How Chris Found a New Path with Virta
Chris Goodall has faced a lifelong battle with his weight and the health challenges that came with it.
“I have been heavy since high school,” says Chris, 45, who has worked as a customer service trainer with ASI at GE Appliances for 14 years. He admits he often turned to food for comfort or boredom.
“For a long time, food was quite literally one of the only things that truly brought me joy. I love cooking, I love smelling and tasting food. But I have always been very bad at portion control and often overindulged. I also grew up with the ‘we don’t waste food, so eat what’s left’ mentality,” he says.
In his early 20s, Chris was diagnosed with high blood pressure. By 35, he was pre-diabetic. Though he took medications to manage both conditions, it wasn’t until he hit his heaviest weight of 312 pounds in 2017 that he was ready to begin a serious weight-loss journey.
With a strict keto-style diet focused on low carbs and high protein and healthy fats, Chris lost nearly 70 lbs. For the first time in years, he felt physically well.
Then the pandemic hit.
Setbacks and a Scare
“When everything pretty much shut down, I also experienced a lot of personal issues, including my already turbulent relationship with my then-wife falling apart,” Chris says. “My blood pressure began to rise, and I was dealing with a lot of stress, anxiety, depression—you name it.”
During that time, Chris regained most of the weight he had lost, and his health deteriorated. Doctors increased his prescriptions, including four separate blood pressure medications and the highest possible dose of diabetes medication. His conditions were being managed, but they weren’t improving.
Then came a turning point. On February 13, 2024, Chris was jolted awake at 2 a.m. with a pounding heart he could hear in his ears. His blood pressure read 180/122. He was rushed to the ER, where he thankfully stabilized.
He knew he was lucky. And he knew it was time to change.
A New Beginning with Virta
Shortly after his ER visit, Chris received an email from work about Virta—a diabetes-reversal and weight-loss program fully covered by GE Appliances for eligible employees and their adult family members.
Virta offers a personalized nutrition plan, virtual check-ins with medical experts and health coaches, and a mobile app to track progress. The program is designed to help people safely reduce or eliminate medications and build healthier habits.
“What has really helped me is having a personal health coach inspire me when I need it, along with the accountability of real-time tracking,” Chris says. “Virta has been exactly what I needed, so anytime I hear someone say they want to lose weight or ask how I’ve done what I have done, I’m always happy to share that Virta has helped me get here.”
A Healthier, Happier Life
Today, Chris is taking fewer medications and feeling better than he has in years. His days look different now—he spends more time outside, often hiking with his girlfriend and kids in the Black Hills of South Dakota where they live.
That kind of active lifestyle felt out of reach just a year ago.
Chris is grateful to GE Appliances for supporting employee wellbeing and helping him reclaim his health.
“It’s so much easier to enjoy life when you are healthy!” he says.
Virta: A Healthier Path to Weight Loss and Blood Sugar Control
Virta helps you safely lose weight and lower blood sugar without side effects. Fully covered by GE Appliances, Virta is available to benefits-enrolled employees and adult family members with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, or a BMI of 27 or greater.
Take the first step toward your health journey at GEAppliancesWellWithin.com to explore Virta and 14+ resources to enhance your wellbeing, plus inspiring employee stories.