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Be Fit Results

Meet Rolando Mercado: Be Fit Superstar

7/17/2020

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Job Title: Senior Community Resource Specialist
Department: Integrated Care Management
Years at MGH: 12
Team: Los Valientes

Reason Joined Be Fit:
I had heard about Be Fit, but kept putting it off for every reason I could find (too busy, taking vacation, not the right group).  I finally decided to take a leap of faith spring 2020.  The sessions started right around my birthday, so that gave me a good kick start.

How Be Fit Helped:
I love new approaches to every day routines.  I learned a lot of basic nutrition information that I should have known before, but never took the time to fully comprehend.  The weekly nutrition email was a plus and helped me plan my goals for the following week.

I told my trainer that I finally learned the mechanism of a proper push-up!  I also realized I was playing it safe with exercise and felt a "7" effort was good enough.  Now I have been pushing myself more to an "8" or "9" effort and I feel good! I was also happy to learn new fitness techniques (Tabata, core yoga, and even Zumba).  Because this happened during COVID-19, I was able to take classes online at home. 

Most of all, I feel that eating better and exercising regularly for 10 weeks during the health crisis was not only good for my body, but also for my mental health. I'm not sure if I would have coped so well with quarantining at home during COVID if I didn't have Be Fit helping me stay focused on self-care goals.


Favorite Thing About Be Fit:
I liked the non-judgemental attitude from my trainer, Damien, and my nutritionist, Emily.  Damien kept encouraging me and pushing in a very supportive way to keep the workout regimen going without any chastisement on the times I had to miss a couple sessions.  I discussed with Emily my awareness to drink less alcohol and she even found some cocktail recipes that had low ABV - I was very grateful she went out of her way to research it for me.  She was also very sensitive about the challenges of ethnic foods and shared some tips on still being able to eat traditional meals with minor adjustments.

When will I be eligible to do the program again?!

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ED Doctor, Leslie Milne, Shares What Be Fit Has Meant For Her

4/7/2020

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Thank you to your wonderful team and all the good work you do. I learned a lot about nutrition and about myself!

1. I think it is important for older individuals to take this challenge. I was not aware that my balance isn’t what it used to be. This probably would not have been noticed without this class.

2. I am sleeping better.

3. My eating habits are much better. Instead of eating as much as I can just because I like it, I try to stop before it’s too late!

4. I have found good substitutes for some of my favorite, yet naughty, foods such as chips. I have completely switched to soy milks and healthier bread.

5. I have started eating fiber.

6. I have lost 12 pounds. This was not my intention at all, but following my calorie count led to weight loss.

7. I exercised almost every day. Not wanting to let my team down contributed to this.

8. I think many of the eating skills will persist. I thought maybe I would “celebrate” and eat all the things I had been avoiding, but I didn’t.

9. I think I would like to continue with a personal trainer when this is over. It did add structure to my program.

10. Meeting with Emily was very helpful. She was not judgmental and always had good suggestions for my concerns. It would be nice to have the ability to continue to be able to contact her in the future.

Thanks, team!

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Meet Agnes Mulligan: Be Fit Superstar

3/12/2020

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Job Title: Staff Assistant III
Department: The Neurological Clinical Research Institute (NCRI)
Years at MGH: 3
Team: "Active Arms"

Reason Joined Be Fit:
I joined because, though I love to walk, I have never been big on exercise. As I am getting older I realize I really need help with body strength, flexibility, and posture.

How Be Fit Helped: 
It has helped me tremendously to get the results I was looking for.  I am dedicated to filling out my logs (also wasn’t a favorite thing to do) because I get to see where I have improved and where I still have room to improve and can look back on previous weeks to see the changes.  I get joy out of seeing my steps add up throughout the day and then jogging in front of the TV or dancing around my apartment until I hit the number I want – it is exhilarating.

Favorite Thing About Be Fit: 
Definitely training with Damien. He helped me with constant praise and support.  I have included a limerick I wrote for him:
I am the result of what a patient, supportive, encouraging and amazing trainer you are
Exercise was new to me – but you listened to my needs and magically brought me far
I didn’t even know what a foam roller was, I never thought I could do 50 laps in the pool
But you knew just what I needed and slowly but surely I am no longer an exercise fool
And have been hailed by you to be a Be Fit superstar

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Meet Tiffany Free: Be Fit Superstar

12/2/2019

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Job Title: Surgical Technologist
Department
: Blake 14 (Labor and Delivery)
Years at MGH: 8
Team: “We Push Harder”
 
Reason Joined Be Fit:
I had been struggling with my weight and energy level and I was desperate to find something that would hold me accountable to getting to the gym and making healthier choices. When my coworker, Janet, announced that the unit was forming a team, I knew that this was my chance and joined immediately.
 
