South Texas.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
I bet you have with all the deployments.
Deployments?
Absolutely.
Can you talk a little bit aboutwhy you decided to come to
Texas to become a trooper in thefirst place?
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Wow, that's a really good question, because that's
going to go back quite a fewyears.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
So I was born in Kentucky, a small town in
Kentucky, and my father was acoal miner and when I was
growing up he would always tellme that he didn't want me
working in the coal mine.
And he always told me that hedidn't want me working in the
coal mine and he told me, healways told me that that wasn't
the life he wanted me to have.
He told me if I ever got theopportunity to get out and get
away to do so.
1997, I joined the army whilein kentucky my cousin, my dad's
(03:35):
brother, uh, his son was akentucky state troop and I would
see him come up in his patrolcar and he had a dog, he was a
canine officer and I was like,oh, that's the coolest thing in
the world and he gave me auniform and a pair of shoes that
he wore, and I kept him for awhile, you know, and I was like
man, I really want to be a statetrooper.
(03:55):
So my goal when I got out ofarmy was to move back to
Kentucky and become a statetrooper.
I met a woman.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
A Texan.
A Texas girl she said I'm notleaving Texas.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Yes, I always say this and she hates it, but I
always like to tell her.
I tell people that I found agirl that had all of her teeth.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
And she still has all of her teeth and I married her.
That's great, so that's why Istayed in Texas.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Good, probably probably, and I know you're
still happily married.
All these, years later.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Yes, I've been married 23 years.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Wow, congratulations.
So you just moved straight downfrom Fort Hood, came to the
Academy.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Yes, so in August of 2004, right after a deployment,
two-year deployment while I wasin, I was in the ROTC at UTSA
when September 11th happened.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Oh, wow.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
So I decided I wanted to be an enlist.
I couldn't go to school andmiss Everybody that I knew was
going to fight a war, so Ire-enlisted and I spent two more
years in the Army and I got outin 2004, August 2004.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
And I started the academy in October well, you are
in a very specialized role atDPS.
There's only two people that dowhat you do, so I'm wondering
if you could talk a little bitabout what your mission is and
your role in your specificposition there well, I am the.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
it's a long title.
I guess we like to use longtitles in DPS we do so.
I'm a regional fitness andwellness monitor liaison for the
Central Texas region.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
So all that really means is I oversee the fitness
testing, command, presence,everything like that for our
department in the Central Texasarea, which is from Waco all the
way to Port Lavaca.
Okay, I like to say that we notonly do we do commissioned
personnel, but we also donon-commissioned personnel as
well, okay, so anyone that isthat wants to come and see me
(05:55):
for anything, I will assist them.
Just, it's really it's reallyeasy to contact us and get those
things done.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
How does that work?
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Can you talk a little bit about kind of day-to-day?
So for the most part myday-to-day operations are people
that are not in compliance.
So if they're not in compliancewith either their PT test or
their PFT, as we call it, ortheir command presence, then I
set appointments with them andwe either do workouts together
or we do them remotely, becauseit's very hard for troopers that
are in the field to break awayand come and meet me at the
regional office in san antonio,if they're stationed, say, in
(06:34):
bernie or wherever that may be,because of their crash
commitments they can't breakaway because there's not someone
else to cover for them.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Got it Okay, so you will go to the people.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
I will go to them, go to them, I have gone to them.
That's amazing.
Many times Wow.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
For our listeners.
A lot of people may not knowthat I came from DPS.
I spent many years working as apart of the fitness and
wellness unit and it'sinteresting to see how it's
grown.
I'm so happy that there'speople in the field that are
doing and that there's adedicated person doing what you
do, because it's so important.
You're helping employees thatneed to and want to improve
(07:12):
their health.
Most state agencies don't havea fitness standard, so a lot of
people aren't familiar with that.
Can you just share with peoplewhat is the standard that people
are required to meet to be inuniform as a state trooper?
Speaker 1 (07:27):
They have to pass a PT test annually.
