Photos and Success Stories
Do you have a great personal or team story? Email your success stories to news@shapeupri.org It will be posted here for the community to read so we can all share in your success.
Photos
Forest Park Teams, Powerprofessionals and FP Faculty,are encouraging each other to move and eat healthy. Our staff room is known to have many types of goodies around. But this day many contributed to the 100 Calorie Sampling Day. This way we were sure to make a smarter choice and we got to try which products we liked. It's another way for us to be accountable and watch our choices! Thanks Shape Up RI!
Wednesday Walk March 10 “Over 50 people met in front of of the State House in Providence for a lunchtime walk. We got over 2000 steps and three t-shirts were raffled off. Congratulations to everyone!”
“We walked around the Statehouse. Beautiful sunny day!”
“...down the hill in front of the State House...”
“...down Canal Street...”
“...we turned off Canal Street, onto Memorial and then back up Francis Street. Thanks to everyone that came!”
Aldrich Junior High School “We are Team A+4 Aldrich. Since joining Shape Up RI, we are spending more and more time strolling the hallways. We all hope to be leaner (but not meaner) by the end of the competition.”
Thundermist “We had a very nice turnout for our opening event and a lot of enthusiasm. Thanks!”
Subway 95 Exit 30 “Here is our Shape Up Team. THANK YOU folks for ALL your efforts in Shaping Up RI.”
Darlington Congregational Church: “We have three teams and we are having a blast...we started off having the three teams gather together for some inside tips on team exercising, our second date was a walk at Slater Park...and we have more events planned.”
Herff Jones: “Just wanted to submit our team “before” photo….we will take one at the end of the program as well and hope to look noticeably different!! This is the Healthy Herffies team from Herff Jones, Inc. in Warwick.”
(add)ventures: “We have officially registered 3 teams in the competition, and while we all share a competitive spirit, our company camaraderie certainly outweighs our cut-throat desires to win Shape Up RI. This week, we asked an (add)ventures employee to lead our teams in a boot camp workout that she typically offers at a local YMCA. At the end of an otherwise normal Tuesday, we all rushed to cross off the last of the to-do lists, turn off the iphones, and change into sneakers. With pedometers at our hips, we filled our water bottles and gathered in our largest conference room. Amy, our manager of finance/operations (who also happens to be a certified personal fitness trainer!), cranked up some music and led us in an hour-long workout, complete with lunges, free weights and planks. It was a hard workout, but with confidence and skill Amy led her colleagues, all with varying levels of experience and fitness, toward a healthier lifestyle. It was team work at its finest.”
Up Country: “Our three teams are really enjoying the first year in ShapeUpRI. With daily dance breaks, walking laps at lunch and healthier eating, we have already seen a difference. Who knew it would be so much fun?”
Success Stories
It works! I have accomplished more than I have ever been able to accomplish in years. The daily exercise, counting steps, the spirit of positive and healthy competition have been tremendously helpful in not only being healthy and energetic, but best of all LOSING WEIGHT! I am so grateful to Shape Up RI for this wonderful opportunity. THANKS A MILLION TIMES.
I NEVER thought I would be the type of person to get up at 5 a.m. to go to the gym. But, now that's me! I’m so happy I did this and ABSOLUTELY want to do it again next year!
I think it is a motivating and well-crafted program. I loved having the opportunity to try new fitness activities. I had never used a pedometer before and I really find it motivating. My goal was to walk more, to hopefully help my bone density that has declined since menopause. The program surpassed my expectations. I feel more connected to my community since it allowed me to meet new people and new resources in the community for fitness.
I now wear my pedometer on a regular basis and am striving for 10,000+ steps per day! Thanks for helping keep me honest and on track.
I loved the pedometer and the idea of being part of a large cohort of people making positive changes in their lives.
The program is simply extraordinary. I do not have enough words to describe the advantages of Shape Up RI. It has really allowed me to focus on my goal and achieve it. I have lost 20 pounds so far and I intend to keep working hard to keep the weight off. Thanks a lot.
Great setup of support and accountability, with lots of resources. The tracking system was reliable and graphs and progress reports helpful and sophisticated but simple enough to view at a glance.
It was great to have the support of team members to keep on track.
I cannot thank you enough for the change you have brought to my life. I never thought this could ever happen to me. I was not an obese person, but definitely needed to loose a few pounds. Being 5’4" 152lbs I really wanted to get back into my old self again. I have totally changed the way I look at food and the way I exercise everyday. It has made a dramatic change. I have already lost 13lbs. I feel great. I can’t wait to loose the other 9lbs.
It was great to work with a group of friends on increasing my workout hours. Our team leader was great.
It was easy to maneuver through the website- great free activities and plenty of notice for the free events- some nice info regarding health and exercise also
The program really motivated me to work hard. I did not want to shirk my duty to my team. At the same time, the healthy competition encouraged me to do better every week.
I lost a total of 17 pounds that I definitely attribute to the Shape Up RI program. I wasn’t about to let my team down!
The program made me much more aware of the number of steps I took every day. I made an effort to use stairs whenever possible, parked further away from buildings, and made more of an effort to exercise.
I think that it is a good opportunity for families and communities to come together and be able to lose weight and exercise.
I love the weekly notices and how convenient the website is too. Thank you so very much and I look forward to the next challenge next year.
There were so many events offered and so many choices it was great.
Thanks, being part of the program made me determined to set goals, surpass the goals, and get fit!! I lost 12 pounds and have become more active. I was a gym person before but have incorporated other activities into daily life.
I lost 2 inches in my waist, 8 pounds and a size in clothing. I’m still going.
