A Series of Fortunate Successes
Two days from now September will be behind us. On paper, it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, but to be living it, it seems absurd how quickly the time has gone. Don’t worry, this is not a wistful look at the past. More a celebration of life, actually.
We have a good time here at La Jolla Sports Club (see: blacked-out butt cheeks in the last post), but with the closing of the ‘Getting Back to You’ September series, we wanted to focus on a few stories of people overcoming adversity and (re)discovering themselves. Weight-gain, addiction, depression, physical disabilities, cancer… Whether it happens to us or those around us, these are things that we will encounter in our lives. And whether we let these challenges define us, or the other way around, makes all the difference.
Below are a few inspirational stories, and be sure to check the link at the bottom for a humorous highlight to your day!
La Jolla Sports Club member, Mark Twichel:
My journey toward health and wellness started almost 10 years ago when I finally admitted I had a serious substance abuse problem, and it was time to get my life together. Since then, I set about living a life of purpose and intention, which is mind, body and spirit-centered.
I’ve been a member of LJSC since I moved to La Jolla just over a year ago. I immediately fell in love with the club’s convenient location (I enjoy walking to the gym), the facility and amenities, its friendly atmosphere, and the professional staff. I started personal training with Justin because–although I am pretty disciplined–I just wasn’t getting the results I wanted. Justin puts together a challenging program for me that keeps me working hard AND helps me make the progress I want to see. Plus, I haven’t had a single injury since he started training me. In fact, I have seen gains in my strength, balance, and agility. I’m not a vain person, but I love it when strangers stop me to say, “I bet you’re a triathlete or something!” I suppose I should take up a sport what with all the working out I do on a regular basis. But, for now I will just enjoy living a healthy, happy, and whole life!
Your new hero, Steph ‘the Hammer’ Hammerman:
We mentioned Steph ‘the Hammer’ a couple months back as your daily inspiration. Since then, Steph has been diagnosed with cancer, now making her an Adaptive CrossFit Athlete, CrossFit Level 2 Trainer with Cerebral Palsy, Motivational Speaker, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Fighter and Cancer Crusher. Her fortitude and strength are wildly inspiring, check it out for yourself here, here and here.
Cancer survivor, Pilates instructor and Health & Wellness Coach, Lauryn Sires:
I’ve always been an active, inquisitive and independent individual. I find that my zest for learning and growing gets stronger over time. Three years ago, I began to row, a highly technical sport. Prior to that, I became a Pilates instructor. That was after spending decades in healthcare finance and I.T. My path wanders. I like to challenge myself… push the envelope.
All is not roses. In the past, I’ve been overweight, a smoker, a workaholic and a divorced mother of two. Eventually I quit smoking, lost weight – a little at a time – and changed careers with the intention of living with less stress and healthier overall. That is when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. From that shocking, life-changing experience, I dug deeper into health and wellness. I made choices that didn’t always conform to medical protocols but worked for me. So far, so good. In the end, I want to feel good, live to see my grandchildren, stay active, be strong and joyful and continue to grow. In short, I am passionate about experiencing life fully.
–Read more about Lauryn’s story here.
Overcoming Anxiety with Running, Ashley Erickson:
My first real panic attack was in college, though I didn’t know what it was at the time. I was in a movie theater and I suddenly got the shakes and felt like I couldn’t breathe. That landed me in urgent care, getting chest X-rays, an EKG, and every other test for chest issues. I thought I was crazy when doctors told me they couldn’t find anything wrong. I felt foolish the second time it happened and different doctors told me I was fine. I felt hopeless the third and final time I went in and they said the same thing.
Luckily for me, I was attending the University of California, San Diego, which offers great services for students. I began seeing a psychologist and learned I was suffering from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Though sometimes I had to leave classes during panic attacks, my psychologist gave me some advice: “Run.”
–Ashley runs for her own anxiety and to help others in need, check out her story on the Anxiety and Depression Association of America site here.
Lost 148 pounds (!!!) and now a Personal Trainer, Sherlonda Tyrus:
I have been plus-sized all of my life. I was overweight as a child, and I was about 200 pounds when I graduated from high school. Improper eating and no activity played a part as a child. As an adult, it was emotional eating; be it sad, depressed or happy, I would eat.
I was tired of being fat. I was tired of my thighs hurting when I sat in the chairs at the movie theater. I tried to lose weight numerous times. I did Weight Watchers, supplemental shakes, and they worked, but then I’d stop. I was even thinking about weight-loss surgery.
The breaking point was when my daughter came to me and said she wanted to lose weight for her prom. I told her what to do, but I wasn’t doing it. I couldn’t show her discipline. I knew that most of her weight issues were because of me and how I had fed her as a child.
–Get inspired with Sherlonda’s story here!
Have you overcome daunting odds or challenges? How did you do it? Who was in your support team? Leave a comment below!
That wraps up our Getting Back to You series, we’ll see you next month!
// Your La Jolla Sports Club team
PS-
If you’ve made it this far and you haven’t seen Shia LeBeouf’s ‘motivational’ speech, ummmm… just do it.
