NORWICH – Cindy Wier decided to change her lifestyle for the better three years ago after taking a careful look at the family tree, her children and some of the medical issues plaguing her relatives.
In February of 2007, motivated by an American Heart Association pamphlet one of the kids brought home from school, Cindy took positive action immediately and began working out that same day. In just seven months, she lost 84 pounds, going from 229 to 145.
What’s important to understand is Cindy’s story was written by one’s sheer will for change.
A married full-time mother of three, Cindy didn’t have the time or money to spare and made due with what she had.
“The Heart Association was looking for pledges for their Jump Rope for Heart program and with it came a pamphlet. I looked at my mother’s side of the family, which has a strong history of heart-related health issues,” said Cindy.
Cindy said some in her family suffered from diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses that only a healthy lifestyle could ward off. Taking a hard look at how to shape her children’s life habits, she decided it was time for change.
“I read the info and I decided – it just clicked in my head and in my heart at the same time. I knew the health concerns in my family, I was obese and I asked myself how were my kids going to be one day. As much as this was for me, it was for them too,” she said. “I have three kids; I can’t just go to the gym each day and I wanted to set an example for them at home.”
Not even owning any workout clothing or sneakers, Cindy opted to start walking around her family’s country property in the town of Norwich. Walking 10 quarter-mile laps a day, Cindy increased the number as she progressed to 12 laps, then 15 then 20 until she was doing up to 50 laps around her home a day.
But that’s not all she did.
In addition to going for her first of many walks, Cindy scheduled a doctor’s appointment and was able to see her physician the following day due to a fortunate cancellation opening.
As she kept her body moving, Cindy began educating herself on what proper health really was. She brushed the dust off of two things in her life she already had but never used, old gym equipment that had become a clothing rack and she became active in an Internet health group she had joined prior to the February epiphany.
Cindy created a free profile at Sparkpeople.com and joined thousands of other health conscious people seeking advice on how to exercise, what to eat and how to find a routine that could accommodate a hectic family life. The information she gleaned from her interactions on the site aided her in developing new eating habits and creating her own personalized workout.
In the weeks that followed, Cindy began modifying her diet, started using the exercise equipment she had purchased years earlier and bought herself some sneakers. At the encouragement of her sister Lynn Kline, a YMCA physical fitness trainer, Cindy starting to alternate her walks with a jog.
“I learned to make the time. I learned no one else is going to do it for me – that’s what a person controls, diet and exercise,” said Cindy.
Cindy said her husband of 20 years, Todd, and their three children, 8-year-old Allison, 6-year-old Owen, and 4-year-old Parker, supported her throughout the process.
“The kids are great. It’s a workout for mommy and play for them. Sometimes they do the videos with me or they run along side. I really wanted to be a good role model for them,” she said.
Cindy said that today her 45-minute daily workouts have become an important routine. “If I go a week without doing any exercise, you can feel the difference in your body. You just feel yuck,” she said. “I have my own set of workout clothes now, sneakers too. I spent money on a few pieces of small equipment – jump rope, resistant bands and a heart monitor. It has become a part of my life and I like it.”
Cindy tries to burn at least 400 calories a day during her workouts by measuring her heart rate on the monitor. She alternates different activities each day to keep her body from adjusting to just a single routine and has balanced nutritional meals whenever possible.
“The food aspect of the process was so important because I never used to really think about what I was eating or how much I was supposed to. Reading the labels, learning the nutrition and the right serving sizes really changes how you look at food. Most people tend to overeat and in the beginning I measured every meal using spoons and measuring cups to get an idea of what I was supposed to have,” she said.
Altogether, Cindy said she aims to consume 1,500 calories a day and has made a habit of counting every calorie she puts in her mouth.
She said she is very passionate about her health now and urges others to take on small fun activities like she did and to build on them using sound health information.
“It was incredible watching my body’s positive change and reactions to my healthier life choices. You can watch your body grow and change shape just from determination alone.”