Shape Up RI gave me the motivation I needed to get on track and take the steps needed to become healthier. I have a long way and I am proud of my progress.
Walking fits in with my lifestyle and I find I feel so much better. I have lost 10 pounds. That was my goal.
Shape Up RI was a great way to get healthy and have fun with my friends at the same time.
I dropped 14 lbs but most of all at least 4 inches around the waist. Wearing the pedometer gave me the incentive to exercise even harder, to park further away from a store, to walk up a flight of stairs rather then take the escalator. I worked out longer and spent more time doing cardio workouts which have transformed my body and also increased my energy level, my heart rate improved and my blood pressure is at a perfect range. I really enjoyed the competition as well, being competitive in nature this also gave me the incentive to push myself past the comfort zone and do more. My wife and I were on the same team so we both encouraged each other to do the exercise and to eat healthier. This was a great program and will only get better every year as more people see the results and read the success stories.
Although I work out regularly, it gave me the extra will on the days I might have skipped, and having other people who were doing the same kept me motivated.
I have more energy and my clothes fit better! All in all, I feel refreshed!
It was encouraging to keep track of my steps and know that people out there are going through the same issues.
The program motivated me to walk more, exercise more, eat less and eat better.
Enrolling in the Shape Up RI inspired me in a number of ways. The first week was a shock! It made me realize how sedentary my office job was. I knew I would never reach my goal without walking more during work, so I began using the stairs and walking to other people office rather than calling them. This made a huge difference in my daily steps. I then began walking 1 1/2 miles each evening with my neighbor and my daughter. My neighbor-in her mid fifties, went to the doctor two weeks ago and her blood pressure was the lowest it has been in 25 years! We feel so good after our nightly excursions. My daughter’s and I signed up for the 5K MS walk, and had seven of our friends-including our neighbor, join our team. We completed the walk two weeks ago-at the front of the pack. It was a fabulous feeling. I have challenged myself to lose 20 pounds over the next few months and walking will be a huge part of my routine. I thank you for the well organized, challenging, and inspirational program that provided me with kick start I needed to get in shape.
With the onset of Shape Up RI, I have revamped my exercise routine and have started to run. I will be running my first 5k this April 12th, the RI Dietary Association 5k run/walk at Goddard Park. Thank you for the support and the encouragement!!!!
I definitely got more exercise this winter than usual. It kept me moving and conscious of my activity levels.
I haven't been able to lose any weight until your program and I feel great!!
Shape Up RI is a great way to stay active, and to bring coworkers together. I also really liked the weekly e-mails keeping everyone informed.
It was actually fun trying to lose weight with so many different people.
I have lost 55 pounds, I feel great!
This program really got me moving and invested in a new set of healthy habits.
I was already a steady exerciser, but happily notched up my hours as part of the program and went from an hour a day to about an hour and a half per day and lost about 8 pounds because of Shape Up RI.
It is motivating to be a part of a team with everyone working together to achieve similar goals.
Being part of Shape Up RI made me aware of the need to make time for exercise, even if it’s just a brisk walk.
I enjoyed being able to keep track of my progress and I especially enjoyed the opportunity to try new things and discover what programs are out there through the free workshops every week.
With the friendly competition at work, it made getting in shape fun and enjoyable.
I feel wonderful and I’m committed to continuing with a healthy lifestyle. I did not believe that I could do this but with the help of my group and the encouragement of this website, I made it through!! Thank you.
The program gave me extra incentive to get in better shape and to lose weight. Also as team captain I enjoyed encouraging my team to succeed.
I have used this to get moving more, quit smoking, and get ready for swimsuit season.
I have always considered myself in good shape and the proper weight, but not after seeing what I really do (or did not do). I am making an effort every day to increase my steps and hours on exercise. Weight is not a problem for me, but now I read food labels and pay attention to what I eat. I think with more people going through the program, we will all see a dramatic change in the population. Maybe it will rub off on the younger people that seem to all have the wrong habits. Great job and I look forward to it next year
I loved that this program, it brought people together in a positive way. The support system was a great help.
It was fun tracking my steps every day and challenging myself to go further
The pedometer definitely got me to walk more. I have always walked, but this made me more conscious of how far I was walking. I even took it with me when we went to Europe for a week.
Shape Up RI made me pay attention to what I was doing. I am determined to do more than 10000 steps each day from now on… We are determined at work NOT to have the junk food drawer… I am paying attention to the benefits of fruits and vegetables. Shape Up RI has made me open my eyes and try to live a better healthier life. I did good exercising and with my steps and that is a big plus in my life. THANK YOU!
It is a wonderful program, set up with helpful and motivational tips for anyone who wants or needs them. I was grateful for the team spirit to keep me on track.
I have lost 10 pounds and taken many inches off my waist. I would guess that I have lost 3 inches or 3 notches off of my belt. I feel much better and I am committed to continuing on with my exercise program. I have been walking while playing golf and carrying my bag. I had never considered carrying the bag as I thought I was too old. (65 years old). This program has made me realize that I can still tote it around while playing.
I like team challenge. It’s better than being alone on your own.
It is definitely a great motivational program! Shape Up RI really helped me to focus on riding my bike more. Monitoring my steps throughout the day helped me to get moving and do more walking which I really believe is so helpful for me in maintaining a healthy way of life. .-I always wanted to do something to be in shape this was a good thing now every morning I walk for 30 minutes where before I would do one or two days then stop now if I don’t do it I feel like something is missing so thank you Shape Up RI.
