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Daily walking regime helps Moncton man drop 200 pounds

A Moncton man has lost 200 pounds over two years by following a daily walking regimen.

Kirby Jensen started walking little by little every day in 2014 after his psychologist suggested it as treatment for his anxiety.

"It forced me to be around people even though I couldn't talk to them," Jensen said. "I ain't stuck in a cocoon anymore," he laughed.

Weight loss

Before he started walking, Jensen weighed over 400 pounds and he believes his weight contributed to his anxiety.

"People treat you different, people look at you different, you can hear the whispers in the background," Jensen said about being obese.

"If you're happy with your weight go right ahead. Me? I wasn't."

After he began walking, following his psychologist's suggestion, his doctor also prescribed a healthy diet.

"I started walking for therapy and it took. The more I got stressed out, the more I went for walks," he explained.

He said when his doctors noticed his walking was contributing to his weight loss they encouraged him to continue.

Mental health

Jensen is taking more steps to make positive changes in his life, like getting his GED, in order to one day start his own business.

He said the confidence he's gained from walking is motivating his decisions.

Christa Baldwin is the executive director of the New Brunswick chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association, and says exercise is one of the components that can contribute to improving mental health.

"It releases endorphins in the body which improves the mood," she explains. "Someone who has been in a depressive state for example may see [exercising regularly] as a challenge and if they're able to do that on a consistent basis, that improves their self-esteem and confidence and their mood, which can lend to that ability to see positive and be able to move forward."

She also said the interaction one can get from physical activity, for example from an exercise class or a sports team, is also a healing factor.

"That's an important part of your mental health, that relationship piece, the interactions with others, and conversation."

One of the things Kirby is interested in doing is playing on a softball team.

"Maybe next year who knows, I'll have my own team," he said.