“The greatest takeaway from the program for me? That I’m worth it,” says Magda King.
Magda King has always been a source of support for others. Whether by investing in her employees at the Antlers at Vail or by serving on the boards of Eagle Valley Behavioral Health (EVBH) and other organizations, Magda has dedicated her life to caring for those around her.
Despite her commitment to uplifting individuals and families in the valley, Magda has struggled to extend that same compassion to herself. When Chris Lindley, Vail Health’s Chief Population Health Officer, mentioned Vail Healthspan during an EVBH Board meeting, Magda surprised herself by volunteering for the program. “I think it’s the first time that I raised my voice in the meeting,” she says. For someone who admits she has a hard time advocating for herself, the moment felt bold.
Magda initially approached Vail Health’s new wellness program with skepticism rather than hope. Her father had recently passed away due to complications related to diabetes and smoking, which left her feeling cynical about health interventions. “I wanted to prove that even though it was a great idea, it wouldn’t work, because despite everything I’ve tried—from workouts to different diets—nothing had been effective for me,” she admits. At 212 pounds, pre-diabetic, and dealing with high blood pressure and inflammation, she didn’t have high expectations for success. Yet she became one of its most passionate advocates.
Vail Healthspan was designed to shift health care from focusing on treating illness to prevention. Its integrated approach combines functional medicine, nutrition, fitness, and mental health, setting it apart from other wellness programs. Participants receive thorough assessments that include functional lab tests, VO2 max testing, body composition analysis, and personalized health coaching.
Breaking Through Barriers
The journey has not been easy for Magda. She identified several obstacles that had previously prevented her from prioritizing her wellness, including a lack of accurate health knowledge, time constraints, and feelings of guilt stemming from her religious upbringing.
“There is an element of guilt when you put the attention on yourself because you have to be everything for everybody else,” she shares. The program’s mental health component helped her work through these feelings, allowing her to understand that self-care enables her to support others better.
The first week nearly broke her resolve. Her breath turned terrible (a sign her body was burning stored fat), and the cravings felt overwhelming. But she refused to give up. One of the most challenging aspects has been maintaining consistency, but Magda credits the program with keeping her motivated. Thanks to the various educational materials, workouts, sleep logs, and support groups offered by the program, she has been able to stay on track. “There is so much information out there, but my Healthspan team is intentional about sharing personalized insights with me, which encourages me to keep trying.”
Vail Healthspan’s comprehensive approach—built on the 7 Shields of Healthspan, including Mindset, Movement, Fueling, Recovery, Nature, Adaptive Stress, and Social Engagement—provided the framework Magda needed to address her personal challenges.
Transformational Outcomes
Less than six months into the program, Magda experienced a significant reduction in her glucose and inflammation markers, along with a record low blood pressure. Additionally, she lost 35 pounds and gained something even more valuable: confidence and self-worth. “The greatest takeaway from the program for me? That I’m worth it,” she says.
Magda’s transformation has extended to other aspects of her life as well. At 47, she achieved her first perfect push-up after trying “forever.” She recently hiked to Deluge Lake, cutting her time from seven hours to under three hours. More importantly, her journey has inspired her children. Izzie, her 15-year-old daughter, spontaneously asked to join her for 5 a.m. gym sessions, while Matías, her 13-year-old son, has joined the cross-country team. Her youngest son, Derrick, who is 10, does 10 push-ups and 25 sit-ups daily to “encourage mom not to give up.”
The changes weren’t always smooth. Sometimes, when she didn’t lose weight for a week, she would cry and feel extremely frustrated—but the program’s support helped her through every struggle.
“I believe I’m teaching my kids a healthier way to love themselves, to prioritize their well-being, and to embrace a healthier lifestyle. For me, this is about breaking a pattern that has been deeply ingrained in my family,” Magda reflects. “You’re sad, you eat, you’re happy, you eat, you’re stressed, just eat something.”
Now an enthusiastic advocate, Magda believes Vail Healthspan could benefit the entire community, especially our Hispanic population, now that it’s available to the public. She hopes her journey from skeptic to success demonstrates that transformation is possible. When her friends ask her when she will finish the program, Magda responds, “This is my new lifestyle, and I’m not changing it again. The program is worth it, and the person is worth it.”
Healthspan is different than other programs because it doesn’t insist that you reach society’s unrealistic standards; instead, it encourages you to find the place where you’re truly meant to be.”– Magda King