Healthy Me! Makeovers bring great reactions!

In my words…
(This blog was written by Colleen Hahn, Public Relations for The Medical Foundation and Coordinator of the Healthy Me! Program)

I’m not sure why Reactions Hair Studio chose that particular name, and I didn’t ask the owner, Chris, when I was there today. But I have a feeling it has something to do with the way people feel when the styling is done.

Owner Chris, JJ, Lori and Kimmie volunteered to give up part of their day off Monday to help Healthy Me! Program participants feel a bit more confident about themselves.

Several months ago, Lori and Chris contacted me, offering to provide makeovers for the participants in the program. I figured that about half way through the program, they might need a little motivation and this just might be the thing. I was excited to be able to offer this to our participants.

I wasn’t sure how the men in the program would feel, but Bob and Bret decided they would participate.

“Although this is not really my gig, I am letting my short hair grow out to be medium length hair to let them do their thing.  Can they make me look like Brad Pitt or Pierce Brosnan?” Bob joked.

JJ worked his magic and had Bret and Bob looking dapper before the end of the afternoon.

Deborah and Joni were next in line for their new looks. Deborah, fond of her long locks, opted for some highlights but kept the length about the same.  Kimmie put some finishing touches on Deborah’s make-up and Chris cut and styled her hair to frame her face. It was an amazing touch for Deborah, as she has worked extremely hard in the program, shedding nearly 40 pounds since the beginning of April.

As Joni walked into the studio, I could easily tell that her weekend of work at Nedderman’s mobile unit at the Niles Apples Fest had taken its toll on her and she might rather opt for a few hours on the couch. But it wasn’t long before Lori worked her magic, picking out swatches of color and highlights and giving Joni and I a small vision of what she could see as the end product.

Before long, Lori was putting the finishing touches on Joni’s hair, making sure each piece was in the right spot, spraying endless amounts of hairspray to keep it perfect until she was able to show her six daughters and her husband. I think it was worth the wait, as she was grinning from ear to ear as the staff and I quickly labeled her as, “sassy.”

As the coordinator of the Healthy Me! Program, it has been a very interesting five months with the participants. It seems as though they are reaching so many milestones, each important such as achieving better lab results from the first baseline tests that were offered. I’ve felt their sadness or their success in the moments when they weigh in. They’ve become more accustomed to working out on a regular basis and are making healthier decisions.

Each participant has experienced struggles and each has experienced successes throughout this project. Deborah, Bob, Bret and Joni opted in for the makeovers and I think each of them left a little more confident than when they walked through the door. Thank you Reactions (JJ, Kimmie, Lori and Chris) for opening your studio to our Healthy Me! Participants and for producing great reactions! 

For more pictures of the Healthy Me! Makeovers visit our facebook page here. 

Read Healthy Me! Program participant Bob Vale's reflections on the program and The Logan's Run

The following is a journal entry written by Healthy Me! Program participant, Bob Vale.

Never Give Up!    8-4-2014

            Over the course of the past year, I have been doing my best to get healthy, exercise more, make healthy food choices when eating and hopefully lose weight in the process.  Fortunately the hard work and discipline in these key areas has been paying off and I have lost some weight.     Part of my overall goal to lose enough weight, is to enjoy jogging more, which was a part of my life in my younger years.  However, my knees are not what they used to be, I still carry too much weight, and I am much slower than when I was younger, so it is a bit of a challenge at 52.

            Therefore as I have lost some weight, I have been able to enjoy a bit of jogging at a very slow pace.  At the beginning of the summer I was able to slowly jog the Sunburst 5K and greatly enjoyed the event.   Following that race, I decided to jog during the summer and slowly increase my distance.   My goal was to run the 10K at the Logan run on Notre Dame Campus at the beginning of August.    I began to prepare myself for that longer race by increasing my jogging distances during the summer.      

            This past Saturday I felt I was ready and showed up at the Logan run event early to pick up my shirt, race number and information bag.    My race number was only # 6, which was very low, considering there were probably close to a thousand participants.  I thought there is no way I was going come into 6^th place, but perhaps that is how fast / slow I would run.   (6 MPH)  The 10K runners all gathered around the large balloon archway, which was the beginning of the race waiting for the begin running call.  The 10K runners took off and I was about in the middle of the pack of probably 200 runners.    I had only three goals for the race that day.  First to complete the full 10k’s.  Secondly, not to walk and always jog and thirdly to do my best to stay under an average of 12 minute miles in my slow jogging pace.   (Fortunately, I was able to accomplish all three of my goals, but it was no easy task!!!)

            After about one mile into the race, my right ham string began to feel pain and cramp up.  This has never happened to me and I thought to myself, I want to definitely finish this race, so I will slow down a bit and see if it goes away. Stopping was not an option considering how much I wanted to finish this race. Fortunately, after about another quarter mile the pain went away and I kept on jogging.   Although I thought I was doing pretty well, I was quickly put in my place as person after person began to pass by me early in the race. First it was the ten year old little boy who seemed to sprint by me.  Then a very young girl also passed by.   Then a gentlemen about 20 years older than my 52 year old body slowly but surely passed by.   I tried to pick up the pace, but reminded myself to just stick to my comfortable pace and finish the long race.

            I stayed positive and just kept my three goals in mind.  Finish, don’t stop and stay under 12 minute miles.   At the first water station I was handed a cup full of gator aid.  I have never drank that during a race, but I did my best to choke down a couple of gulps while I was running and continue down the path.     About half way through the race the runner traffic had thinned out, yet a father pushing a child in a running cart whizzed by me and a couple of ladies did so as well.   I continued to stress to myself, don’t worry who is passing you, just meet your three goals and Never Give UP!!!

