The journey of several WMHS employees as they get ready for a 5K!

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

What was I thinking?

Yesterday I filled in the paperwork to register my participation in the Get Ready for a 5K. WHAT THE HECK WAS I THINKING!!!!!????!!!!??

I believe there is nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it....except forcing myself to exercise. LOL!

So why did I put myself up for doing this? Well there are a couple of reasons. First I really do believe that in my position of VP, Operations I should be a role model. I think I achieve that regarding Service Excellence (if you disagree, keep it to yourself please! Just kidding) as well as other things related to our core values and mission.  BUT.... Now with the triple aim of health care, population health is important and as with many things starting with yourself is often the key to reaching out to others. 

Now I imagine those who have known me since I started working at WMHS know that I have lost a lot of weight but just to fill all of you in I had weight loss surgery (duodenal switch {DS} http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duodenal_switch
in August of 2007.  I lost around 180 pounds give or take a few over the years depending on whether the Joint Commission is here and it is donut for breakfast, lunch and dinner time!!  I am a stress eater and nothing is EVER going to really change that!! 

Now I want to weigh under 200 pounds in the worse way. In my DS groups we refer to that as being in Onderland).  I am not greedy and would settle for weighing 199.99999999999.  

I have been unable to get there and I now want to be there so bad. I have slowly come to the realization that I will be unable to reach that goal by changes in my eating habits alone (more the pity). That realization coupled with a very impassioned presentation by my buddy Kevin Turley about setting the example for employees by embracing exercise as leaders of this organization finally galvanized me into action. So later that day when I saw the application for this 5K race I said to myself I am doing this. I figured with a program to gear up under watchful eyes there is a chance I won't kill my knees or myself!!

And so here I find myself, committed because I filled out the paperwork, bought a new pair of walking shoes and socks and told people because I can't keep my mouth shut!! OY!! (If you plan on following my journey by reading my blog you will see OY a lot.  It is a Jewish expression meaning (OMG what was I thinking or conversely OMG what were YOU thinking or OMG fill in what ever you want! LOL!!) you get the drift. 

Kevin also told me that there was going to be a chance for people to blog and while I have never done such a thing before, God knows I always have something to say! I thought keeping a blog of this journey would help me achieve this goal. And I hope all of you will follow my journey and support me as I undertake this ambitious goal for me. 

More soon!! 

-Jo Wilson 

Couch to 5K

WMHS has begun promoting "Run For the Health of It." This includes a 12 week program called Get Ready for a 5K, to prepare anyone associated with WMHS for the Great Allegany Run, a 5K Race on October 5th.  The program is open to physicians, employees, volunteers and board members and it's free.  Each participant can also bring a friend.  The program walks you through how to properly prepare for a run, running nutrition and terminology.  The 12-week program culminates with the 5K race in October.  I am looking forward to participating, provided my body cooperates.
This new blog will give you the chance to follow us as we "Run for the Health of it!"
-Barry P. Ronan