Shape Up RI motivated me to exercise almost every single day since the program started - something I have been unable to do on my own.
This was a wonderful experience for me, as it got me back into being a regular exerciser. I now have the confidence that I can stick with daily exercise as a part of my life.
It was just the motivation I needed to jump-start my weight loss - which I intend to continue throughout the summer!
I was able to lose 5 pounds just by walking and recording my steps on the pedometer. It provided me with a visual of my progress. Although I still have a long way to go, I am happy to have been able to accomplish what I have so far.
My reason for writing this letter is beyond congratulations for all members and thanking Shape Up RI but to recognize a team member who has truly been an inspiration to myself and others throughout this program. This person is the true team captain leading not only by his own example but by organizing team workout sessions over weekends, things to do on weekends so the team was together outside of the gym, and providing support for all team members along this lengthy journey towards increasing our health. As of today, April 24th, 2008, coming towards the end of the journey with Shape Up RI 2008, this team member now weighs in at 336 pounds! A weight loss with Shape Up RI of 92 pounds and a total weight loss of 116 pounds!!!!! His efforts and dedication have been an inspiration for myself, our team, and I hope that they can be an inspiration for others within and outside of this program.
2007- I would like to begin by thanking you for starting this wonderful program. It has truly made a difference in my life! Last November I went to my doctor feeling as though I was going to have a heart attack at any moment. I was getting chest pains and was tired and achy all the time. My weight had skyrocketed to the heaviest it had ever been. My father died of a heart attack at the age of 54, and since I am in my early 40s I was scared. After scheduling all the necessary tests and learning that I was OK, I decided it was time to change my unhealthy lifestyle. I planned to begin on New Years Day and that’s what I did. Shortly after, I read about Shape Up RI in the Providence Journal. I decided to find out more about the program and checked out the website. When I told my husband I wanted to join a team and asked him if he’d want to join too, he wasn’t interested but encouraged me to participate. Soon after, I had a follow up appointment with my doctor, to his surprise I had lost six pounds since my previous visit. I told him of my new goals and how I wanted to join a Shape Up RI team. He had never heard of the program. He pulled the website up on his computer and encouraged me to continue with my pursuit. Being leery of meeting strangers online, I hesitated. However, at the last minute, I took a chance and found a team of woman from a nearby town.
The impact of knowing you are part of something greater than yourself has been life changing. Because of our schedules, our team has never all met together. However, I would look forward to all the e-mail correspondence and tips people contributed. On days that I didn’t feel like exercising, I was spurred on knowing that I didn’t want to drag the team down. I have gone from not exercising at all to walking almost every day. Although I didn’t follow a formal weight loss program, I have changed my eating habits completely. I eat five small balanced meals a day and have switched to all whole grain carbohydrates. I eat fruits and vegetables and if I’m craving something sweet I only allow myself a portion. Even though I have hit plateaus and have gotten frustrated at times, I have lost a total of thirty two pounds since January 1st. My family has also been affected by these changes. My children are making healthier choices and my husband has started to go walking with me. At the beginning of May, I joined a six week walk for fitness program at work. This program hasn’t just been about losing the weight as much as it has been about taking back my health. I still have ninety pounds to lose, and I will because I have made a lifestyle change. Thank you for the newsletters, the vision, and the courage reach out to others! I can’t wait to join Shape Up RI 2008! Lifespan could not be more pleased with the participation of our employees in Shape Up RI. Over 2,200 employees participated on 222 teams—almost one in five of our staff. The impact of Shape Up RI on the health of our employees and the cost of the health insurance plan is incalculable.
On personal level, I am pleased to report that I met my healthy weight management goal of losing 22 pounds over the 16 week period. As a team leader, I felt a special responsibility to set a good example by achieving my personal goal. To sustain my weight loss, I plan to participate in the Lifespan-sponsored Stop Regain research project.
I have always been an active person, having been a runner and horseback rider for years. However, after training for and completing the Dublin Marathon in 2000 for the Arthritis Foundation Team, I took a break from running to recuperate my sore feet. The recuperation turned into a few years of lessened, but not sedentary, activity. In 2003, at the age of 32, I had a baby girl and tried hard to get off the baby weight, with only some success. My busy life got busier, because in addition to being a full-time mom, my one part-time job turned into one and a half full-time jobs.
Then exactly a year ago (May 22, 2006), I was told that I had cancer, non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. After several weeks of prepartory scans and tests, I began treatment in late July. I was determined to keep moving and be active. The six cycles of chemo over 18 weeks wore me down more than I had realized, but I did keep walking and bicycling as much as I could. Come December, I was declared cancer-free but had gained 15 pounds during chemo. Few, if any, of my clothes fit, and I was very out of shape. I had already made the proverbial New Year’s resolution to get in shape and lose weight when my mother asked if I wanted to join a Shape Up RI team. On New Year’s Day, I went to my local YMCA to start working on my resolution and found that I could hardly run at a 5 MPH pace for 3 minutes at a time.
I was excited to be accountable to my team for my progress and took to the Shape Up RI competition with vigor. I quickly learned how much activity I needed to get to my 10,000 steps per day. I also added strength training to my routine to try to build back all the muscle I had lost. Soon enough I moved from under 10,000 steps to over 16,000 per day. I estimate that I walked, jogged, biked, etc. over 766 miles in the past 16 weeks. I also joined SparkPeople.com for help with my nutrition and calorie awareness after Shape Up RI sent out the introductory email. With the help and motivation of Shape Up RI’s bi-weekly check in, I stayed on target and lost 20 pounds. And my crowning moment was that, on the last day of Shape Up RI, I ran 6 miles in 58 minutes. Thank you.
