Monday, September 30, 2013

Excited to get going!



Sept 24-Laurie Donohue

Today was the kick-off for the AHA BetterU at Samaritan and I wore a red blouse as asked; as an aside, I love red, it just makes me feel complete. Such a range of girls, all trying to take care of ourselves, the youngest in her twenties and the oldest in her sixties. The professional’s from various organizations really want us to succeed, represented was Samaritan (who is also contributing one of their own to join us!), they are providing all of the blood testing at the beginning and end, no small donation.  YMCA who is giving each of us a three month free membership at either “Y” location AND a personal trainer who will help us set up an acheivable training program (score!). Nicole Garnsey from Feed the Soul will be meeting with each of us to discuss nutrition and take us shopping to show sustainable alternatives to eating better. Gina Wetterhahn is providing all of the screenings in office, beginning and end.  And of course all of the wonderful people from AHA, who are spend countless hours coordinating all of us with all of them!

I was really excited to be chosen and after the meeting today, I am even more excited to get going, I went and bought some fresh fruit (ugh) and salad fixin’s, then I came home and knocked out 2.5 miles in 42 minutes. Not my best, but it was time to start moving again, all movement is life, breathe……..

12 weeks to improve my eating and exercise in the hope I can improve my BP & Cholesterol and lower my weight.



Laurie Donohue

Today is the day! 12 weeks to improve my eating and exercise in the hope I can improve my BP & Cholesterol and lower my weight.  My meeting with Michelle at the Y is at 11 this morning and I am excited to see what she has to show me.  Started the day with some homemade pumpkin nut biscotti and black coffee, planning freshly made corn chowder for lunch and dinner is still up in the air.  Just finished reading week 1 in my Better book, I need to find out what “Calories of added sugar” is.  So, almost time to go to the Y, I have decided to walk, its just over 1 mile and a beautiful day out!

I met with Michelle at the Y and she sat down and asked me what my goals were, what my limitations were and we talked about what level I was at now. She showed me around the Y and explained the machines, uses and what benefits I could get from them.  She then had me work on three different machines that she felt would support my back & knees, while giving the cardio & strengthening I was looking for.

The first machine was The Rower, I have never been on one of these and I can honestly say, it is much more innocent looking then it works out to be.  After figuring out how to keep my ample butt on that tiny seat, my feet in the stirrups and the coordination to push-pull-retreat in a semi-fluid motion, I felt I was really getting the hang of it, plus a good workout and when I stood up, my rubbery legs were testament to the power of The Rower and as soon as I could catch my breath, I assured M, that I had “Loved it!”

Of course by that point I was on The Reclining Elliptical and attempting to keep my speed up while holding on to some handle bars that kept getting further and further away with each peddle. Oh wait, no, it was just the reclining seat; if I leaned forward a little I could grab the handles...Holy Cow! That was a near miss; they come right at you really fast!  Probably wasn’t really that close to my head, but why take chances, so I just let my fingertips rest lightly on the handles and peddled my way to almost 6 laps. (Okay, so I had just hit 5, I was trying for 6, but it might have only been a couple more peddles, so I am counting it as 6). As an aside, I had warned M. that I was a little bit klutzy, so if there is a “training” accident…….

My very cheerful Personal Trainer, M, came over and put me on this simply fun machine, I think she called The Arm Rower (or maybe it was You Thought Your Legs Were Jelly?!?) and said do 4 minutes forward and 4 minutes backwards.  While I am attempting to keep my speed 65-75, she sits down beside me on The Reclining Elliptical, punches it up to some physically impossible resistance and starts to peddle, all while carrying on a NORMAL conversation with me.  I meanwhile am quite aware that my arms are going to fall off any minute, cannot even wipe the copious amount of sweat from my brow and am able to offer a grunt as my end of the conversation.

Remember that FB meme that showed the model running through the park with the caption “This is how I think I look when I work out” and the next frame is of the Bassett hound running through the park, his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth, with the caption “How I actually look when I work out”? Yeah, that kept going through my head the whole time.

Walked back home, had my low cal-low sodium corn chowder, a small piece of homemade whole grain bread, a banana and 24oz of H2O. Seriously, I was a bit hesitant about going to The Y, but the machines M put me on, were exactly what I was looking for!  I asked her for Cardio & Strength and that is exactly what they delivered, while protecting my back & knees.  I am going on Wednesday morning to try out the Yoga class and maybe after try those Rowers again.

Day 1 down (and I didn’t fall off any sidewalks!)

I've got first day jitters



1st Day Jitters

Well, here it is.  The first day of the BetterU program!

Hi, my name is Patricia Hovorka, and I’ve got to admit I’ve got first day jitters.  I am so happy to have been chosen to participate in this program, but it feels a little overwhelming.  However, I am committed to improving my health, and I know that by taking one day at a time (maybe even just 1 hour at a time), I am taking a step in the right direction.  So, I read Week 1 of the manual, did the quiz, and filled out my goals for the week… treadmill here I come!

Excited about getting started


Looking forward to getting started this week! Excited about getting started at the Y and hoping to do some group walks with the rest of the girls :)



Michelle Swike

Please please I want to do this



So I started this process to become a BetterU representative with a please, please I want to do this attitude. If it was meant to be I would be chosen. I was so excited when Stacy called to give me the great news that I was indeed chosen. 

I enjoyed meeting the other women at the press conference and the team we will be working with. I don't know all the names, but am looking forward to getting to know everyone. Gina was a wealth of information. I have been wearing my red dress pin and talking to anyone who will listen about the fact that heart disease is the number one killer of women, and they must get their numbers.

Thank you team for all your hard work. See ya at the gym!
Joey