If they pass the PFT at 80% orhigher and they pass command
presence and I'll get to commandpresence in a second then they
are exempt in the spring psych.
Okay, so if they don't get 80%or higher, they have to take a
PT test twice a year.
Command presence is a waistmeasurement we use, which is 40
(07:48):
inches for males, 35 inches forfemales.
However, we have a 2% buffer,okay so, which allows 41 and 36.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Can you explain what is command presence to people
that don't know what that means?
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Yeah, command presence is how you look when
you get out of your patrol caror you just out in the public.
In general, people look at you.
They're always assessing apolice officer.
They're always looking Can Irun from this guy, would I fight
this guy?
Or whatever.
So it's how you look in uniformand how you present yourself
when you make that contact withthe public to maybe persuade
them not to try to attack you.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
So it's really helping to.
If you have command presence,it can help to decrease use of
force.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Yeah it's like a de-escalation tool.
It's like I said, as soon asthat person sees you, if they
have malice, if they have somebad intent, they're going to see
whether or not they can be likeyou know what I think I can
take this person.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
And it's a lot of it, because I've seen videos of
folks that did attack policeofficers talking about how in
the back of their mind and it'sthat state of fight or flight,
right like if you're in a statewhere you feel like I'm being
attacked or I'm going to go tojail it's sometimes just a
response and not and if yourbrain subconsciously you think,
(09:04):
oh, I could, I could take thisperson.
So it's all very interestingand I really like what y'all are
doing to support people thatare trying to get into
compliance as well with that.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
We are the only agency in the United States I
can think of that uses commandperson.
A lot of them, of course, usefitness testing, but we're the
only one that does any kind ofweight measurement, waist
measurement, body circumference,anything.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Wow, who was behind that?
How did it get?
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Well, I think it all started with Greg Davis.
You know, greg I do know Greg.
As a matter of fact, let mebrag on.
Lacey was one of my instructorswhen I went to the Fitness
Institute.
So that's how we, that's how I.
On.
Lacey was one of my instructorswhen I went to the Institute.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
So that's how we yeah .
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Getting back to that, I think Greg had a lot to do
with that, a lot and it was hisleadership that, and the way he
talked about that, was able toget people in BPS finally on
board, and his relationship thathe had with the executive
leadership is how this all cameto be, I believe.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Yeah, cutting edge.
I mean, no one else is doingwhat you're doing, and it's
interesting because now at ERS Ican see health claims data and
you can see that ourcommissioned officers are
significantly healthier and haveless chronic health conditions
than a lot of populations thatwe see chronic health conditions
in a lot of populations that wesee.
So, and there's there's a lotof things, obviously that go
(10:27):
into that, but I think having afitness standard and the things
that you're doing, makingexercise and physical fitness a
part of every day, and it'ssomething that troopers can
exercise as part of the workdaycorrect.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Yeah, so we're.
We're allowed right now 30minutes a day.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Okay, yeah, three times a week.
That's good.
In your role, you talked abouthow you coach employees, as well
as troopers, that are lookingto improve their health.
Some people it's mandatedbecause they're not passing a
standard, and then some peoplethey just want to be better and
improve their health andnutrition.
Can you talk about that process?
How do you go through like acoaching process?
Speaker 1 (11:05):
yeah, do you want me to talk about the process of a
commission person, someone whojust wants to or someone that
has to?
Speaker 2 (11:11):
let's start with someone who has to.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Usually when you start, when we talk about
someone that has to, thatautomatically them seeing that
they have to makes them not wantto, so it's really it can be
challenging to get that personto do stuff because they don't
want to be told what to do theydo not want to be told.
They don't want to be told whatto do.
They don't want to have a look.
A lot of people think that byhaving this uh standard, that
(11:37):
we're telling them how to look.
We're not necessarily tellingthem how to look, we're just
wanting to be healthy, right?
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Right.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
So they come to you, they come to me or they could
come to any fitness institutegraduate in the state.