I am part one of the Kent Regency Rebels and would like to thank Chris O. for getting me invovled in Shape Up RI. I am a diabetic and my sugar levels have changed from 291 to 91 in the four months in this program. I have learned how to eat right and exercise. I think your program is great. Thanks for thinking about our health.
I had just begun going back to the gym again after a long time when I first heard about Shape Up RI. I tend to eat when stressed, which is compounded by hypothyroidism, a sit-down job, and a busy schedule. My team captain was already encouraging people to join and planning strategies for team success. I went home and broached the topic with my husband and teenage son. Both were willing to join so I signed all three of us up.
It’s been great! My captain, myself and several other members of my team began walking during our lunch hour several days a week. (We already walk on our morning break when weather and schedules permit.) Not only did I find myself in great company, I discovered some beautiful parts of the city that I didn’t realize existed.
My husband and I took to walking whenever time permitted as well—perhaps a half an hour at lunch or an hour after work. It’s fun and we will continue to do it.
My son is very competitive—he’d check my steps and would then run in place as long as necessary to beat my totals! This developed into a pretty intense competition at one point (round 3?). If he lost, the deal was he’d have to keep his room VERY clean for two weeks. (Unfortunately, he just barely won and I had a bit more to do…)
The program also helped me reach new heights at the gym. I began to go at night, instead of sitting down to watch TV. My gym has treadmills and elliptical machines with cable TV built into them! I’d pick an hour long show and spend a half hour on each machine. Now I spend an hour and a half on these machines. I have lost 14 pounds and gone down 2 pant sizes.
My husband was already pretty trim but still has lost a pant size. My teenage son—who was already running track and practicing karate when we began—put himself on a diet by eliminating sweets and soda. He has lost 25 pounds and dropped 2 pant sizes as well. He now reads food labels and makes better choices.
We think Shape Up RI is a great program. It’s been a lot of fun. Hats off to the creator; special thanks to my captain for all her efforts at keeping us motivated!
Congratulations again on a fabulous job. You change people’s lives, and very few in this world seize that opportunity—thank you.
I wanted to take the time to thank you for offering this program. I have been struggling with weight gain for the past 4-5 years. During that time I gained 37 pounds. Having stayed within 5 pounds of my usual weight most of my life, this had a tremendous effect on my health and outlook. I am only 5 foot 2 inches tall, and a 37 pound weight gain is huge on a small frame. I had been under a great deal of stress and long work hours, so eating was becoming the only thing I had time to do that brought me any pleasure. Your contest came at the perfect time. I had recently changed jobs and was now able to devote time to exercise if I could just get motivated. I also had applied to the Miriam Weight Loss Clinic for their Healthy Habits weight loss study, as well as signing up at work to do Shape Up RI. I thought they would start at the same time, but the weight loss program did not begin until April. Being althletic, I was anxious to get started with the Shape Up RI contest and see if I could begin to accumulate workout hours and pedometer steps. It was nice to have the support of co-workers during this entire time. The first week didn’t go that well, but every reporting period, I was losing weight and being active. I was mostly just walking for exercise, but I was doing it consistently and for at least 45 minutes. Halfway through the program I was feeling and seeing the difference. I have lost a total of 23 pounds and am down a clothing size. I can’t tell you how happy and how much healthier I already feel. I really didn’t think it was going to happen for me. I thought I was destined to be heavy for the rest of my life. I am motivated to finish what I have started. I have 12 more pounds to go. I know the good progress I began with Shape Up RI can be taken to the finish line with the Miriam Weight Loss study. Keep up the good work, and I hope to join in next year with the goal of maintaining my new healthy lifestyle.
The main reason I joined Shape Up RI was because at the beginning of the year I had already started a weight loss program of my own. I decided I could use all the help and encouragement I could get, so I joined. It was the best move I could have made, for the program helped me be more consistent with my exercise and food consumption.
At the beginning of the year I was 218 pounds, and I am now down to 193. It has been over 40 years since I have been under 200 pounds; and even though I have not attained my goal of 190 I know I will in time. For I am not stopping, even though the program comes to an end. As a matter of fact, my desire is to get down to 180 to 185, and I feel confident that will happen.
I haven’t felt this good physically and mentally in years. I will be 65 years old in August, and I feel more like I am in my 40s. So, thank you Shape up RI, and I hope many others have had good results also.
This is the first year that my organization has participated in Shape Up RI and we were able to recruit 80% of our employees. This experience has been nothing but rewarding and positive. As a team, our secret for success was having a strong, committed and motivated support system in place for each other. I am thrilled to say that every team member has lost weight and increased their physical activity. Our goal for next year is to recruit 100% of our employees to participate in Shape Up RI.
We plan on continuing to support and motivate each other even after the competition is over. Thank you again! I have lost 22 pounds since February 1st. It was a combination of exercise and good nutrition. Shape Up RI did give me some goals and, being part of a team, I wanted to hold up my end for the team. I needed to lose weight and this was a big help to me.
My name is Chris and I am a 42 year old male. I work at the Department of Corrections. 20 of our staff there decided to have a "biggest loser" contest and we put a little "prize" together for the 1st and 2nd place winners.
I initially weighed in on Dec. 31, 2006 at 223 lbs. and at 214 for the start of Shape Up RI. Through diet and exercise I lost 41 lbs. for our contest. I didn’t win a dollar prize, I came in 3rd, but I did win overall by bettering my health.
I have been maintaining my weight at 188 lbs. for over 6 weeks now. That’s 35 lbs! My wedding weight in 1989 was 185 lbs.
