Page 16 - WesternU View - Spring 2015
P. 16
No Excuse, No Quit:
A journeyman’s journey of weight loss and battling cancer
N Bruce, a
“No excuse, no quit.”
journeyman
That’s Elliott Bruce’s
painter at
mantra. He says it to
himself regularly, to
University of
stay focused on Western
Health Sciences,
reaching his goals was more than
and meeting his 100 pounds
challenges. overweight.
About six years
It seems to be
working so far. In ago, he joined the
2009, Bruce was University’s
overweight, and Weight Watchers
decided he needed to lunch program,
change, to improve looking to shed
his health and his some heft from
life. He dedicated his 278-pound
himself to weight loss frame.
and running, and got In the first six
off to a successful months following
start. the program and
Elliott Bruce working out, he
Then came some
unexpected and lost about 60
unwelcome news: diagnosis of melanoma cancer. pounds. Then he hit a plateau.
A few months later, he had successful surgery to His work summoned him to remodel the office of
remove the cancer from his back. “No excuse, no Carolina Alirez, communications coordinator for
quit” was one of ways of coping with the stress and the Office of Academic Affairs. He saw running
uncertainty. He also used diet, exercise, his medals, ribbons and accolades in her office,
children Jacob and Sarah, and friends to persevere. became intrigued, and asked her about them.
“The people I surround myself with have been key Alirez, convinced Bruce could get over the hump
to me overcoming weight issues, motivating me to and lose more weight if he started running
run, and helping me get through cancer,” Bruce regularly, recruited him into her group, the Inland
said. Empire Running Club. They became best friends
14 Western University of Health Sciences
A journeyman’s journey of weight loss and battling cancer
N Bruce, a
“No excuse, no quit.”
journeyman
That’s Elliott Bruce’s
painter at
mantra. He says it to
himself regularly, to
University of
stay focused on Western
Health Sciences,
reaching his goals was more than
and meeting his 100 pounds
challenges. overweight.
About six years
It seems to be
working so far. In ago, he joined the
2009, Bruce was University’s
overweight, and Weight Watchers
decided he needed to lunch program,
change, to improve looking to shed
his health and his some heft from
life. He dedicated his 278-pound
himself to weight loss frame.
and running, and got In the first six
off to a successful months following
start. the program and
Elliott Bruce working out, he
Then came some
unexpected and lost about 60
unwelcome news: diagnosis of melanoma cancer. pounds. Then he hit a plateau.
A few months later, he had successful surgery to His work summoned him to remodel the office of
remove the cancer from his back. “No excuse, no Carolina Alirez, communications coordinator for
quit” was one of ways of coping with the stress and the Office of Academic Affairs. He saw running
uncertainty. He also used diet, exercise, his medals, ribbons and accolades in her office,
children Jacob and Sarah, and friends to persevere. became intrigued, and asked her about them.
“The people I surround myself with have been key Alirez, convinced Bruce could get over the hump
to me overcoming weight issues, motivating me to and lose more weight if he started running
run, and helping me get through cancer,” Bruce regularly, recruited him into her group, the Inland
said. Empire Running Club. They became best friends
14 Western University of Health Sciences