So, as one of the things aboutthe position I'm in is, I will
get those, those personnel fromheadquarters in Austin and I
will distribute them to the, tothe instructor we have in the
field, Okay.
That's part of my duties, butright now I currently just have
(12:06):
about nine people that you'recounseling that I?
oversee.
Okay, coaching them, why not toget them through this?
So they are, I'm notified,they're on this um, on this list
of speak, and then I willcontact them and set up an
initial meeting.
And the initial meeting usuallyis about an hour and a half to
two hours because we go over, wehave a laundry list of things
(12:27):
that we have to go over, ofcourse, and then I want them to
feel comfortable with whoever itis they're meeting, because if
someone isn't comfortable withyou, they're not going to work
with you.
Right, I've found that out.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
So you got to establish that rapport.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
You have to establish rapport, you have to establish
from the poor.
You have to humble yourself toaccept that they're not where
you are at.
Yeah, and they can't do whatyou do you know I'm going to
work out, no matter what I'mgoing to get.
My workout in.
Their priority list is waydifferent than mine.
I've got to try and get thatmoved up on their priority list
(13:01):
so they become the last coachwhy do you think people don't
put fitness on the priority list?
Speaker 2 (13:07):
what?
What is happening there?
Speaker 1 (13:10):
I think over time it just becomes something that
they're, they feel like theydon't necessarily need to do, or
they've got comfortable withthe way they are and they know
that if they work out it's goingto hurt.
Right, you have aches and pains.
So once they get those achesand pains just just like when
you, everybody goes to the gymin January right, about a few
(13:31):
days in everybody's hurting orthey're feeling pain and then
the memberships drop off.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Right and you have been through that.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
I've been through that I mean, and I have been
through that I've been theperson who it's.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
It's hard to get the workout in it's.
I mean, I think that is part ofthe human condition, right?
So could you talk a little bit?
Speaker 1 (13:55):
about how you may share your personal story.
Sure, I don't have a problemwith sharing my story at all.
I usually tell the people thatI have that I counsel with.
I usually always lead with that, so that they were like, oh
wait a minute, this guy's notjust talking, he actually knows
what's going on here.
So in 2010, I was in a carcrash on duty and I was lucky I
(14:21):
was able to walk away.
There was a lot of damage and Ihad some injuries, but about
six to eight months after thecrash, I realized that I was
having some pains that I'venever had before.
So I went to my doctor, ofcourse, and told him about it,
and he sent me up for an MRI andthe.
MRI came back, I had two discsthat were deteriorated in my
back in my neck it was c4 and c5.
(14:43):
After a few months of some moretests whatnot I had them
removed.
I had them replaced.
So I currently have a four inchplate, titanium plate and four
screws that connect my neck andmy spine.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Wow, does it bother you still?
Speaker 1 (14:59):
it does not bother me okay and the reason I want to
say that it doesn't bother me isbecause when I had my surgery
done, this doctor was was really, really good and he gave me a
directives after the surgery.
He said you need to do this.
You do this and take it easyand do this.
Go to physical therapy.
You know, wear this bone,magnetic bone thing.
(15:21):
I had to wear a stimulator.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
I had to wear around my neck.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
So I did all the things he told me to do and I
healed in 90 days and I was backto work in 90 days only because
I listened to what he said.
But in that time, from thesurgery to that 90 days, I
gained a lot of weight because Iworked out before that but I
didn't have the passion for itthat I do now and I think this
is what sparked my passion Right.
So after that 90 days I wasjust eating.
(15:48):
You know cause I eating andsleeping was the only thing I
was doing.
I was an exercise, so I wasn't,I didn't have any activity and
my movement was limited.
I was probably.
I would be lucky if I had 500steps a day.
Cause you know you just walk tothe kitchen, or you walk to the
restroom, bedroom, living room.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
You know you don walk to the kitchen or you walk to
the restaurant, bedroom, livingroom.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
You know you don't have much activity.
So I gained.
I weighed about 190 before thesurgery.
After the surgery, I was uparound 235 to 4.