My pulse from a year ago dropped from 68 to 53, my bp from 120/82 to 114/76. My cholesterol is at 127.
I walk or run between 3 to 6 miles per day. I also try to fit in some daily exercises and light weight lifting. Most of all, I’ve been watching my diet. I miss those late night snacks, but I do reward myself periodically and faithfully weigh myself everyday. If I see a slight increase, I step back and look at what might’ve caused this and correct myself.
I feel great, get lots of compliments, and I am the study for my daughter’s high school exhibition.
To my fellow workers and Shape Up RI, thanks for the support and encouragement. Keep the faith, lose the weight, and keep on exercising.
I was excited to learn about Shape Up RI and knew immediately that I wanted to participate in the exercise category. Two of my children are accomplished runners and I felt this was my opportunity to improve my fitness level. I emailed a co-worker and, the next thing we knew, we had a team to join. I quickly became addicted to wearing the pedometer and drove my family crazy by saying "I haven’t reached 10,000 steps yet today. Will someone go for a walk with me?" It was great going to the Y with my son and daughter to use the treadmill and bike. While they trained for their next race, I got my 45 minutes of daily exercise in while reading case studies for my grad school classes. I loved sharing this time with them.
I have always enjoyed swimming, but never learned the correct strokes. I was invited to take adult swim lessons, which sounded great. The only catch was that they were at 5:15 AM! It took me a while to learn not to sleep through the alarm and get my courage up to join this very motivated group of swimmers—all of whom were accomplished runners and triathletes. Thank goodness they were very accepting of a novice like me. Prior to taking these lessons, I could barely swim two laps without getting completely winded.The first morning that I swam a mile was a big day for me.
I am grateful to Shape Up RI for instilling in me the urge to exercise daily and the desire to reflect the good exercise habits that my children already practice. I am more confident in my physical strength and abilities than I have ever been in my life. As a matter of fact, I was inspired to sign up for a triathlon this July with my daughter. For me, it’s not about being the fastest or most accomplished; I’ll just be thrilled to participate. Six months ago, I would have never thought this was possible.
Thank you, Shape Up RI! I joined Shape Up RI because of a sense of pride and a commitment to exercise and healthy lifestyle choices. Exercise is the best kept secret in the world! Those who say they have no time to exercise should follow me around for a week.
I was a" 5 million plus stepper" in this challenge and led my team to the top tenth percentile in the competition.
In the year 2000, I decided to change my life and dropped 100 pounds by healthy eating and exercise. I did not join a support group, did not join a gym, and did not undergo surgery. I simply made up my mind that I needed to work hard at this personal goal. My family and friends were the most supportive people in the world! My average-weight husband has lost 25 pounds along with me. Go figure! He was and is the best support there could ever be! We ate more salad and chicken than you could ever imagine. Seven years later, I have managed to maintain that weight loss by a strong commitment to exercise and healthy food selections (and proper serving sizes). 1200 calories per day sounds like a lot, but try counting it out and see what it really amounts to.
For me, exercise is as automatic as breathing. I walk a minimum of 6 miles a day, seven days a week. I start my day at 4:15 AM on the treadmill, where I am now able to jog. For the remainder of my walks, I head outside where you can see me in the rain and snow doing "my miles". My neighbors know me as "The Walker." The bonus has been that I have met the most wonderful people as I trek across the streets. The downside is finding time. I work an average of 60 hours each week so it is easy to say, "I have no time and I am tired." I NEVER allow timing to keep me from my workouts. My walk time is sacred and I always manage to find the time to get it all in. You would be surprised how much time you can find if you cut back on TV.
My secret is enjoying working out, not viewing exercise as a chore or burden. We vacation each year in Florida with dear friends. I have joined a group of walkers who put in 10K every other day. At 90 degrees, that is surely an accomplishment and the amazement is that I can keep pace with even the seasoned walkers and lead the pack!
The bottom line is that health feels great! My outlook is better, my relationships are stronger, and I can’t wait to get outside and wear out another pair of sneakers. There was no secret recipe, diet or wisdom for me. I still need to lose more weight but find that it is SO HARD to do anything more than maintain what I have dropped to date. It’s not about size, it’s about health! Lifespan is extremely supportive and encouraging for those who wish to embark on lifestyle changes. I say, GO FOR IT—YOU ARE WORTH IT! Anyone want to go for a stroll? Thank you! I found myself very overweight and my health was in trouble. I started on blood pressure medication last October, it took 3 increases to bring my pressure down. I signed up for a class at work called "weight to go". This was offered by our Health & Wellness department at Blue Cross Blue Shield were I work as a medical underwriter. The initial visit was very sobering for me, they took my weight and measured all parts of my body. Needless to say I was shoacked. So I began! And here I am on May 21, 2007, 39 pounds lighter and no longer on any medication. I can run about 4 to 5 miles and also have been biking alot. I have really enjoyed working out and also getting our team together at work, we are called The Boomers. We all feel great and are so glad we participated in Shape Up RI. We make sure that we get out at lunch and do some kind of exercise every day not to mention what we do on our own time at home. Thanks for everything!
I once a day take morning walks. I have been doing this for a few years. I usually average about 19,000 to 20,000 steps per day—about 5-6 miles. It has been a pleasure to participate and I’m hoping to do it again in the future. In the past year I managed to keep my weight down and lost 25 ibs from March 2006.