How Be Fit Helped:
It has given me a complete lifestyle makeover! I now make my time in the gym a priority and I am so much more mindful of my eating habits. Be Fit helped me set goals that I never thought was possible. Week 5 of Be Fit, I ran my first 5K ever and then Week 10, I ran my second. I have another coming up in December and hope to work my way up to a 10k and beyond! With the help of Be Fit these goals are really within my reach.

Favorite Thing About Be Fit:
There are so many great things about this program! Seeing the results of all the hard work has been my favorite. It took a few weeks for things to kick into gear, but once it did, it was awesome and will be a huge motivator to keep me going! 

I really enjoyed getting to know and working with my trainer, Joe, and my nutritionist, Emily, and knowing that I can still reach out to them in the future is really reassuring. They taught me so much and I’m so grateful.

I also loved the group chat that our team had going during the 10 weeks, it was fun to see how everyone was keeping on track and to have a way to check in. Sharing the experience with my coworkers has been really great! 


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Meet Elizabeth Liu: Be Fit Superstar

7/15/2019

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​Department: Cardiology 
Job Title: Clinical Research Coordinator
Years at MGH: 1½
Team Name: "Cupcakes Anonymous"
 
Reason Joined Be Fit:
I grew up playing team sports (soccer and rowing) and went to the gym consistently in college. After starting work full-time post-undergrad, I found it very difficult to keep up with an active lifestyle and healthy eating. I saw the effects of a more sedentary life on my body the past 2 years and was searching for motivation in the form of a team and a common goal to give me a much needed jump start!

How Be Fit Helped:
I was nervous about walking into a gym after such a long time but working with a personal trainer (Danny Murphy) made me feel comfortable and confident in the space. Danny spent time understanding my goals and showing me manageable ways of working towards them. The consistency of working out helped motivate me to start attending group classes (cycling, pilates) around Boston, which have added variety to my workouts.

Logging what I consume has made eating and drinking less passive and more intentional activities during my day. The nutrition classes and one-on-one meetings have taught me a lot about how small changes (swapping out one brand for another or adding veggies to your leftovers) can go a long way. 


Favorite Thing About Be Fit:
Weekly Be Fit “green” meals at Eat Street Cafe! There definitely are days I don’t have time to pack a lunch that is both quick and healthy, so this was a great help over the 10 weeks. The salad bar was my favorite place!

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Meet Joanna Neas: Be Fit Superstar

7/12/2019

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Job Title: RN
Department:  Pediatric Cardiology 
Years at MGH: 4
Team: "Pura Vida"

Reason Joined Be Fit:
To work on a healthy diet and exercise routine and become more mindful about the foods I’m putting into my body and how they will benefit me and my energy level throughout the day. After committing to the program, I found out I was pregnant, so this was a great motivator to keep me active and eating good foods for me and my baby.

How Be Fit Helped:
Be Fit has pushed me to try new things in my exercise routine – I’ve never been one to go to the gym (preferring group fitness classes or running outside) so getting to work with a personal trainer was a first for me. It has given me the confidence to try out the different machine and props that I didn’t know how to use before! Working with Emily helped me to think about ways that I could make sure my meals and snacks were providing me with the nutrients that my body needed – to stay full and give me energy for the day.

Favorite Thing about Be Fit:
The sense of community on our team. We’ve been keeping each other motivated and accountable throughout the program and I have a feeling that will continue once our 10 weeks officially wraps up. It’s been great to be able to support each other, swap healthy recipes, and encourage each other to get out and be active!

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Meet Shannon Maguire Lessard: Be Fit Superstar

3/28/2019

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Job Title: RN
Department: Pediatric Endocrinology 
Years at MGH:  1.75 
Team: "The Dominators"

​Reason Joined Be Fit:
I had lost about 50 pounds three years earlier and plateaued in weight loss.  I had been successful in the past when I felt accountable to others.  Submitting logs to a trainer and dietitian, along with weekly rallies and competing against other teams seemed like a good idea for me.


How Be Fit Helped:
It helped me get back to tracking my food.  This has been so helpful for me in the past and I'm happy to be back to it at this time.  Additionally, I now feel confident when going to the gym.  I feel like I know how to use so much more of the equipment and won't be limited to cardio!

 
Favorite Thing About Be Fit:
Personal training was extremely helpful and probably where I learned the most. 

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