This post begins a series of entries on my journey back to excellent physical fitness.
I moved to Whistler almost a year ago, in order to become the Sustainability Coordinator for the Resort Municipality of Whistler (our local government). This was especially exciting for me, as I was already a fan of Whistler2020, the community’s sustainability plan, and this was my opportunity to work with it up close and personal.
Exciting career move, new place, beautiful setting, once in a lifetime event coming (the 2010 Olympic + Paralympic Winter Games), and … no social network. I would come to learn how difficult this would actually be as the year went on.
It has been a year to reflect and focus on myself, in a way I had been unable or unwilling to do when in Victoria. Personally, I’ve always thought that exercise is not optional. However, I had been treating it that way since my mid 20s. This was highly unusual for me, as I had been a certified fitness instructor, and had been accepted to kinesiology programs at the University of Western Ontario and McMaster. I had once envisioned this as my career.
However, for a myriad of reasons (some of which I will elaborate on, as I write about my journey) I find myself in a physical condition I never wanted to be in: overweight.
The statistics in Canada are startling. According to Statistics Canada, as of 2004, “23.1% of Canadians aged 18 or older, an estimated 5.5 million adults, had a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more, indicating that they were obese. This is significantly higher than estimates derived from self-reported data collected in 2003, which yield an obesity rate of 15.2%. Another 8.6 million, or 36.1%, were overweight. This is a national epidemic, and you can find more scary stats and associated health risks at http://www.obesitycanada.com/.
Suffice it to say, this is a category I no longer want to belong to.
February 2010. The Olympics are bearing down on this community like you wouldn’t believe, and I am up for another challenge. I find myself considering my New Year’s resolutions and how I am going to keep them. I am the type of person that likes to make resolutions – I am target and goal driven, and I like to see results. When asking my friends what their resolutions were, one particularly resonated with me – a good friend wanted her health back. Yes, I know, this is probably the most popular and least stuck to of all resolutions. But it resonated with me – in the same way that doing my day job does. And that is significant, because I have sacrificed and worked hard at achieving career success.
I knew that this resonated with me because I have finally come to terms with the fact that I deserve to treat myself with the same level of care and attention.
A colleague was working late one night and she told me she was waiting for her exercise class. I asked her to tell me about it. She said it was difficult. I said I was looking for difficult. She says she’ll send me the website info and I can consider it – her trainer is picky and there is a one month waiting list. I say – send me the info.
I look up the website and decide this is just the type of difficult challenge I am up for, and I send an email inquiring how to join.
Enter The Russian.
Our first conversation went like this:
Me: I want to sign up for your class. What do I have to do?
The Russian: call this number, I will tell you what to do.
And so I did. I will continue to update you on my progress on this blog. So check back often, as I have a lot to write about.
{ 2 comments }
We want to hear the next chapter. More, please.
I am soooooooooooo! proud of you! Waiting for more like Mr. Glave. xoxo
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