Helen’s Before Story

Helen Ivory is a Human Resource profession with the Sheriff’s department. At 46, she doesn’t consider herself old. But her new baby granddaughter has made her realize it’s time to get serious about her health. “I should be more fit at my age than I am now” Helen says. She’s been intending to join a gym since September 2008, but after getting a sideways glance at herself in the mirror, Helen decided the time was now. “I thought it was someone else, then I realized I was the only one in the house.”  Helen has volunteered to share her story with us.  Check back monthly for updates.

February 1, 2010:

After attending the Gym Discount Open House and taking advantage of the two week trial membership, I have joined Vision Quest Sports and Fitness in Seattle. Joining this facility affords me the flexibility of working out before or after work, or on my lunch break. The General Manager, Chris, was very helpful during the trial period; he was always willing to answer all of my questions and hear my concerns. I have been paired up with a Personal Trainer, also named Chris. He is very knowledgeable about fitness, is patient, and is willing to work with me for the long haul as I work towards my fitness and health goals. After answering some health history and goal related questions, I have set my personal weight loss goal at 60 pounds. Chris agrees that this is a reasonable goal for me. This is going to be a lot of hard (and sometimes painful) work, but I want to do it. All encouragement is welcome!!!

January 15, 2010:

I attended the Gym Discount Program Open House earlier this month. After hearing the presentations from some of the vendors, a co-worker and I decided to join Vision Quest in Seattle. It is a very nice facility that is busy, but not crowded. I now go and work out during my lunch break. The treadmill is my new friend! My goal is to work out 4 times a week at the gym, and to take a long walk sometime during the weekend. I am working towards keeping my motivation high. Hopefully, my fitness routine will alleviate some of my health issues. Wish me luck!

December 22, 2009:

I have gotten a bit lazy, but managed to lose about 15 pounds in 2009. (Not close to my goal, but progress nonetheless.) I have recently been diagnosed with hypertension. My doctors and I are having a difficult time reducing and regulating my blood pressure even with medication. So, what I’ve learned is that exercise, diet, and managing stress is a package deal. You simply cannot work on one without working on the others. My goal for early 2010 is to lose another 15 pounds and to be able to go off of the medication. Wish me luck!

June 24, 2009:

With the weather better, I’m able to get out and walk more at lunchtime and break time with my co-workers. A group of about 5 of us walk together. We try to vary our route so we don’t get bored. Mornings we’re usually more apt to do hills than in the afternoon. If I don’t have a group to walk with, I do a walking loop down 5th to Airport Way and back up 4th. I can do it in about 25 minutes so I can get it in during my 30 minute lunch.

I talked with my doctor about the results of my ID Day results. He said everything looks good as far as my test results. I’m not yet at risk for diabetes but he recommended I loose 10% of my body weight to keep out of the risk area.

I can tell my clothes fit differently so I may be brave enough to get on a scale at the end of the summer. Something about that weight number is scary. I’m not big on comparing numbers, so I try to not look at the scale very often.

My granddaughter is beautiful. She likes me taking her for walks and she’s just starting to walk herself. She wants to hold onto my fingers and has me walking all around the apartment.

I’m just not willing to accept that I’m going to expand and expand every year. I like getting the feedback from my coworkers – that keeps me going especially when it’s hard to get to the gym after work some days.

I feel so much better than I did even a few months ago. I’m not as winded. I walk to the train with a co-worker who’s really fit and sometimes I leave her behind. I have more energy. I’m having a ball.

May 27, 2009:

Things are going well. I’m exercising every day – either walking or doing stairs or using my stationary bike. It’s hard to get to the gym, but I make sure I do something active every day. My pedometer helps me keep track of how I’m doing. And I can tell there’s a difference. I feel good. I’m sleeping really well and my clothes are fitting better.

In April I attended the Diabetes ID Day at the Chinook Building and had screenings for blood glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol and BMI. The screening agency sent me a health packet with customized info about my test results and health recommendations. I made an appointment with my doctor and he and I are going to review the results together.

April 27, 2009:

My gym visits have been slowing down a bit, but I’m still motivated. I use a pedometer and am now mindful of the amount of walking that I do during my workday. My goal is 10,000 steps per day and I make that about 3 times per week. I have incorporated taking walks in the evening after work, and I now have a stationary bike at home that I ride while watching TV. Since I’ve been exercising, physically and mentally, I feel much better. I participated in the KC sponsored health screening last month, and learned that my cholesterol level is just a bit high. My brother was recently diagnosed with diabetes (family history), so I’m even more determined to keep it moving!

March 31,2009:

You wouldn’t believe it! I came down with MRSA (highly contagious skin infection) right after I signed up for the gym. I was off work for 2 weeks and I couldn’t go to the gym because I couldn’t risk spreading it around. I was stuck at home.

It took a couple of days to get past feeling sorry for myself. Then I realized I was ok and could walk and do some modified sit ups. I didn’t want to lose motivation. It was so wonderful getting emails and calls from employees who read about me – people I don’t even know. I didn’t want to let them down.

So now I’m back at work. I’m back to doing the stairs in the Courthouse. I’m back at the gym. But I wash my hands like crazy. I teased with a friend that MRSA’s made me obsessive compulsive.

My routine is to go home after work and change into my workout gear. I go to the gym a few times a week and alternate walking and running on the treadmill for an hour. I’m working on my endurance because I get so tired. It’s hard because I’m motivated and I want to work out faster and harder. After reading last month’s Health Matters, someone told me “It’s not a race. You don’t have to go fast; you just have to stick with it.” So I remember that while I’m on the treadmill.

At some point I’m going to work with a trainer at the gym, but I’m in a routine now that I like. I’m not in any danger of getting bored now, but once my endurance is up, I’m going to want to do new things.

February 27, 2009: