How can we be healthy? It is important that every woman and girl sees the importance of this bold effort and understands how her well-being benefits the faith community. We can all participate in this effort in different ways.
In May of 2013, while I was still teaching, I fell from a table I was standing on after school. As a result, I broke my right leg and had to have a partial hip replacement. I was told that I would probably have to have a full hip replacement in 10 - 15 years. By the Fall of 2015 I had gained quite a lot of weight. It finally occurred to me, that if I wanted to try to avoid this second surgery, I needed to lose weight.
So began my program of losing weight and trying to be healthier. At first it was just a better diet and some exercise which started the weight loss journey. Then there was an introduction into a diet plan with protein powder and appetite suppressants, which helped in the loss of more weight and keeping it off. So by January of 2017, there had been a weight loss of twenty-three pounds.
While continuing my diet plan, in January of 2017 I was introduced to Run the Year by a Facebook friend. Run the Year means that your goal is to walk or run 2,017 miles in 2017. I mostly walked various speeds. Once again I am in Run the Year 2018, but this year am running 90% of the time. I am also running 5k races, mostly for different charitable causes. All in all, as of September, 2018, I have lost over thirty-six pounds. The big benefit is that I have more energy, feel better, and am so much healthier to be involved in all kinds of activities. I don't worry about the walking involved to go to sporting and cultural events and feel energized driving to and attending grandkid's activities. Besides these activities, I am more involved with the Pacifica Synodical Board and the convention planning team, on church council, church vision team, actively involved with monthly church fellowship dinners. I also plan to do the Run, Walk and Roll again at the 2020 Triennial Convention, but this time run instead of walking.
Please share your story how you try to stay healthy with friends or send in an article to Pacifica Partners.
--submitted by Melissa Anderson