For Diana Calero, the transition from sixteen years of Navy service to a career as a Customs and Border Protection officer at Miami International Airport brought a new set of challenges. Despite her determination to regain the fitness level she enjoyed during her military years, the reality of grueling shifts and the chaos of Miami traffic made traditional health goals feel unreachable. While she remained active, Calero found herself stuck in a cycle where hard work did not translate into visible results, leaving her searching for a sustainable way to prioritize her well-being.
The turning point came during a visit to the Women’s Health Clinic at the Miami VA Healthcare System. Rather than simply receiving a body mass index reading, Calero was referred to the Women’s Passport to Wellness program. This initiative pairs female veterans with personalized coaching and resources designed to fit into their specific lifestyles. Through this program, Calero began working with wellness coach Otmara Soberanes via VA Video Connect, a secure telehealth platform that allowed them to meet despite Calero’s early morning work schedule.
The approach shifted away from intense, unsustainable workouts toward small, manageable lifestyle adjustments. Instead of focusing solely on the scale, Calero and her coach focused on nutrition swaps, hydration targets, and realistic movement goals that could be maintained even while traveling. By replacing restrictive habits with mindful choices and celebrating incremental victories, Calero successfully lowered her BMI from the overweight category to a healthy range and lost over twenty pounds.
Beyond the physical transformation, the experience provided Calero with a newfound sense of mental resilience and confidence. She discovered that slow progress is still progress and learned how to navigate setbacks without losing momentum. Now an advocate for others in the veteran community, she emphasizes that patience and consistency are key to long term health. For Calero, the combination of flexible technology and dedicated support proved that achieving wellness is possible even amidst the demands of a high pressure civilian career.
