Total Posts: 50
8.5 Months Ago

I'm Alex and I work at CDFA in Human Resources. I obtained one of the memberships offered by Secretary Kawamura and I think this is a great site. The one thing that is missing for me is all of you! I don't know who from the Department is out here (except for Gerry Miller..hi Gerry!). So I thought I would start this thread to see if I could connect with any of you and we can share goals and motivate each other and maybe get to know each other a little.

A little about me: I started my journey to good health back in November 2006. I became ill and took three consecutive trips to the ER before being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. I was more than scared, I was scared straight! I was prescribed diabetes medication and also high blood pressure medication. That very day, I stopped eating refined sugar, started cooking and eating mostly at home and tried to get exercise but it was very hard as I was very overweight and tired all of the time. I persisted in my new eating habits and the weight started coming off slowly (diabetes meds either make you gain or make it more difficult to lose weight). After about 5 months, I started feeling better so in July 2007, I started walking one mile a day (and even that was a challenge) and I made it through the entire month of July and didn't miss one single day of walking! I was so proud and was able to add another mile. Well by October, I was walking 4 miles a day and feeling great. As a result, the day before Thanksgiving 2007, I had lost 60lbs and was taken off of my diabetes medication, woo hoo!!! I'm down 75lbs now and still going. My blood pressure meds were recently reduced to one pill (my doc says to protect my kidneys). My doctor calls me her success story. So I am really thankful to have this opportunity to be a member of fitness journal and really applaud Secretary Kawamura's committment to good health for all of us. I'm feeling better than I can ever remember and am looking forward to reaching my weight loss goal by the end of this year. I'm looking forward to meeting other CDFA'ers and hearing your stories and goals as we work together to be healthy and live good long lives!

Alex

Total Posts: 227
8.5 Months Ago

g

Total Posts: 4
7.9 Months Ago

I'm Kapua and I work for CDFA - Border Stations/Exterior

My story starts about 5 1/2 yrs ago. I moved back to Sacramento and tore my achilles. While I opted not to have surgery the downfall was mobility was limited for a long time. Gained 25 lbs. With that came some depression and my favoritre friends Ben and Jerry's stood by me through the WHOLE recovery. Then came trying to quit smoking. Man I tell you for 9 months I did great. Gained another 10 lbs. Then my second and final attempt at quitting smoking. I've been smoke free for over 9 months now (Quit date June 6, 2007). Gained another 30 lbs. So with that here I am. Trying to lose it for my final time. Just like smoking :-)

I met Gerry through the Got Bike club here at CDFA. What a great guy. And in saying that I had started biking to work. I haven't started up again with the good weather. But next week I plan on making it a regular routine again. I like biking to work. It helps save me in many ways. One is that I get some cardio exercise in for the day and it helps to reduce my stress and most importantly I save a lot of money and the environment by riding to work.

Although I haven't made much progress losing weight I have made other changes in my life over this last year by starting a less stressful job working here at CDFA and I quit smoking. So not bad for 2007. So my goal for this year 2008 is to be able to walk/run a half marathon. Not impossible but it's an attainable goal and I'm looking forward to the challenge.

Let's get moving folks!

HUGS

Kapua

Total Posts: 227
7.9 Months Ago

g

Total Posts: 1
7.9 Months Ago

My name is Amanda Bourne and I work with the Executive Office of CDFA, I am 29 and have been semi successfully trying to lose wait ever since I blew my knee out 2 years ago. I know Gerry through the Got Bike and look forward to meeting more people to work together with towards our goals.

Total Posts: 2
7.9 Months Ago

I lost 32 lbs. of my 50 lb goal by my 40th birthday on March 5th and now have a new goal of 43 Lbs lost by Nov. 8, 2008, my trip to the Bahamas.

This website is a great help, and all the inspirational stories are a big help, thanks for sharing and Good Luck to all of us!

Catherine

Total Posts: 1
7.9 Months Ago

Kate ;)

Total Posts: 227
7.9 Months Ago

gerry

Total Posts: 4
7.9 Months Ago

Anyone up for a walk during a break or lunch? Give me a call! Let's go walking....it's been great weather for it!

Looking forward to getting to know you all better! Good luck! Buenos Suertes and any other way you want to say it! :-)

Have a great day!

Kapua

Total Posts: 2
7.9 Months Ago

Kate, How do I find the eating clean diet by Tosca Reno, I would do anything to have less migraines!

Thanks,

Catherine

Total Posts: 3
7.9 Months Ago

I'm Katie Fears and I've been with CDFA for 18 years... Yikes!!! (I started at 10... that's my story and I'm sticking to it!) I work in the Office of Information Technology Services, Client Services Section, and my primary responsibility is to manage IT projects.

I think this site is great and I want to thank Secretary Kawamura for his dedication to good health and well being.

Wow... you have all inspired me today! Thank you so much for sharing your stories so candidly. Guess I'd better share mine =)

Right now I have more clothes in my closet that DON'T fit than fit. I experinece a clothing crisis each day when I have to get out of my pj's and bunny slippers to get dressed and face the world. Then there's the scale.... ugh!!! Why does the scale in the doctor's office always have to be so darn accurate, and does the nurse really have to record that number on my sacred chart????

This past year has been a difficult one for me and I've experienced health issues that have taken their tole. I'm a classic over-achiever, type A, perfectionist, etc., and I've managed to burn out myself and my thyroid. I now have three doctors: an internest, an endocronologist, and a psychiatrist - someone's gotta keep my head on straight! Needless to say, I'm a walking pharmacy by 6 a.m. EVERY DAY. AND, to top it off, I just turned 40 in November.

Through a lot of trial and error, I think my docs have finally agreed on the right combination of meds and I am finally feeling better. I am going to the gym again 3 to 4 days a week before work. I am trying to be honest with myself about my diet and tracking my "points" using my online subscription to Weight Watchers. I have accepted the fact that it is my responsibility to get back into those clothes that are hanging in the closet gathering dust along the hanger-lines. (I am going to have one heck of a dry cleaning bill when I can actually wear my clothes again!)

My goal is to donate my fat jeans and baggy shirts to Good Will by mid-summer. I guess I should let my husband keep his shirts that I adopted in the midst of a crisis. I am looking forward to this opportunity to keep in touch with each of you as we work toward our individual goals.

Best wishes for a fantastic day!

Katie