Samantha White

Oglala Lakota
Kyle, South Dakota
34 years old
E911 IT Specialist

I’d like to participate in the PATHSTAR Alcatraz Swim week because I would like to continue on my path to healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle. My first year at PATHSTAR was a huge adjustment just getting to know my environment but i really learned a lot about my unique nutritional needs.

I have migraines that prevent me from eating and drinking a lot of sugar, caffeine, bread, chocolate, and citrus. Kidney problems keep me from eating foods that are high in oxalates. So it is a constant challenge to find a good balance of nutrition and experiment with my wlieahty without getting bored with my recipes. I love getting introduced to new foods and recipes. PATHSTAR has been helping in those areas tremendously.

I have always been the type of person to lead by example. So when it comes to my health and my family’s health, I try to talk only from experience when it comes to a healthy lifestyle. My family really do watch me because they ask me questions all the time about types of food, what to eat, and what not treat. I try to encourage them to start small because it can get overwhelming to give up so much at once.

This is what I will bring home from PATHSTAR. My community loved hearing about my experience last year so I will continue to encourage my family, co-workers, and community to start taking better care of themselves. This year I really want to have one of my younger family members experience PATHSTAR with me because I think it might be better in the long run to give them the tools to take care of themselves early on to avoid the possibility of heart disease and diabetes.
Three goads i will commit to in participating in PATHSTAR are
1) Commitment to the ‘PATHSTAR diet’ and Health and Wellness goals
2) Continued involvement with my community
3) As for funding, I will donate what I can: food, snacks, star quilt, travel
Three health and wellness goals are
1) I will eat 4-5 servings of vegetables, 2 servings of fruit, and no processed food daily
2) Weight loss goal of 18 pounds
3) I will exercise at least 30 minutes daily at least 5 days a week.