When you look in the mirror andyou don't like what you see,
you always hear the phrase Idon't like the skin I'm in.
So I remember that and I waslike, oh, this is not me, this
(16:27):
is not working.
So I started working out and Idecided that I was going to run
a half marathon one year to thedate after the surgery, and I
did so you set a goal, I set agoal, it's awesome and that's
one thing that a person has todo when they start something
like this is they have to have agoal right.
So my goal then was to run ahalf marathon, so I did.
(16:52):
I ran the.
I ran the alamo half, whichstarted in front of the alamo
santonio and in front of thealamo and San Antonio, and ended
in front of the Alamo and SanAntonio.
I got a really cool picture ofme crossing the finish line in
front of the Alamo at some point.
What I'm getting at with thisis I ran a lot and I was doing
all these other things, but Iwasn't watching what I was
eating, so I wasn't reallylosing any weight.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
So you were just running, I was just running,
still eating, I was yeah to eatwhat I wanted to right I was
working out, so I could eatwhatever I wanted and what did
that include here?
Speaker 1 (17:24):
well, you know, I drank a lot of soda, uh-huh you
know or tea, and every morningbefore I went to work oh, this
is so bad I had a banana and apop tart wow, yeah and you know
so my sugar is.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
It's through the roof , right right that's those two
things but you didn't know whatyou know now, no idea so I was
just getting something that Icould eat in my patrol car so I
go to work right, something easy, grab and go, and then that
soda is probably keeping youawake during the day or the
night, depending on when you'reworking.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Yeah, so I was like what, what's wrong here I'm, I'm
, I'm missing something, I'm notrunning, I'm not losing your
weight.
So then I discovered crossfitor you know wasn't really
crossfit, so it's because Ididn't join a crossfit gym, but
I discovered crossfit and I usedit in my own way you know, at
the gym I was going to and I dida lot of high intensity
(18:17):
workouts and then, I started.
I've got to do somethingdifferent here.
I'm still not really losing anyweight, so I contacted, at the
time, Sergeant Greg Davis in2013.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Really and.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
I told him that I had a neck surgery and I needed
encouragement to work out.
I still have the email I sentGreg and he responds to me with
I'm glad you reached out to me.
You can try some of theseTabata style workouts and you
can get going with these andcontact me if you have any more
information.
Well, I wasn't really looking.
(18:52):
Now that I look back, Irealized I wasn't looking for
him to tell me what to do.
I was looking for him to listento me.
I was looking for someone to bethat ear.
And to care, to care Right, andhe cared enough to respond back
to me, and that got me moremotivated than anything and I
was able to continue it fromthere.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Wow, powerful.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
And then over the course of the next year I
realized oh, if I change my dietand I do these things like I'm
supposed to, then it will work.
So this took a course of abouta year and a half two years.
I lost six pounds.
That's amazing, I was 185 whenI started the fitness institute.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
So, for people who don't know what the fitness
institute is, I want to sharejust a little bit and I'm going
to let you talk about it.
I came to DPS in 2014 and wasable to help build that program,
and you came through in classtoo, and it was so wonderful
because it basically we weretogether for six weeks and it
(19:51):
was broken up one week and thentwo weeks, two weeks and then
one week, and y'all were so fitI mean by the time you finished
that Institute because every dayyou were doing those workouts
with Greg and then it was justcomplete immersion in health and
wellness.
Right, you came in fit.
That gave you something totrain for.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Oh yeah, I was training for it.
I was also training forSpartans.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
Oh, that's right.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Yeah, so that was a big goal of mine was to complete
the three Spartans in a year.
I did the sprint, the super andthe beast all in one year,
which the sprint was three tofive miles with 20 obstacles,
we'll say, and then you've gotthe super, which is 10, up to 10
miles with 20 to 30 obstacles,and the beast is like 14 to 15
miles.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Okay, so tell when, when you set these goals,
obviously that is very helpful.