I joined Shape Up RI because I felt that I needed to get motivated and moving! When the cold weather set in last fall, I found it more difficult to make time to walk with my husband after work. Frankly, I was frustrated with myself for making so many excuses for not exercising. I found through these last five months, that I wasn’t moving enough, and using the pedometer increased my awareness of this.
By joining Shape Up RI, I now am in the habit of moving whether it be dancing in front of the TV with a music channel on, or walking. Our team leader was instrumental in keeping me on target by her frequent emails and words of encouragement. The Shape Up RI emails also reminded me to keep up my exercising.
The best tool that I discovered throughout this process, however, was the Log Book. It made me accountable to myself and my team members; therefore, it made me even more determined to increase my movements on a daily basis.
Thank you so much for starting Shape Up RI; I have already decided to take part next time around, and I have recommended this program to many friends. I have had a great experience with Shape Up RI. I have been trying to get more active this year, because as I get older it I find it is very easy to put on weight and harder to take it off if I do not remain active. My health in general is good so I really had no excuse for not getting active each and every day, but I sometimes lacked the incentive to exercise. The program gave me a new goal, to include some type of exercise in my daily routine, each and every day. Joining with my fellow employees gave me a support base to help me to keep on going. I have definitely made a life change and now I cannot go a day without incorporating exercise into it. I had started with 10,000 Step a Day and now am working with a personal trainer here at Citizens Bank PerfectlyFitRI to incorporate some new exercise into my daily routine using core strengthening, weights and stretching. L. and S. here at the gym are very supportive and knowledgeable and they make the classes and workouts fun. I have lost weight and feel great! I have also signed up to take part in the Stop Regain program through the Weight control and Diabetes Research Center to help keep my weight off. By joining in the Shape Up RI I feel I have made a very positive STEP to a healthier life style!
I was so happy to be part of Shape Up RI. It was my first year and it will not be my last. In the cold months my steps were below my goal but as soon as the warm weather came I went beyond my goal. I lost 10 lbs. and am so happy. I weigh 108 lbs. and 30 years ago I weighed 210 lbs. I never want to gain weight again. But it’s hard. After Christmas I had weighed 128 and lost 10 lbs. before I joined Shape Up RI. The program helped me lose the weight and exercise more.
I started January 1, 2007 on my long journey of losing weight. I started at 300 lbs. and no motivation. I first started by changing what I ate, how much I ate and what I drank. The first month was the hardest. I started eating the proper portion sizes and that felt like I was starving at first. I used to drink at least a case of soda each day. Then I started to do some walking and crunches and push ups to go along with my dietary changes, and in the first couple of months I lost about 40 lbs. Then Shape Up RI started I figured that maybe with the help of a team I could stay on track. So I joined up and I started to walk more. I even started to ride my bicycle to work, and when I do that I have more energy when I am at work then if I take my car. All in all I lost another 20 lbs. in Shape Up RI. Now that the program is ending I will keep working hard to get myself down to a healthy weight. Since January 1, I have lost a total of 60 lbs. and I use that as my motivator to keep me going.
I just had my second baby within the past 3 years and was looking for a way to bring physical activity back into my life (as well as get rid of the baby weight). The Shape Up RI program gave me the support I needed to get started and stay motivated. Receiving the routine emails was a great reminder and a great way for me to feel accountable (to myself and my team). I have lost weight (6 lbs.) and am still working toward my goal (another 5 lbs.) I have increased my exercise from 0 minutes/day to at least 15-30 minutes/day. I have started walking instead of riding and taking the stairs instead of the elevator. I am now making myself a priority and waking up early so I can get in some activity and using my lunch hours at work to take a yoga class and hopefully soon some personal training and time at the gym.
Shape Up RI has been a great support! Prior to knowing about Shape Up RI, I made a commitment to myself to lose the extra weight and live a healthy life style. I have four beautiful grandchildren and want to enjoy them as long as I can. I decided to join to give myself a "boost" to keep going. I have always believed in exercise but like most people I fell by the wayside only to start over again and again once I was back to the unhealthy life style. Having the support of team members has made it much easier to stay on track. I feel great, have lots of energy, sleep well and walk 3-4 miles most days. I occasionally miss a day and I do mean "miss" it when I don’t do it. Since January 1, 2007, I have lost 20 pounds, and walked 400-500 miles. My blood pressure is great, no shortness of breath, my total cholesterol is down to 127, (with medication and walking) from a high of 304. Thank you Shape Up RI for teaching the people of RI how to take care of themselves.
Who would have thought that at 53 years old with borderline diabetes, hypertension and extremely high cholesterol, as well as overall stiffness, aches and pains, I could experience a more pleasant lifestyle just by "stepping" into it! I have lost 15 lbs. and am still losing (my goal is 30 lbs. off). I have more energy and am feeling a whole lot better about myself, overall.
My purpose in participating is merely to be in the best condition possible for a woman my age. I am very realistic. I will never be 20 again and I accept it. My goal is to prevent becoming a vegetable in a senior citizen’s home by age 65. I want to live! Since joining I have participated in walk-a-thons, encouraged others to walk, and I joined a fitness club! I look forward to getting up every morning without feeling twinges and pains in my joints. Before joining Shape Up RI, I had gotten to the point where I was taking ibuprophen at night and in the morning because of stiff achy joint pain. No more! Stepping has become a way of life for me—whether I have my pedometer on or not! Thank you for putting this wonderful program together—it was easy and I thoroughly enjoy it!
