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O-D
editor challenges herself to live healthier
July 26, 2002
I’m
sure many people throughout the Mohawk Valley can relate
to the millions of Americans who have lost weight, only
to gain it back.
And I’m no exception.
Five years ago, as I was about to run my second Boilermaker,
I wrote a column
about losing 90 pounds as I trained for the two races.
Shortly after the race, I met a guy, got engaged, it
didn’t work out. You know the story — depression ...
weight gain ... blah, blah, blah.
So here I am, back at the beginning of the struggle.
I knew I had to change my eating habits and start exercising
again. Then my boss suggested the newspaper follow someone’s
progress in a new program called Choose to Move — Energy
For a Better Life.
Its goal is to get people moving for 30 minutes a day,
five days a week. I decided I would join the program
and let readers follow my progress.
My reasons are purely selfish. I figure I will be motivated
to exercise if I’m telling more than 100,000 readers
what I do each week. I’d hate to tell them I was too
lazy to get out of bed and go walking, but you never
know. It could happen.
Choose to Move, which is sponsored by the American Heart
Association in conjunction with the Sitrin Family of
Services and the Utica Roadrunners, is sure to be a
great success. The organizers hoped to have at least
40 people interested, and 115 came to the Sitrin Rehabilitation
Center Wednesday night. Sitrin’s Kathy Contino Turner
said at least 70 people were turned away, but a second
program is planned for September.
Most of the first session was spent checking in and
getting weighed. There was a lot of waiting because
of the huge turnout. That shows how concerned people
are about heart disease, the No. 1 killer of women.
Each session will address different topics, including
women and heart disease, stress and strength training.
Afterward, we’ll do a physical activity to get us moving.
That part concerned me at first.
As I filled out my registration form, there were a couple
lines of the waiver that jumped out at me. It said:
“I know that walking/running is a potentially hazardous
activity. I should not enter and run unless I am medically
able and properly trained.”
I immediately called Dick Mattia, executive director
of the Heart Association, and asked him if I had to
be in shape to join the program. He reassured me that
Choose to Move is geared toward “non-exercisers,” or
people just like me, so I went ahead and registered.
I’m glad I did. The organizers said they will help me
live a healthier lifestyle by showing me easy ways to
get fit without joining a gym.
I’m already looking forward to next week when we’ll
be taking a physical activity quiz and identifying barriers
that hold us back from becoming physically active.
I can think of a lot of barriers without their help:
It’s too hot, it’s too cold, it’s too early, it’s too
late, I’m too tired ...
Now it’s time to break them down.
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