And then when you sit down totalk to somebody who wants to
change, improve their life,sharing how you did it, I'm
guessing, is very, very helpful,very helpful yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Because they begin to realize that they can set goals
and they know that they don'thave to do it overnight.
Right, because I explained tothem you know, this is this is
never going to happen overnight.
You're not going to walk intothe gym and work out for a week
and come back out and see anykind of difference at all.
So I always tell them it'sgoing to take time, believe in
what I'm telling you and believein the process and it will pay
off in the long run.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
That's great.
Well, and when we think aboutlifestyle changes, it's very
difficult.
I mean it's definitely an upand down and around process to
create sustainable long-termchange, and it seems like you've
lost 50 pounds and you'vemaintained it for 10 years,
(21:34):
which is almost unheard of Mostpeople when they lose weight
it's because of a drastic changein lifestyle, like going on a
diet for a while, lose 30, 40pounds and then revert back.
I mean, we see it all the time.
How did you maintain that levelof commitment to your health.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
It's really hard, but when I got back from the
Institute I was labeled as thefitness guy.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Oh, interesting.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
So when you, when you have all the cause, because I
mean you learn a lot in thefitness institute.
Not only do you learn how towork out, but you learn science
behind it.
You learn dps, policies andprocedures, so everyone looks to
you as that subject matter andthe nutrition yeah, everything
everything, yeah so when youcome out as that subject matter
expert, everybody's like what'sthe policy on this, what's the
policy on that?
(22:21):
So I could quote it to themwithout going and looking in the
manual.
So I was labeled as the fitnessguy.
I was also able to.
This is really interesting forfolks, in my opinion.
I was able to go.
There was a building in SanAntonio at our regional office
that was a CID storage buildingand it was full of just stuff.
(22:42):
There was a car lift in thereback in the 80s and 90s when
they used to search cars andthings like that Just a bunch of
junk.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Just a bunch of junk.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
That was never used.
It's a two-car garage typebuilding with an office.
So I went to the CID captain inSan Antonio I said hey, I just
got back from the institute andfitness is never going to go
away.
We've started this program.
It's not going.
It's never going to revert,we're going to just keep going
forward.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Okay, I said so we this might be beneficial.
Although some people might wantit to go away, it's here to
stay.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
I said we need, if we're going to require employees
to work out by policy, you know, if they're not in compliance,
by not offering them a place todo that is it's not beneficial
to the employee.
I said let me turn that oldstorage building into a fitness
center.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Oh, okay.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
And they were like well, how are you going to do
that?
So I laid down how I thought Icould do it.
I contacted Greg again and saidwhere do I get equipment?
And they gave me half of thebuilding.
After about a year the gym wasgetting used so much we couldn't
have enough space.
So I went back to him I saidcan I have the rest?
They said if you can get thatcar lift removed, you can have
(24:03):
the rest of the building.
So I diligently worked and gotall the junk that was down there
.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
And.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
I got rid of it, either by, you know, relocating
it somewhere or just trashwhatever it was.
And then I contacted a companythat does that and they came and
got the car lift and they tookthe car lift to another facility
and the troopers now use thatcar lift to search cars or
whatnot, instead of having touse on the side of the road oh,
it's a win-win.
(24:29):
It's a win-win, right yeah thenI got the rest of the gym and
then, uh, the office that wasthere on recently.
I just knocked that wall down.
About a year ago I knocked thatwall down in between the two
buildings.
Now it's wide open and I hadair conditioning installed
because one of the complaints Igot was it was too hot in there
all the time.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
So I had AC installed and now we've got a fully
functional fitness center with achanging room.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
That's amazing, and you were doing all this while
you were doing your job as atrooper.
Like you weren't even in thisdedicated job yet.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
So at that point I was still stopping cars, taking
people to jail and workingcrashes, all my requirements
that were still required of meas a trooper, and all of the
divisions pitched in to buy theequipment, which is really cool.
So we had the Rangers, cid andHighway Patrol all pitching in
to buy the equipment for thefacility.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
So you had a lot of support, a lot in to buy the
equipment for the facility.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
So you had a lot of support, a lot.
