Chris’ Story: Finding Strength and Support Through HALT
Chris Greer, a 45-year-old assistant program director in Puna, has been a Kaiser Permanente member for 10 years. During routine bloodwork, he learned his A1C — a measure of average blood sugar levels — had risen from 5.6 in December 2023 to 7.1 in February 2025. But when it suddenly jumped to 8.4 one month later, it was a wake-up call.
“I was like, holy smokes, this is rising quickly,” Chris recalls. “I needed to make some changes.” That moment led Chris to our Center for Healthy Living’s Viva Veggies program, a plant-based nutrition class that introduces members to healthy eating habits. Through Viva Veggies, Chris learned about Health Achieved through Lifestyle Transformation (HALT), a lifestyle medicine program designed to help members prevent, treat, and even reverse chronic conditions.
The program’s holistic approach immediately resonated. “HALT aligned with how I wanted to move my life needle. I was carrying more worry than I liked to admit. I felt alone with it, like I was supposed to somehow figure everything out by myself. What I didn’t expect was to find a space that not only gave me tools but also reminded me that healing doesn’t have to be solitary.”
Chris started the program in June 2025 and admits the first few weeks were daunting. But the structure and sense of community helped him stay committed. Weekly sessions provided practical tools and encouragement, and connecting with others created accountability.
“HALT met me exactly where I was. The guidance was gentle but steady, the information was clear, and the support felt genuinely human. What made the biggest difference, though, was the group itself. Showing up each week and hearing other people’s stories — real struggles, real victories — made the process feel less like a burden and more like a shared journey. Their courage made room for mine.”
Chris also credits his care team for supporting his progress. Dr. Hyewon Jun, chief of obesity and lifestyle medicine, listened to his concerns and worked with him to create a medical plan that complemented lifestyle changes he was making through HALT. In just three months, Chris’ A1C dropped from 8.4 to 5.7, and within five months, he’s lost over 40 pounds. But the numbers only tell part of the story.
“What stands out to me most is the way HALT treats health as a human experience, not just a checklist. We don’t just talk about food; we talk about life. We trade recipes, share the hard days and the good ones, and learn from each other’s lived experiences. The program gives us resources for everything: the science behind blood sugar, the psychology of stress and emotional eating, the role of sleep, the way our environment shapes our choices. Every session comes at health from a different angle, as if gently reminding us that we’re more than a set of habits — we’re whole human beings.”
For Chris, HALT isn’t a diet. It’s a holistic approach to living differently, and he isn’t stopping here. “HALT helped me build changes I can actually sustain, surrounded by people who understand the journey. I feel supported, informed, and hopeful in a way I didn’t expect. This program didn’t just improve my health — it helped me feel more like myself again.”