Thank you, for the opportunity to be a part of this great exercise campaign. I truly enjoyed sharing my daily workouts with team members and watching them make a sincere effort to make exercising a part of their regimen. Weight training has been a part of my life that has made me feel good about myself physically, and mentally preparing me for my daily challenges both at home and work. Compliments are frequent, inspirational, and my personal rewards for my hard work and dedication to staying lean and strong. Your Shape Up RI campaign has encouraged me to work even harder inspiring my team members and giving them a better understanding of the importance of taking care of themselves. Looking forward to the next one.
I joined so that I could change my daily habits. I normally eat fast, pick the wrong choices, don’t take in enough water and complaining that I do not have enough time for exercise.
Since joining the program, I have been faithfully wearing the pedometer, (right out of the shower), I have made time for walking, I look at the pedometer often and make sure it reaches the 10,000 steps and more if possible. I do eat slower and I have put very little "junk food" into this body since then.
I am in the "mid-life change" cycle at this time and that alone is not a happy time with weight gain, mood swings and those horrible "hot flashes". So, with all of that said, I am glad to be on the right track with changing my daily habits. I would like to continue to wear the pedometer, keep track myself of the steps and want to thank whoever thought of this wonderful idea to get a lot of people involved in this program. I think it is working for a lot of us. Thank you for bonding our community in such a positive manner. This has been a wonderful experience, I have enjoyed it thoroughly!
My father-in-law shared the information with me and asked if I wanted to be on his Shape Up RI team. I immediately responded and was ready to take on the challenge.
I am actually sad it is coming to a closing, it has been my constant reminder to exercise and keep moving on my steps. It has been fun to challenge myself daily on steps and make sure I reach my goals. As of right now I have lost 8-9 pounds depending on the day and I want to continue losing. I will keep wearing my pedometer and continue to be a member of the gym. I am also excited that since Shape Up RI I have been running. When we started in January I could barely get through 2 miles, I have accomplished 5 miles now and I am training to run the Blessing of the Fleet in July. It is a 10 mile run and I am hoping to reach that goal.
Without the Shape Up RI program I would have never even reached for that goal, so thank you for this positive experience and pushing me to exercise. I can’t wait for next year.
I just wanted to say that the Shape Up RI program has really changed my life! I had tried so many times to try and lose weight but after a couple of days/weeks I would always revert back to my old unhealthy habits. Since starting this program I have lost over 25 lbs. and I feel great! I have learned to alter my lifestyle and I have successfully started an exercise regimen that I follow daily.
I had all sorts of health problems due to my weight and I am happy to say that my knees never felt better and my blood pressure has gone down! Before starting this program I had all sorts of excuses as to why I couldn’t exercise. I was in constant pain and could not sleep at night so I was contemplating surgery on my knees, however, since I have begun your program and actually started using the Bally’s membership that I was paying for, I am happy to say that my knees are 100% better and I have more energy then ever before!
In closing, I know that I will continue to follow the program and hope to loose at least an additional 35-40 lbs. Thank you for giving me the jump start that I really needed!
Well, Let me begin by saying that this program has helped me to shed the last few pounds I needed to shed. I have been consistent in maintaining a healthy diet, full of fruits, vegetables and poultry. Other proteins including nuts (almonds), spinach, etc. has helped me. Not to mention all the helpful tips included with the absolutely wonderful lunch bag!
Two years ago, I was put on medication which made me retain a lot of water, and I felt I was always hungry; not to mention weighing 230 lbs. Fed up last year, I was then put on different medication. Shortly after, the pounds started to shed right off. I now weigh 160 lbs.! Shape Up RI has helped me keep off the weight, maintain a healthy diet, and has helped me with the last 20 lbs.!
After I quit smoking, I gained so much weight I could not stand it anymore. I tried everthing to lose the weight but I couldn’t do it, so I just stopped trying. Then one day at work my boss had asked us if we wanted to join Shape Up RI. Right away I said I would give it a try. With their help and support I have lost a total of 22 lbs. and 15 inches off my body. I have to say I feel great! But I would not have been able to do this without the support of my co-workers; without them I would not have come as far as I have right now, we worked together to get were we are today, it wasn’t easy but we did it. So for that I want to say thank you to them and Shape Up RI for helping me to get were I am today!
I joined my team at work for the first time in January of 2007. I was not looking to lose any weight, just get healthier. Someone would see my wristband and almost always ask, "Why?, You don’t need to lose weight!" I explained over and over that it was "Shape Up RI" not "Lose Weight RI" and although losing weight is part of the program, it is not the only part! My team decided we were not going to participate in the weight loss challenge, as half of the team were interested in only the exercise/pedometer portion.
The other struggle was actually doing the exercises! After being sedentary for so long, it is not easy to change one’s habits. I set my goals low to start with, because I did not want to discourage myself. Each 2 week session I would raise them a little so I would still challenge myself. It became fun to see how far away I could park or how many twists I could take in my walk through my office-just to add pedometer steps! It got easier to do the 30 minute exercise program each week, until I actually joined a local gym! I believe having a group of friends at work who were trying to do the same thing I was helped me along. We all supported and encouraged each other and tried to motivate each other when we needed it. One thing that helped keep me motivated was how my clothes fit better. A lot of my teammates were saying they don’t see the pounds coming off, but their clothes were feeling less snug. It was also noticeable after the first month that I had more energy and didn’t get as winded as I used to. I also took my measurements at the beginning, middle and end of the program and took pride in even the smallest change for the better. I have copied the log sheets without any dates on them in the hopes I will continue to use them as a motivational tool for me. And I look forward to next year’s Shape Up RI challenge!
