|
Four to five days a week, I go to the Blatt P.E. Center to exercise with four of my co-workers--Tom Knowles, Jenifer Lybrand, Laura Pergolizzi, and Curtis Suffrage. Making it a group activity is great because some days I don't feel like going, and one of my co-workers will come along and say, 'Hey, let's go,' and then I'll go. Most days, though, I really look forward to going. The benefits are so great, it's like you're cheating yourself if you don't go.
We exercise on our lunch hour, which means we end up doing physical activity for 30 minutes, which is our goal. To do it within the one-hour lunch time is a crunch but it is worth it.
The idea of exercising together started as a wellness initiative for those of us in facilities in February 2007. The staff wellness folks asked for volunteers to participate in a pilot program, and I volunteered. I'm in my mid 30s, and I'd been thinking for a while that I wanted to start taking the steps now toward overall health so that I can enjoy my retirement years.
The Be Well project started with a physical and a blood workup, which gave us an initial starting point or a benchmark. We spent one hour one day a week in the classroom on different topics like diet, lifestyle changes, and healthy habits. We were going to the Blatt four days a week--lifting weights two day and doing cardio two days.
Once I started seeing the results, it really motivated me to see how far I could take it and I kept going. I ended up losing 22 or 23 pounds, lowered my bodyfat, and lowered my cholesterol. I'm at a weight that I'm very happy with now. I'm trying to maintain my weight and my fitness level now.
Those of us who were involved in the Be Well study have continued the wellness makeover--and it helps to have each other's encouragement. That's why we all workout together at the Blatt. By the way, we're very lucky to have that facility available. It's a huge benefit. If you go and look at the cost of gym memberships, you'll realize what a benefit it is.
3/08
|
Curtis Suffrage waits for his turn as Tommy Fallaw exercises during a recent group workout, above. Later, Jenifer Lybrand gets pointers from Fallaw, below.
