Monthly Archives: January 2010
Jan
09
2010
Goodmorning Sue,
As you know, I have completed all three of your challenges and they have all been successful in different ways. The first 30 day challenge made me realize how sedentary my life had become. This challenge was extremely successful for me in introducing the awareness of getting 30 minutes of walking with Betty. The second 30 day challenge was also successful as my goal was to complete the Sun Run in under 1 hour and 30 minutes and I achieved that goal! I have a saying that fits this accomplishment – “There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.” Thank you Sue for showing me the path!
The 100 day started off with gusto and ended with some fabulous family ski days in the Callaghan and Whistler! The in between part was the problem. I had great intentions (I think the saying for this is “the road is paved with good intentions”) and had Erica put together a program for me and I joined a gym. Then H1N1 hit and took me out for November. Again, great intentions to get started in December then Christmas and all the nonsense that goes along with that seemed to get in the way. I reverted back to getting out Betty for at least my 30 minute walks most days. As the new year is now well underway and I am feeling the excitement of the Olympics, I have once again signed up for the Sun Run InTraining clinic and plan on doing the run again. I have learned that I can do whatever I set out to do, but what slows me down is the choice I make to sometimes put these goals on hold to be the wallet with wheels as the involved mom and wife in my family’s lives. I feel so fortunate to have a team of professionals who keep me upright and moving in Sue and Donna. It is time to start all over again with Erica which I hope to do too!
I’ll end with one more saying that I have come to love, “the older the fiddler the sweeter the tune” Thanks for helping me find my tune Sue!
Sincerely,
Barb
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Jan
08
2010
when you’re busy making plans by Jane Smith.
When we started the 100 day challenge on September 22, my husband was 2 weeks into recovery from a heart attack.
I started the challenge with the intent of running a 5k by today (Jan 1). I signed up and paid for my race – and I was very excited at the thought of *finally* becoming a runner. I wanted to get in shape, lose weight and get healthy. I had just watched my husband go through something that was entirely preventable through diet and exercise, and I wanted to prevent it in me.
I found myself slipping in my goals – and was fortunate enough to join Lara’s workshop. I met some wonderful women, who I wish I could have connected more with, and would love the chance to get together with again.
Before the workshop concluded, my husband was hospitalized again. He was having chest pains, but thankfully not another heart attack. Unfortunately it sidelined his plans to go fishing with his brother who was up visiting from the Kootenay’s.
We went back into recovery mode. I have a fabulous person in my life who has been a rock. He’s always been there if I need to talk and he doesn’t sugar-coat or soft pedal anything. His advice and conversations have kept me moving forward when I wanted to curl up into a ball and hide.
At the end of November, my husband had a 2nd heart attack. Any thoughts of goals, changes in my life has totally disappeared and we have been in survival mode.
It occurred to me the other day that I was still registered for the 5k. It seems like a very long time ago when I was sitting outside Zephyr talking to someone about wanting to run. Life has changed so very much since then. I am now the wife of a cardiac patient. I am, and always will be, the primary breadwinner in my family. I still have a desire to get in shape, and want to have the physicality to run 5k. But the goals I had 100 days ago have changed.
I strive each day to live as though it is my last. To enjoy every minute with my husband and children, while still taking care of myself. In the last 100 days, although I did not meet the original goal of running 5k, I learned that I am stronger than I thought, and that each day is a blessing.
Our house is filled with less anger, less shouting, and a lot more loving. We’re all still together. Its a good way to start 2010.
Now to find another 5k I can work towards 
–
Jane
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Jan
08
2010
My journey by Linda Gardner
Actually my journey started back on January 1st 2009.that’s when I started a club at work, to get a group together to lose weight. We called it the biggest winners. For 10 weeks we were to weigh in weekly and put 25 cents each time. We were to give support to each other, and in the end the biggest loser would get the pot. Well, none of us lost any weight and we now have $100. And no winner.
It was a good concept, but again another failure on my part. Months went by and my knees were getting painful. I went to see a sports Dr. and he suggested, losing weight, physio and low impact exercise. All this would improve the pain and prevent me from surgery and later in life; I would not end up in a wheelchair. I think the thought of a wheelchair was the push I needed.
I started physio and exercising and even was a human pin cushion in the form of acupuncture and I joined the 100 day challenge, I love a good challenge. I’m very very good at committing to a challenge. The problem is that once the challenge is over I go fall back into old habits, and the next thing I know I’m right back to where I started. Sound familiar.
I knew I needed more help that just signing up. With the help of Sue and Jeff’s daily email, which I found amusing and supportive, we had the benefit of the on line web site The Fitness Journal. I loved tracking my progress and I felt a sense of accountability in a way, even though no one was really watching. Weird eh! Well I needed something to work for me.
Another great help was Laura, the life coach, we had the opportunity to have sessions with and
the great group of women that came together to share their stories. I learned tips to follow, books to read. The books were very beneficial, just listening to Louise Hay brought me strength to endure some of the hardships I have recently had with my parents, who are in a nursing home in Toronto.
I have gained tools to help me accomplish my goals. I did daily journaling and now when I read some of the past entries it makes me chuckle. I had many ups and downs, from learning that food is not a pain reliever and cheating is like having a party in your mouth for a short period and then you have to face the headache or disappointment following.
I learned that forgiving is very important, to forgive myself and others. And to like myself, I approve of myself every day. I look forward to the future. Now I did not reach the goal I had originally set, which was to lose 30lbs But I did manage to lower my cholesterol to near normal levels, I reduced my stress level and I lost 20 lbs. not bad Eh!
I have gained to skills necessary to carry on with goal setting and will continue to manage my weight and life and look forward to retirement in the next couple of years.
So to everyone that participated I hope you gained as much as I did and wish you all the very best in the coming year.
NO MORE YO-YOING
CHEERS TO A HEALTH LIFESTYLE
Linda Gardner
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