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Monday, January 9, 2012

Step 1: pop-we New Year, New Us!

Becky & Brian 2001
Where I am right now is not a place I am familiar with – overweight. I get glimpses of my skinny self once in a while; however, it's not in the mirror it is through past photographs. I looked so happy and most of all healthy.

In high school I lettered in a myriad of sports. And, in college played intramural sports and was a gym rat with my boyfriend, fiancé and now husband, Brian. My weight gain was brought on by I must admit unhealthy life-style choices, but also by a medical condition that I will blog about at a later date. I've overcome health challenges before. While only 9 years-old I was diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD). Told to not pursue sports but did anyway. More than 20 some years later, I found myself in an orthopedics doctor's office looking at my films. He told me my knees were not built for athletics.

At age 40, a PR professional during the day and blogger at night, I find myself in two sedentary day & night jobs. It is just harder to lose the weight these days. I know other population-we™ readers can relate. This is not just my journey but our journey.

Like with any journey you have to put one foot in front of the other before you get to your final destination. Our final destination, "our healthier selves." So, first step, we joined a gym - Urban Active Fitness - that has energized us. Urban Active is committed to improving the fitness lifestyles within the communities where they operate. Brian and I have witnessed this first-hand.

"To prove we’re serious about getting results, we [UA] have launched the 'Get Active Challenge.' It is open to members and non-members who are ready to make the commitment to be fit and share their personal stories to help motivate others," said Kiel Wolf, general manager of Omaha's Urban Active Fitness.

Myself and husband of 17 years, Brian, have both committed to make this weight loss journey together. Brian also lettered in high school and was active in college. Years later after leaving the telecommunications industry, Brian also has found himself in a sedentary desk job. By no means are we both couch potatoes. We played in two volleyball leagues last fall, walk daily and enjoy hiking. Obviously, we both need to step up our game.

"Working together, we can inspire more of our neighbors to live healthy, happy and fit lives," Wolf said. "Whether you choose to workout with us in one of our clubs or at home, the most important thing is that you work out."

Brian & Becky 2011
Join us (Brian and I) as we account our steps to finding our former leaner selves. But Brian and I do not want to go on this journey alone; we invite other population-we™ readers to commit to this challenge, which is open to non-Urban Active Fitness members, too. Non-members who decide to participate, can receive a 14-day pass to the UA or can follow along at home.

To motivate challengers Omaha's UA location, 14651 Sprague Street, will host an hour-long kick off event on Saturday, Jan. 14. From 9 to 10 a.m., Quality Control Director and Head Trainer for Urban Active Fitness, Josh "JB" Bowen, will be in attendance to motivate and lead activities at the free "New Year, New You Boot Camp." Omaha is one of Bowen's stops on the challenge's 10-city tour.

Men’s Health Magazine ranked the "most and least active cities in America." On this list, Omaha ranked No. 84, which earned the city a "F" rating and place on Men's Health Magazine's Top 20 most sedentary cities in all of U.S. "Omahans, don't take this sitting down take the 'Get active Challenge,'" Wolf said.

Hopefully, we too can inspire some former jocks (which Brian & I are) or novice athletes to get back in shape.

Blog with us! Take the "Get Active Challenge" and share your workout to help motivate others in their fitness quest this new year. It’s free to set up. Gift cards to the Texas Roadhouse will also be given to the first 80 participants (eight per city) who sign up for the the challenge and does a blog post at www.getactivegourban.com. Here are the details on where you too can join the fitness challenge at http://www.urbanactive.com/share-your-workout/

No matter where you are -- if you're up for it -- commit to take the Urban Active's "Get Active Challenge."

Next step for The Brown's team, game on.
(Editor's note: This is the first in a series of blog posts about UA's Get Active Challenge)
-population-we™ blog post by Becky Bohan Brown
© 2012 population-we, LLC 
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1 comment:

  1. Brian & I attended our first-ever boot camp yesterday. The Urban Active Fitness boot camp was definately a workout, but we both learned a couple new techniques to use for our workout arseanal. After meeting JB & the other Urban Active trainers we feel energized and motivated to get more active. We feel like we've turned a real corner in our life towards better fitness.

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