That's amazing, and that'sleadership too, right Well?
Speaker 2 (25:24):
at the time, the original director was Freeman
Martin.
Oh yeah, okay, Well, that makessense.
Yeah, good support as well aspulling together that funding.
That is amazing, so muchpassion to make all of that
happen.
I know they probably have agreat deal of appreciation for
all you've done to make to makethat facility and that'll live
on beyond you, right.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
When I went to the board for the position that I
have, it's one of the things Isaid was I've been able to
create this place out here andthis will be my legacy.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Wow.
So I love what you said Goingback to everybody saw you as the
fitness guy, because I think itreally connects some.
I don't know if you've read thebook Atomic Habits by James
Clear.
He talks about havingidentity-based habits.
How we see ourselves will oftendetermine our behavior, and I
(26:14):
think that's so powerful and Ithink a lot about.
If you're in a role wherepeople are looking to you for
advice or support, then you haveto step up and be that person.
It makes you feel.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
I think that's one of the when you ask me about how I
do that, I think that's one ofthe things I have to check the
balance.
You know, if I don't look likea fitness guy, I'm not going to
be a fitness guy.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
Right, you're going to feel like you're not
authentically, yeah, and thatdisconnect between the behavior
and not feeling authentic is nota good place to be.
It makes so much sense.
So we talked about how hard itis to change behavior.
You have changed and havemaintained this for 10 years,
(26:54):
and I know that you're helpingother people do the same.
Can you share any successstories you have, maybe from
without sharing anyone's name?
Or personally identifiableinformation.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
So I've contacted a few of my previous.
We call them FIPS.
That's the Department.
It's a fitness improvement plan.
So, yes, I've contacted acouple of my FIPS and I was able
to.
I talked to him and he's like Iwould be honored if you share
my story because it helped you.
You know, you've helped me alot.
He was almost 400 pounds.
(27:27):
His waist was closer to 50 thanit was 40.
Ok, you know.
So he was struggling but he waswilling to change and I think
that is so important.
Right, it's almost a first step, in my opinion is you have to.
If you're not willing to change,you're not going to change.
(27:48):
But he was willing to changefor his job.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
Right, he wanted a better life, his life, his job
he knew all around.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
if you change, everything would be better.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
So how do you do it?
Speaker 1 (28:01):
It's interesting.
Okay, so he was in a placewhere we couldn't meet a lot but
man, we blew each other's phoneup.
He would send me videos, he'dsend me pictures, whatever he
was doing workouts.
I would share workouts with himand I would check on him
constantly and then I wouldmeasure him his weight.
I'll do his waist measurementevery other month, take his
(28:21):
weight every other month, youknow, ask him about nutrition.
And after about six or sevenmonths the phone calls and all
this stuff were not as frequentas they were because he already
figured out how to do it.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
So he didn't need you .
Speaker 1 (28:37):
Well, I don't know, he didn't as much, he didn't
need me as much.
He still called me and told me,like I'll never forget, he
called me and said hey, this isreally working.
You know, I really appreciate,uh, everything that we've been
able to do, but I think I'mplateauing a little bit.
What do you think about orangetheory?
So he was taking me uponhimself to figure out.
(28:58):
How can I change this?
Speaker 2 (28:59):
wow, how can I do better?
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (29:01):
so I said, hey, I think orange stew is a great
idea.
I said you're in, you're out,you're high intensity for 30 to
45 minutes.
Go back home right.
A few months later he called meand said hey, have you heard
about this meal prepping placeover in san antonio?
They make meals.
You know I go over there.
I was like, no, I haven't, itwasn't.
He sent me the website for him.
I was like, hey, I think that'sgreat if that's how you.
(29:21):
And he sent me the website forhim.
I was like, hey, I think that'sgreat.
If that's how you want to spendyour day, meal prepping is a
great thing to do.
So after all of this workout,meal prepping, he changed his
lifestyle, changed his diet,everything.
