It’s a new year. Could it be time for a new you, too? If so, join The Sonoma Valley Sun as we embark on a new community-wide health and fitness initiative called Shape Up Sonoma. We’ve brought together some of Sonoma’s leaders, each of whom is up for the challenge of leading a healthier lifestyle – see the profiles below. Our group will team up with local nutrition coach Heather Morgan as she guides each participant on his or her own individual journey. Heather is the host of Body Talk on SunFM 91.3 on Tuesday afternoons and writes a monthly column of the same name for The Sun (see page 33 for this week’s column). Her no-nonsense approach to health and fitness combines with her positive attitude toward life to bring a fresh aspect to our challenge.
But don’t let the word challenge lead you to think of the television show, The Biggest Loser. Shape Up Sonoma isn’t about weight loss. It’s about leading a healthy lifestyle regardless of your age, shape or size.
So make your own commitment to get started on the road to a healthier life. We invite you to join us on our journey and to check back regularly to see who else is taking the challenge and the fun programs we’ve got going.
Go to our website for regular updates and watch the pages of The Sun as well. We’re in this together so let’s Shape Up Sonoma!
Members
Age: 39
Occupation: Sonoma Valley High School principal
Health and fitness goals: Get healthy and drop weight.
Why: I think this will be a whole lot easier to do with a team. I’ve been this way all my life and I’m excited about making this change. I’m really looking forward to the challenge.
Age: 47
Occupation: Editor, Sonoma Valley Sun newspaper and small business owner
Health and fitness goals: To expand my knowledge of healthy living through Heather’s leadership and to support our Shape Up Sonoma team members.
Why: God only gave me one body so I’d better take care of it!
Age: 63
Occupation: Sonoma City councilmember and host and producer of Mornings in Sonoma on SunFM 91.3 radio
Health and fitness goals: To continue on my journey of healthy living.
Why: I began on the path to better health and diet regulation with Heather Morgan exactly one year ago. I need to continue and find it easier to be part of a group of like-minded folks.
Age: 59
Occupation: Finance manager at Sonoma Charter School and current Mayor of Sonoma
Health and fitness goals: I started walking for exercise late last summer and was up to three miles a day, five days a week, which was a goal I met. Inclement weather and bronchitis derailed me a bit but I’m ready to continue again. My son is a personal trainer and he designed a weight loss strategy with an exercise component. Keeping a food diary helped me realize that I’m eating the right things, but I do need to do the exercise to lose weight.
Why: When I visited South Korea last year I decided that it was time to get fit in order to continue to travel and keep up with my current busy schedule. The support of a group is something that I feel is very helpful for me to make exercise an incorporated effort in my life.
Age: 48
Occupation: Superintendent of the Sonoma Valley Unified School District
Health and fitness goals: I would like to have an exercise routine in place which I actually follow! I am a member of the Agua Caliente Aquatic Center and I love going there, but can’t find the time to make it happen. I’m too tired in the evening and I’m working in the early mornings. I need help!
In terms of Health – I would like a strategy to cook healthy meals for my family and plan on having family dinners three to four nights a week (that can include weekends) and I would like to have a lunch ready to take to work each day (which actually includes healthy foods). I would also like to eliminate all soda from my diet (this will be very difficult!) My other challenge is strategically shopping at the grocery store and actually planning meals for the week.
Why: I’m interested in joining the group because I think it’s the support which helps you be successful. Going it alone is tough and it’s too easy to fall back into bad habits!
Age: 63
Occupation: Fundraiser and Sonoma Valley Hospital boardmember
Health and fitness goals: To reduce or discontinue the medications I am taking with an extra benefit of weight loss.
Why: I’ve been walking two miles a day and I go to Curves three days a week, which I’d like to continue. I’m really excited about Shape Up Sonoma and would love to see and be a part of walking groups and other programs. Again, I’d really like to eliminate or reduce the dosages of medication I am taking and if I lose weight, even better for me.
Age: 52
Occupation: Public Works Director, City of Sonoma
Health and fitness goals: My health goals are to get healthy, as my weight crept up so did my cholesterol, and blood sugar. When I was told that I was borderline diabetic I freaked since my father lost a leg to diabetes. I am committed to being a positive role model for my daughters, my crew and my community.
Why: I have worked hard this year to overcome a significant weight gain over the past five years, stress to me equals food! Since May I have lost 62 pounds but have reached a plateau. My fitness goals at first were to just walk around the block; I increased it over time to a 4-mile walk four to five times a week. This past two months, I have not been putting out the effort and I need to get back on track. I am excited to be a part of Shape Up Sonoma!
a.k.a. Popo the Clown
Age: 59
Occupation: Children’s entertainer, SunFM radio host of Afterschool with Popo and author of The Fat Ass Cookbook
Health and fitness goals: I want to be healthier. I don’t want to be out of breath climbing the stairs. I want to live longer for my kids.
Why: I think it’s time for me to get the whole thing in check in terms of my body and health. I’m always so busy that I put myself last and I need to put myself first for once.
This seems really neat, but why don’t you have anyone under 35 years old, or conversely over 65? Some of us want to get fit too!
The effort is just beginning, and welcomes people of all ages! In fact, our columnist Joan Huguenard just joined, and we have some teens coming on board, too.
Hi Elizabeth,
Anyone can join.
Our latest member is 71.
Visit http://shapeup.sonomaportal.com/ to join.
This is just the beginning, much more to come.