            Next came the second watering area.  As I jogged by the table and multiple holding out cups for me to grab, I was handed another glass of gator aid and slowed down enough to try to drink the full glass if possible.  I felt as much as I was sweating, I needed the replenishing qualities of the gator aid in my body.    I think I need to practice jogging and drinking at the same time, because the two don’t occur naturally.  I think I choked & spit up more gator aid than I swallowed.  Now I was on the back stretch of the run with only two miles left.  (Yeah God!!!)   I could tell my pace was slowing down and I was laboring in my breathing and wheezing.  By this time the sun was up and it was getting hotter with high humidity for the day.  The beauty of jogging around the two lakes was very nice.  Not that I was feeling bad enough, about a mile left in the race, a first aid lady rode up to me on her bike and asked me if I was going to be alright because I looked rather peeked.  Which was a kind and polite way of saying, “I think you’re going to drop dead at any moment, can I help you.”  I thanked her and said, “I am fine, I just look ugly and painful when I run.”  (Which I do.)  

            I continued to slowly jog and kept my thumbs up, thanking the many volunteers who cheered me on as I meandered through the course.    Finally I could see the finish line with the welcoming archway of pretty balloons in the distance.  I picked up my pace a bit to finish strong over the finish line.   About fifty yards from the finish line there were some good friends and my wife cheering me on while ringing a cowbell.   I crossed the finish and met all three goals.  I finished, I never stopped jogging, and I was actually under an 11 minute mile average.    Wow, that’s pretty cool, I actually did it.

            I was so very tired and my legs were shaking when I crossed the finish line.  However, when I began to walk a few steps past the finish line, I could tell my stomach was saying to get rid of all that gator aid that I drank at the last two stops. Things were physically in motion and there was no stopping what was going to happen next!   (Where were the first aid folks now?)  Without hesitation, I walked over to the tall weeds on the side of the road and quickly got rid of all that gator aid. I’m sure I was a site for sore eyes.  I felt a bit better, but was still very much drained.   A cold water & banana later helped me to feel better.

This 10k race was by far the most difficult run I have ever undertaken, yet I would do it again in a heartbeat.  I met a goals, which was difficult, but very fulfilling.  I trained for nearly two months getting ready to meet that goal.   As I crossed the finish line, I was handed a small medal with a colorful ribbon, which will go on my desk with pride.  A small reminder of hard work and determination.

            Through it all, I have quickly determined that the shorter 5k run is my race rather than the 10k run at this point in my life.   I look forward to my next 5K run, hopefully soon as I continue to train, eat healthy and lose more weight.   Many thanks to the Healthy Me folks for their continued encouragement and guidance through this process to become a healthier me.   I would also like thank Colleen Hahn, the encouraging and hard-working program coordinator, Jonell, my determined physical trainer, Dr. Troyer, who gives me medical guidance and Erin, the dietitian, who teaches me about making healthy food choices.

Healthy Me! paricipant Bob Vale tackles his Type 2 Diabetes

When I called Bob Vale to explain that he had been chosen for the Healthy Me! Program and I explained that in order for him to receive the tools to become healthier, he would have to agree to having his story told online and in the newspaper with information on his weight and his health, his comment was, “that’s fine, I’m a pastor and I’m pretty much in a fishbowl.”

As I get to know Bob a little better each time we meet, I seem to always recall that statement. He seems to run into people wherever he goes, but I guess that comes with leading a congregation. Little did I know when he was chosen, that he had the ability to reach so many people and tell his story about his battle with Diabetes and his continued commitment to learn about his disease and to conquer it. He hadn’t mentioned he was a pastor in his essay for Healthy Me! only that he was a Desert Storm veteran.

About two years ago, he was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and he began learning how to control his diet and to exercise more. He lost an initial 30 pounds but has somewhat plateaued since then.  At the one month point of the Healthy Me! Program, he had lost an additional 10 pounds. 

More importantly, he is learning more about proper nutrition during his meetings with Erin Hurst, Registered Dietitian at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center.  She is teaching him about portion control, meal planning and eliminating large amounts of Diet Coke from his diet.

Time of meals is also something being addressed by Erin.  Before he started the program, Bob would typically work out in the morning and not eat until lunch time, followed by a snack or two in the afternoon and a large meal around 8 or 9pm.  By saving calories for later in the evening, he was only fueling his body for sleep.  Yet, in the morning after he worked out, he wasn’t replenishing any calories in his body or fueling himself for the rest of the day. 

About 3-4 mornings each week Bob meets some friends to play racquetball at the YMCA and after they play they enjoy spending some time at McDonalds. Erin encouraged him to order an oatmeal and to drink water instead of 2-3 large Diet Cokes. He also supplements his breakfast with two hard boiled eggs to add a little protein to his meal.

She also encouraged him to plan his plate during meals and fill half the plate with non-starchy vegetables.  Learning portion sizes has been an awakening moment for Bob, as he learned that a portion of meat is the size of his wife’s palm, not his or bigger! I have to say, it did make me laugh when his comeback was, “I should have married a wife with bigger hands!”

Bob has continued to work out with Jonell at Memorial Health & Lifestyle Center and while he is quite a contender on the racquetball court and in the swimming pool, he has found his challenges with planks and squats. 

It’s an on-going learning process, and Bob is taking advantage of all that The Medical Foundation and its partners are offering through the Healthy Me! Program.

To learn more about Deborah Gordon’s experiences during the last month, check back for a blog about here next week.