Insights > On-site health screening leads Entergy Mississippi team member to adopt healthy lifestyle
03/07/2025
Entergy Mississippi team member Quintaurus Wright before (left) and after (right) an annual health screening inspired him to take important steps to a healthier life.
Small steps lead to big results, including 100-pound weight loss
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” is an often-quoted Chinese proverb credited to philosopher Lao Tzu. For Entergy Mississippi team member Quintaurus Wright, it is more than just a quote. He is living proof that small steps can lead to incredible results.
A planner/scheduler in Jackson, Wright stays busy scheduling work for large construction projects and wasn’t sure he had time to attend the annual health screening held last year at his office. While he had attended some of the health screenings in the past, it had been four or five years since the last one.
Lucky for him, friends and fellow employees knew the importance of getting your “numbers,” the readings from high blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol tests usually administered at the health screenings. These tests can provide crucial information about someone’s health. His friends strongly encouraged him—some might say twisted his arm—to attend the health screening. With this encouragement, he took the first step in his journey—signing up for the health screening.
When he took his second step, attending the health screening, he knew his blood pressure might be high, as it had been in the past. However, he didn’t expect what happened next. The health professionals looked at his numbers and told him that his glucose reading was very high. It was so high, in fact, that he might be diabetic and suggested that he seek additional medical guidance.
Wright then made an appointment with a local physician, who diagnosed him with Type 2 diabetes, put him on medication and suggested that he adopt a healthy diet and incorporate exercise into his activities.
“The diabetes diagnosis really woke me up and opened my eyes,” said Wright. “It made me think of my family and the family members I had lost due to the disease. I began eating right and exercising. I took it very seriously.”
Now, Wright takes steps every day to lead a healthy life. He stays away from fried foods, sweets and sweetened, carbonated beverages. He limits the carbohydrates he includes in his meals and replaced the bread he used to buy with a low-carb option.
He enjoys a variety of different types of exercises, including strength training, walking indoors on a treadmill, walking outdoors when the weather permits and riding a bicycle.
“It was hard at first, giving up the foods I loved and my favorite drink, pineapple Crush,” said Wright. “But I was focused. I wanted to live for my children and my family. I am so thankful for the people in my life that cared.”
These small and not-so-small steps have resulted in significant changes. His numbers continue to improve. His once-monthly visits to the doctor were reduced to every three months. At his last visit, just a couple of weeks ago, the doctor told him he could wait six months before his next appointment. The doctor has taken him off one of his three medications.
He feels better and sleeps better. He is no longer always thirsty—a symptom of the diabetes that he did not recognize as such prior to the health screenings. The numbers on the scales have changed dramatically. Wright has dropped from 345 pounds prior to his lifestyle changes to his current weight of 235 pounds.
“My co-workers no longer call me ‘Big Q,’” said Wright. “They now call me ‘lowercase q.’”
His advice for anyone who has access to health screenings?
“Do the health screenings. You never know what’s going on within the body. If it weren’t for the health screening, I wouldn’t be living a healthier life today. I will forever go to any we have in the future and I’m so grateful to my friends that encouraged me to go last year.”
Wright recently celebrated his birthday and, this year, he and his wife, Lakendra, a teacher in Byram, and their three daughters, Shaquondra, Shataria, and Quintaria, had a lot to celebrate. His lifestyle changes have given all of them the greatest gift of all—many more birthdays with their husband and father.
Caron Blanton
Senior Communications Specialist, Entergy Mississippi