The results of April’s month-long Spring Movement Challenge may not be back in yet, but one member of Central Office is already sure of the difference it made to her.
ELL Assessment Specialist Rachel Ersoz has been living with Type 2 diabetes for years and over time had become lax about managing it. Thanks to the month-long ACPS Movement Challenge launched on April 1, Ersoz has lost 10 pounds and reduced her blood glucose level by more than 220 points.
Ersoz knew that things needed to change. She never took medication to manage her diabetes, but she also had stopped managing her diet. She was waffling about getting into shape when the ACPS Movement Challenge was announced.
“Maybe this is the kick in the pants I need,” said Ersoz.
She announced her plan to get into shape to her family but because the challenge launched on April Fool’s Day, they were highly skeptical.
But Ersoz was not fooling around. When the first pedometer over-counted her steps, she went back for a second. When the second one under-reported her steps, she tied one pedometer onto of each of her shoes and averaged the steps, aiming for 10,000 steps a day.
“If I was short on steps, I would make up the difference on my glider at home. For the first time in a really long time, I feel good. I have a brighter attitude. Even things that might have seemed negative in the past, I’m able to view in a more positive light,” said Ersoz.
Now two weeks after the challenge ended, Ersoz is still going strong. The challenge gave her a great start and helped her learn that diet alone was not enough. What helped her succeed?
“Participating in the challenge, having a firm start date, being part of a group striving towards a common goal and addressing diet and exercise at the same time,” said Ersoz.
Ersoz is still walking and managing her diet, but no longer dons the pedometers. She got tired of wearing the same pair of shoes every day.