Allan and Janice Mattrick train with B.C. Lions’ player, Barron Miles, and trainer, Shirley Wong

The new millenium has spotlighted health issues for the Mattrick family. Allan takes medication to control high cholesterol, his wife Janice underwent heart surgery to repair a heart valve and the couple’s son was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Needless to say, the family’s health challenges have placed an emphasis on the need to maintain a healthy lifestyle and they are fully committed to doing so!

First Experiences…

Several observations on embarking on the program -

 

1) ”Making the Connection” has really served as a catalyst to take action. While we both share an awareness to make the right choices / need for a health life style we lacked a change agent to get moving. The program served as a focal point to take action. 

 

2) ”Making the Connection” has uncovered a deeper appreciation and understanding of what it means to maintain a health life style / health heart. It has really forced us to walk the walk (literally) rather than talk the talk. Seems that many of our contacts (as we used to) share knowledge about the right choices but do not apply them daily. 

 

3) A real appreciation for food choices and nutrition especially in what constitutes / totals intake versus output (exercise) and a better understanding of how the body performs. 

 

4) The role that discipline plays. For me (Al) “Making the Connection” program underpinned a charity fundraiser that I entered concurrently when the ”CFL Challenge” contest was first announced. Initiating the required 4 1/2 month training program was an eye opener for the need to commit to the program, particularly exercise. As result I was able to achieve my goal and rode my bike 100 miles in 7 1/2 hours this past week in Hawaii. (Century ride) Concurrently it served as a motivation for my wife (Jan) to really commit and get moving. 

In the past it was to easy to postpone exercise activity – now it is a priority.

 

5) We feel better for it.

 

Round 2

 

Time flies.

 

This week was the final review session for the competition portion of the program including final measurements. Initially the thought came to mind that if anything the program (competition portion) was too short to have any significant impact. However upon reflection there has been a huge impact albeit unmeasurable. Now that we are on a roll and engaged in an action plan we have made life style changes (diet / exercise) that are now ingrained into our daily routine. The flame has been lit.  

 

Poor choices and inaction of the past have been replaced with right choices and action for today.

 

Guilt has even worked its way into the equation if a work out is missed. 

 

Awareness has been heightened. Those acquaintances (new and old) who have become aware of our participation / commitment to the program have commented on the need for them to mobilize as well. And many of them are doing so. And we continue to gain a better understanding of nutrition in the role for a health heart. 

 

For us final measurements do not mean program end – on the contrary they will only serve as a snapshot of today and a benchmark to measure against in the future. 

 

One last!

 

Both Janice and I are finding that the overall objectives of the program are really being internalized (exercise/diet).

 

Making smart choices regarding diet has been the easier part of the program to adjust although the bad habits (snacks) have been a bit more persistent. Working in the exercise program has been the more challenging especially due to time commitment. I (Al) had a jump start because of the Century ride training program. I think we are now over the plateau in making time for exercise in our schedules. We do try to team up for walks and such but make time to work at our own levels. I am more interested in now concentrating on endurance especially for biking. (Love those hills especially in B.C.) 

 

I have a bit of a disc problem in my neck so have incorporated a physiotherapist in modifying exercises that are appropriate for me (My Dr. says exercise is the best thing for the condition so I now have even stronger motivation). 

 

Over all we have a new sense of awareness especially as it applies to nutrition, diet and exercise. 

 

And so much of it spills over beyond cardiovascular health. Our trainer commented on how exercise will allow us to maintain mobility and Independence as we age. CBC reported this week on research about how web searches serve as a healthy brain exercise - the article also commented that the research study commented on how physical exercise benefits the brain as well. 

 

Knowledge is power – so we continue.

 

It has been delightful to hear from some of the other participants as well – We are team.