He ended up losing 202 pounds.
He's just amazing.
I can't say enough about him.
His pictures from when hestarted until now.
It's just so, so cool to see.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
And then one of the last things he did, I'll never
forget this he sent me a videoone day.
He has a home garage gym.
Also, he put 202 pounds on abar well, a bar and weight 202
pounds.
And he walked the block of hisneighborhood and he sent me that
video and said I wanted to knowwhat it felt like to carry this
(30:07):
much weight around.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
Wow, wow.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
And I was like man.
That's one of the coolestthings I've ever seen.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Cold chills.
Yeah, I mean, he did that.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
Yeah, I didn't have.
I hate to say I didn't haveanything to do with that, but I
influenced him in such a waythat he wanted to do those
things.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
And to me that is my reward.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
This whole coaching relationship.
I think it's so important andwe know it works right when
people can, and it doesn'talways work.
I mean there's, like you said,you have to be willing and want
to change, but when you havesomebody who cares about you and
cares about your success andthat is supporting you and
asking the right questions,that's really where the magic
(30:49):
happens, Right?
So and I think that was one ofthe things that in the Institute
that I always wanted to impartupon folks is the empathy.
Put yourself in someone else'sshoes.
Right, yes, and I think you'reyou nail that I mean, and that's
the, that's the secret sauce isit is empathy and being humble
(31:12):
and being vulnerable are all keyparts to coaching someone to
make them better.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
If you, I can't say enough about it, but you know I
love his story and every chanceI get to tell it I do.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
Thank you for sharing that story.
It's very powerful.
Before going through all ofthis and learning how to coach
and how to support people, Wouldyou have shared you know these
parts of yourself, or would youhave been embarrassed or ashamed
to share?
Speaker 1 (31:42):
I would probably tell it to someone trying to make
myself look good right I don'tthink I would tell it as a way
to connect with someone.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
It's interesting, that makes sense yeah, yeah,
like I did this, I overcame this.
But instead of that being thethe the way that you're
sharing're saying I've beenwhere you are.
I know how you know, or I canunderstand how that must feel
it's all about yeah, it's allabout your presentation I had to
talk to someone about it, forsure.
Speaker 1 (32:13):
Yeah, I could sit in there and say, hey, I did this,
this is the way I did it andthis is how you need to do it.
It's not going to work for thatperson.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
Right.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
And I you've got.
This is how you need to do it,it's not going to work for that
person right, and I understandthat I can say look at my wall,
here I've got all thesecertifications.
That doesn't mean anything tothat, so it's not about all that
.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
It's about how I can empathize with them and send
them on the right path that'sgreat and the ones that have
listened so far been verysuccessful so if you were
talking out to podcast land tofolks that you don't know, that
may never get to meet you inperson, and there's somebody out
there who may want to changetheir life and don't have access
(32:53):
to you or you know theresources available, what would
you tell somebody?
Where to go, what books to read, where to start to actually
create a long-term, sustainablelifestyle change?
Speaker 1 (33:08):
yeah, there's so many , so many books, you know
there's.
I mean to me, once you, onceyou start this lifestyle change,
then you can start readingbooks.
I think I don't think that thebooks are going to get you going
necessarily.
At first, I think you have tomeet someone.
I think you have to talk tosomeone to see how they were
(33:31):
able to do it, or or just sharethe stories like support.
You need support from someoneto to really get going.
I think okay then.
Okay, then, once you like me,once I started getting into it,
then I started like I was like asponge.
I wanted to learn everything Icould, all about it, not just
(33:52):
one thing.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Because it is.
It's all the aspects of health,they're all interconnected.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
It's like a big wheel , yeah, with several spokes.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
Yeah, even when you think about financial health,
mental health, I mean, they'reall interconnected.
What are your thoughts on howwe're, how are we addressing
mental health, and do you thinkthere's enough being done around
that space, in that space?
Speaker 1 (34:20):
It's interesting that you bring that up.
We had a mike harper.
