YEAR OF YOU, PART II
In Year 1, the Bulletin brought you the story of one person’s physical and emotional transformation. ‘Year of You’ was introduced with Susie McCreath, a working mother of four who rediscovered her love of volleyball and fitness, nutrition and sense of self. In Year 2, we’re going to up the ante, pitting two participants from two local gyms against one another. It’s CORE versus CalFit. Now all we need are the participants. If you’d like to take part in the ‘Year of You,’ tell us why. Please submit your story (complete with height, weight and current level of activity), picture and contact information to nfrisby@mantecabulletin.com. For more information, contact nfrisby@mantecabulletin.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Susan McCreath has been selected to participate in the Year of You, a fitness challenge hosted by The Manteca Bulletin and CORE Athletic Performance. McCreath will keep a weekly journal, highlighting the strides and struggles of her fitness journey. These are her thoughts and feelings shared with you.
Day 312
I really enjoyed the workout/bootcamp tonight. There were quite a few people there and they had two trainers running the class together. This made you feel like they were really watching you. They were also very encouraging! I also liked how one of the trainers would do many of the exercises with us … makes you feel like they are working with you, plus it gives you a visual of what the exercise is supposed to really look like … not necessarily what I look like when I do some!
Day 313
My knee has been killing and is swelling up on me so it was time to get another cortisone injection. Today the doctor reiterated that I just need to call him when I’m ready for my surgery. I told him that I wasn’t ready for it yet, but I have to admit it hurts.
Day 314
The day before Thanksgiving at work and you’d think I was working at Golden Corral with food – bad food – at every turn! Muffins, pumpkin pie, whip cream, potatoes, pizza, cupcakes, you name it I saw it today. I did see carrots in one classroom, but that was about the extent of any healthy food that I personally saw. It really makes you think about classroom parties and what the expectation is from both teachers and parents.
Day 315
Thanksgiving in Disneyland! Nothing like gnawing on a turkey leg while waiting to ride some rides. But, talk about a place that has some serious bad food at every turn. I try to find some healthy food, but it is no easy feat. Temptation at every corner. At least I feel like I’m walking a bunch of miles.
Day 316
Sitting on a bench people watching and I have come to this conclusion: I am not the skinniest, most-in-shape person, but I am not the heaviest, most-out-of shape person at Disneyland. Actually, I have decided that the majority of people visiting Disneyland are in the same predicament as me … overweight! You really start to notice it when you are trying to cram your body into some of the rides, or pull a lap bar down across your legs or hips that are sprawling into your neighbors seat. I felt like a sausage riding a few of the rides … of course, being 6-foot tall doesn’t help with leg room either.
Day 317
Looking at the many family photos that we took over the past few days I am both happy and sad. I am happy that I have lost pounds and inches over the year, but also realize that I have more pounds and inches to go. I am happy that I am able to shop in regular stores and am not forced to have to shop in plus size stores, but would also like a little more breathing room in my clothes. I’m very grateful though that the cortisone injection worked and the swelling has gone out of my knee for the time being.
Day 318
I have roughly a bit more than a month left in this journey so it is time to kick this body into high gear. I have prepped my food and am putting my workouts on the calendar. I need to be diligent about logging my food and stay the course. December can be a very tricky and temptation filled month … I am determined to not let it derail me.
Connect with Susan McCreath and CORE Athletic Performance trainer Robert Iniguez on the Year of You Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/theyearofyouchallenge.
