Kari Lynn

Throughout our life we are defined by what we think of ourselves. And what other people say about us may powerfully affect our vision of ourselves. This vision can profoundly affect the direction our life takes.

When I was very young, someone said “fatty, fatty, two by four, can’t get through the kitchen door.” I believed them and it set a pattern of thinking. I was fat. That was a vision I had of myself that coloured everything I did or said. I began dieting at a very young age. I set myself up for a compulsive, obsessive lifestyle of dieting and binging on “wrong” foods. I didn’t like Phy-Ed classes or exercising at school and just accepted the fact that I would always be chubby.

Fast forward: a wonderful husband, three fabulous adult children, and four grandchildren. I am 58 years old. My oldest daughter is running her first marathon in the Finger Lakes, New York. My husband and I go to watch and cheer her on. I see all types of bodies – lean, short, think, thin, young and old and in between. They are all accomplishing this incredible challenge of completing a marathon – 42.2 kilometres. I want to experience what they are experiencing. One lady in the “Clydesdale” division began an hour and half before the other racers. She was older and visibly overweight with a coach on each side of her. She finished the race. It took her over 8 hours but she showed tenacity. I resolved that if she can “walk, run, or crawl” for that long, I surely could get off my butt and walk, even for a few minutes.

I began to walk 15 minutes a day on a 7-week trip to Portugal with my husband. By the time we flew home, I had improved enough to walk several hours at a time. I decided to enter a half marathon event.

On our arrival back home to Canada, I joined WoW Power Walking. Participation in this program has changed my life. I have now completed several races: 5k, 10k, two Mississauga half marathons, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon, and two Niagara International Half Marathons. I compete in the walking division and I place well in my age category.

Other members of my family have belonged to a local racquet club and have been asking me for years to join. I could not even go up the stairs of the fitness centre a few years ago – I was terrified and intimidated. On November 1, 2004, I joined that club and now work out 4 to 5 times per week in addition to the walking I do.

Dedication to power walking, strength training and a healthy diet has changed my life. I feel fabulous and I feel capable of tackling projects I would never have dared in the past. As my husband has said “I knew you could do it, the only one who thought you couldn’t was you!” I’ve learned that we have to believe in ourselves. We have to be patient. These changes have happened over that last two years. Everyday I feel stronger and younger than I was 20 years ago.

I believe in setting goals, celebrating life, and moving!

P.S. Karin Lynn successfully passed her certification as a Personal Trainer and will now be a WoW Power Walking inspirational leader.