He has uh, we have thesemeetings, these uh teams
meetings, um, every other week,and one of the ones we had a few
weeks ago was on mental healthand uh, that's why we've read,
that's why I think that's one ofthe reasons they wanted to
rename um pt with the trainees.
(34:43):
Now it's now mpc mentalphysical conditioning.
So, um, I think that's a hugething.
I think it's just as huge asphysical conditioning is.
Uh, I really can't speak a loton it.
You know I don't have that muchknowledge on it, but I will say
that we have programs in DPSthat can help you if you're ever
(35:08):
going through anything that youneed to.
And the reason I say that youcan meet them and you have to
get up to six sessions with themI think it is before you have
to go see a higher level right,it's because I know, because
I've had those six sessions.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
Right and it helped you and it helped me.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
There's nothing wrong with admitting that you need
help and then but that's thefirst step and that's what for
me.
I had to realize I needed to dothat and the support my wife
was able to get thataccomplished and I came out on
the other end a better personfor doing that.
(35:45):
But there's nothing wrong withasking for help or seeking
counsel.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
Yeah, and I do think it's so.
I mean, we work so hard tode-stigmatize but there is still
, unfortunately, a stigma aroundgetting help for mental health.
But you sharing the fitness guygot help for mental health,
like in the end all the thingsthat you're exposed to correct
it's completely normal that youshould need somebody to help you
.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
There's a lot of things over the years that I saw
and then there's certain thingsthat triggered that.
There's one thing in particularthat triggered that, so I
seeked help and it really didhelp me a lot.
Speaker 2 (36:21):
That's great that's great and there's so much that
can be done.
The earlier you know, theearlier we address things.
And I just say that becausethis bi-directionality of health
like if you're hurting mentallyyou're not going to want to go
work out right or eat well itcan lead to anxiety and
depression and I just want todistance myself, avoid these
feelings and drink alcohol andsleep and watch Netflix right,
(36:43):
distance myself avoid thesefeelings and drink alcohol and
sleep and watch Netflix Right.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
It's interesting that you bring that up and it brings
me to bring something to mymind that I listened to a
podcast myself, and it was amilitary podcast that was sent
out to us again by Mike Harper,but it was about holistic health
and how the military usesholistic health.
I listened to that and I stilllisten to it because I think
what they're doing is it works.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
Right, right, it does .
Yes.
Well, I really reallyappreciate you being willing to
share your story, your journeyand just the passion that you
have for helping people.
It's contagious, and I knowthat people are going to hear
your story and want to get outthere and do something for
somebody else All right.
Speaker 1 (37:25):
Thank you, lacey, appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (37:26):
All right.
Thank you so much for tuning into this episode of the ERS Walk
Talk podcast.
It's been an absolute pleasurehaving Corporal Harold Estep
with us today.
Harold's journey and hisdedication to promoting health
and wellness within the TexasDepartment of Public Safety is
truly inspiring.
Harold, thank you for sharingyour story and the amazing work
(37:48):
you're doing to help othersachieve their goals.
Your passion and commitment aremaking a significant impact and
we appreciate all that you doTo our listeners.
We hope Harold's story hasmotivated you to take steps
toward your own health andfitness goals.
Remember it's never too late tostart, and small changes can
lead to significant improvementsin your overall well-being.
(38:08):
If you work at DPS, you haveaccess to great folks like
Harold who can help you directlyon your wellness journey, and
anyone who works for the statehas access to amazing well-being
benefits that can support youin living a healthier and
happier life.
I'll include more details aboutthese benefits in the show
notes.
If you enjoyed this episode,please make sure you subscribe
(38:31):
to our podcast and share it withothers that might benefit from
these amazing people and stories.
Stay tuned for more episodesfeaturing guests who are making
a difference in the world ofhealth and wellness in the state
of Texas.
Until next time, keep walking,keep talking and keep striving
for a healthier you.
I'm Lacey Wolfe, and this isthe ERS Walk Talk podcast.
(38:56):
Take care.
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