Hi all...

I'm excited to have this resource. I've been a member of the YMCA for a really long time. The latest run has been since about 2000. I love the YMCA and its programs, not just for me but for my kids as well. I regularly go to both the Morgan Y and the TC Y.

"Short" version of my story... I have ankylosing spondylitis - basically it causes me issues with my back and sometimes joints or other areas of my body. It is chronic and incurable. I can't remember when exactly this was diagnosed but it was sometime around 2003. However, I've had back pain since I was in my early 20's (the mid 1980's). Between natural body tendency, back pain (causing limited exercise), and bad eating habits, I've been on the "overweight" scale for most of my life. Once diagnosed and put on the right medicine to help with the pain/inflamation, I was able to start working on my next project... my health! I lost some weight and started the 12 (10?) week program at the Morgan Y. What a wonderful resource that is!!! I was able to start with just 10 minutes on the recumbent bike. Just 10 minutes! Baby steps you know - couldn't overdo or I'd be in excrutiating pain. Over the weeks I built up to more time on the bike, the treadmill (walking), and using the weight machines. I actually stayed in the 12 week program room for at least a year. Then I moved up in the world... into the main exercise room, core workout classes, and the elyptical machine (a fave - low impact!). That was a good 4-5 years ago, and now I am proud to say that I work out regularly, have completed 4 sprint triathlons, plan on at least 3 more sprint triathlons this year, and am at a more "normal" weight although I still could use a little more reduction.

I am very grateful to the YMCA and the role the people there have played in the improvement of my life... special props to Monique - she leads the Triathlon Training Group that I participate in at the TC Y. She is awesome and inspirational.

Outside of the Y, I love to travel, hike, spend time with my little ladies and family, enjoy art, movies, and life in general. Oh, and I do work. At a desk. Nothing too exciting.

Well, that's my intro for now... thanks for starting up the group. I'm looking forward to participating in my first ever forum...

Hi Michele!

Welcome to Healthy Pals!

That's cool that you do the Triathlon group with Monique. I'm actually the new webmaster for the other triathlon group that she does with the South Sound Triathletes! She looks like a fun person to train with and I hear she's not a bad triathlete either.

Sounds like you have an amazing story! We look forward to your partipation on this site!

How inspirational is that! I think you might be my new hero! How do you find time to balance work, family, exercise, a social life and triathlons?

Welcome to the site. It is my first ever time to paricipate in a forum too! It has been fun and it's good to know that people have the same challenges and difficulties as I do. It is also good to hear from people on how to tackle the obstacles; it gives me new ideas and a different perspective. Plus I always like helping people and offering my opinion, which is something I try not to do at the Y... because there I want to let people figure it out for themselves... here I can tell them what I think and how I did it !

I look forward to your insights, questions and answers!!!

Thanks! And I think the only way I find time to balance it all is sheer determination... and at times a lack of sleep - for example the 5:30am tri-group workouts - yesterday I think I only got about 5 1/2 hours sleep and I usually "require" 8 hours!!!. I guess that gets back to determination (and commitment).

Welcome aboard Michele! I definitely know the sleep deprived feelings. I have 2 children and it is funny how little time you have to yourself after kids, but it is so worth it (most of the time )

I am a new exerciser and have always been on the heavy end. I read you were going through some medical concerns, were your kids affected by that at all? I really took a tough look at myself and saw how my life was affecting them and thought to myself I have to change. Do you see a difference in your children now that you are more fit? I am just curious because one of my motivations is to help make sure my children do not follow the same road I am on.

I agree... it is worth it (the lack of time to yourself after kids)! And even when it feels like it was quite the sacrifice, I remind myself that in the blink of an eye mine have already grown to 13 and 15 years old and in what seems like a split second they will be moving out. So, I need to really enjoy every moment with them while I have it!

To answer your question... I think parents best lead by example, and definitely yes, I feel my daughters have benefited from my getting my health on track. The first benefit is that I am a much nicer person!! I have to admit that my patience level was pretty low when I was in "survival" mode - lots of pain, not much sleep, feeling miserable (emotionally and physically) due to the fatigue that comes with not eating healthfully and not exercising. So, it was quite a process... get rid of the pain when possible and learn to deal with it when it is there first, and then put in the work to start building better habits... but the kids learn not only to accept and address any issues that face them in their lives, but also, I point out to them how great I feel after a really good workout, and how necessary it is for me to do. Sometimes they resent it because when I'm working out they don't have their taxi driver, but when I point out how necessary it is, they grudgingly accept it. Of course, they are kids. They eat junk and don't do all the exercise they should, but they are learning. Just yesterday during the superbowl, my 15 year old was getting herself a slice of the chocolate cake that one of our guests brought. She actually commented that all the calories she had burned during hip-hop dance practicing earlier would be wasted with that slice of cake. And then she ate it anyway!! But you know what? That was really good. Awareness is the most important part, then you make choices and live with those choices. And the choice to eat chocolate cake is perfectly fine every once in awhile!!

So, keep up the good work. Sounds like you are starting on a great path... a wonderful adventure! Be patient with yourself. You don't need to be perfect. Your children will learn from your imperfections as well as your successes. You are their super-hero! Good luck and God speed!!!

Thanks, Michele! You do not know how much your words of encouragement mean to me. Knowing that your weight loss had a positive outcome on your children only strengthens my desire to get into shape. It seems that when I work out with the idea of it affecting my children, I hold myself more accountable. Recently I hit a plateau in my weight loss and probably would have stopping working out like I have done in the past, but due to this site and people like you, I still feel like I have a lot of fuel left in the tank.

The forum says today is your birthday.... Happy birthday, Michele!!! I hope you have a good day.