06 - "I first got involved with the Shape Up RI program last spring when my workplace sent out a notice about the Shape Up RI weight loss and activity competitions. I had been trying to lose weight on my own since the first of the year and I wasn’t having much success. I thought the team approach might provide some added support and the contest was incentive, so I formed a team with 9 of my co-workers to participate in the Weight Loss Challenge. As a team we lost a total of 136 pounds in 12 weeks (6.61% of our total starting body weight) and placed 5th in the state. And it was FUN!" "I am diabetic, asthmatic and hypertensive, not a good combination for a middle-aged person. This program has provided me with support, information, and a fun atmosphere to reach my fitness goals. The next time they launch the challenge our team will participate in both the Weight Loss and Exercise categories."
"Shape Up RI is not a diet or exercise plan. It is a forum for the exchange of information and a challenge to the state to improve its overall health. It is a grass roots organization that calls upon the citizens to do something positive and improve their lives. A similar program in the state of Arkansas a couple of years ago also yielded great results. For me this is the beginning of a total lifestyle change. I am focused on the value of physical exercise and health." "The Shape Up program doesn’t tell you how to lose weight or how much to exercise. It provides you with resources to get information on those things and then challenges you to succeed at your personal goals."
"The closing ceremony was great. Thanks for the inspiration. I lost 34 ponds with Shape Up RI. My team I know came in third. But we made friends along the way."
"I want to thank you again for all your imagination and hard work in putting together the Shape Up RI program. My team definitely benefitted from this program and we will continue to stay physically active. Everyone at work has been congratulating us all day and coming to my office to see our award. My team has been encouraging others to sign up the next time you start the program because it is a great program with proven great results."
"I would like to extend our many thanks to you. You gave me and my team a wonderful opportunity to come together as one and to have lots of fun while losing our weight. Many of us have spoken of losing weight and like most people feel it is wonderful to have someone w/us. To help us, listen to us and be a companion and a motivator. This is something that you helped us to achieve."
"The Shape Up RI program has changed my health and well being. I want to thank you for getting me motivated."
"Thank you for getting Shape Up RI started. I have lost 10 lbs and I am really motived. It helps being on a team and knowing that your team is counting on you."
"First, let me thank you for spearheading this initiative. I know that I wasn’t exercising at all and was mentally beating myself up because I wasn’t before Shape Up RI started. Now, I’m varying my workouts to keep them interesting and have committed to doing *something* 5 times a week. I feel better; my teammates and I are having fun challenging each other; and I find my kids exercising with me now and having fun with it (ages 3, 5, and 6)."
"Since joining Shape Up RI I have gone from exercising 0 hours a week to between 6 and 9 hours a week, I eat much healthier and motivate my team to do the same. I have noticed the changes in our team’s way of thinking about food and activity time. Our team holds weekly meetings to discuss any helpful hints we may have or suggestions for problems we are experiencing. We also have a walking club that walks everyday during lunch, on top of their daily exercise program. The team is giving a great effort, I am proud of their hard work and dedication."
"Shape Up RI has really motivated me, my fellow co-workers as well as my family to eat healthier and feel better about ourselves!! We are having so much fun sharing new recipes and ideas to help each other! I really enjoy my time exercising and listening to music, it helps to relieve all my tensions."
"Shape Up RI has aided in me gathering the enthusiasm and initiative to finally lose some much needed weight. I have turned my eating habits around, stopped being a couch potato and have made strides to make this a life style change and not a diet. Working with my co-workers as a team has helped me in not wanting to ‘let my team down’. Even my non-dieting husband enjoys all the healthy meals that are now being prepared at home!"
"Shape Up RI has helped me turn my unhealthy life style around. I have changed my eating habits, and I now exercise 5 to 6 times a week. I have the support of my team mates and we all try to encourage one another at our weekly meetings. I actually enjoy my new healthier lifestyle."
"Meeting with my fellow team members has been great! I’ve enjoyed having the opportunity to share ideas on eating healthy and exercising. And best of all, I have a constant reminder to drink my water!!"
"I made a commitment to change my lifestyle in 2006. I have started Pilate’s classes and can’t wait for spring so that I can take my little dog for some nice walks. I had been stuck in a rut of bad eating habits and no activity for quite a few years. Being on a great team gives me the encouragement and support I need to keep my goals in sight."
"Shape Up RI has helped me focus on maintaining a healthier lifestyle. I have been able to maintain my new eating habits and exercise program with the help and support of my team mates and the information and helpful tips provided by Shape Up RI."
"I have become much more dedicated to eating better and exercising regularly while keeping a positive attitude. This has all happened due to my colleague’s excitement and encouragement to be a part of Shape Up RI. Through their support and guidance and our weekly support meetings, I am making lifestyle changes for the better not only for myself but for my family."
"Please thank the entire Shape Up RI team for a fun event today. My family really enjoyed it. I have never seen my 6 year old son eat a salad so heartily! I really appreciate all of the effort and organization you have put into this initiative."
"Shape Up RI is a wonderful opportunity to get Rhode Islanders in shape—talking about it, doing it and feeling good about it."
"Weighing in at 248 pounds and only 5’0 tall, I am a 35 year old woman primed for many health issues if I keep this up. Thank you for giving me a reason, a goal if you will, to get moving."
"It has been fun to see co-workers planning, and getting excited about which team is going to beat out the competing teams for bragging rights! We are looking into some options to possibly obtain pedometers for each participant to encourage the activity portion. The other nice opportunity this program has accomplished is that the teams are not only teams of friends and immediate co-workers but of employees from various programs/depts that would not typically work with one another. Hoping this facilitates more friendships, team building, and improved morale in an often stressful environment, etc. Thanks again for all your help!"