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.

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: