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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 18, 2007)
16 JUStlOUt MAY 18. 2007________________________________________________________ Eyeing the Prize Relevant goal-setting makes the difference hile vacationing in Samara Beach, pounds. What she so quickly lost was inches. Costa Rica, in November 2005, As a result of her dedication to strength Susan Johnson lounged in a ham training, she went from a size 14 to a size 10 mock and read novels, as planned. in four months. Johnson also noticed that What she didn’t do was take with exercise and a cleaner diet, she was less a kayaking trip to nearby Isla Chora. She later stressed, more balanced emotionally and regretted not having taken the one-hour trip, sleeping better, and the acid reflux attacks saying, “It sounded like fun, but I knew 1 didn’t have that she had suffered from for years had great the upper body strength and that 1 wouldn’t be ly decreased in frequency. Reaching all of her initial goals in April having fun after five minutes or so.” 2006, Johnson and I went on a kayaking trip Corporate life had provided a nice paycheck but promoted a sedentary existence. Johnson says: “I was 47, kxiking at my parents and sisters, none of whom were very healthy. 1 thought, ‘If 1 don’t change some BY MARIA CALLAHAN Susan Johnson's healthy transformation led to major changes in her professional and personal life. to celebrate. “It was the first time 1 can remember nearly a year. Her girlfriend is a motivated athlete, being on a boat, paddling and still feeling like 1 was and although Johnson’s main motivations now are to having a gtxxl time,” she says. contribute to the team and to keep up her health, she thing now, I won’t be able to do anything physical other areas of her life that needed fine-tuning. Long Naturally gregarious and gaining more confi eventually, and that's not how I want to live.’ ” hours at the office led to multiple visits to the vend dence every day, Johnson then decided to set new, Johnson had been considering personal training ing machine or to fast food restaurants. We enlisted more specific goals. We sought out a team sport Last year, Johnson quit the corporate gig and prior to her trip, even going so far as getting con the help of my caterer friend Meridith Zero, owner that would provide her with exercise and social founded Now We’re Organized, an organizational services company. She says: “1 really don’t know if believes her girlfriend’s active lifestyle is a motivator in and of itself. “She inspires me to be my best.” tact information for a Portland-area trainer. Then of LL Brown Bag Services (LL stands for “lipstick contact simultaneously. When Johnson expressed she found out later that the highly recommended lesbian”), and Johnson was stxin enjoying healthy an interest in trying out for the Amazon Dragons, 1 ever would have left my cushy corporate job and trainer was straight, and she felt that she would be home-cooked meals at work. Stereotypically Italian, it seemed like a perfect fit. ventured into self-employment without having more comfortable working with a trainer in the Zero usually brought enough food each visit for two “The first dragon boat training was tough,” she gone through this transformation. I really believe queer community. Johnson and 1 started working or three meals, and the cost wound up being compa says. “Dragon boating has a complicated stroke that that getting myself into better physical shape together in January 2006. rable to eating lunch out. Johnson had aversions to requires the use of your entire body. In the past “My goals weren’t based on how I looked nec many fixxls, but Zero, a culinary master of disguise, 1 would have given up.” contributed to this change.” Don’t you just love a happy ending? © essarily, or losing weight,” she says. “Those things managed to make everything tasty and healthy. She now has the confidence to hang in there were not a major motivator at that time of my life.” Envious co-workers stopped to gawk at Johnson’s while learning the ropes. “I don’t feel singled out or For affordable custom catering options visit lunch to see what Zero had delivered. punished when the coach wants to give me tips.” utiu. llbrownbagservices. com. Her goals were to get stronger, develop strength and, eventually, to kayak. Single for more than The change had a lasting effect, Johnson says. I’m going to gloat and take credit now, because a year, she also had the ulterior motive of expand “I’ve developed a taste for healthier foods that 1 have a perfect record with regard to matchmaking. Information in this column should not be used in ing her social circle this way. 1 had never eaten before, and I prefer them. I am One day, Johnson walked into my studio early and place of advice from a licensed health care much less likely to eat fast food now.” noticed a “really cute” client I was working with. professional. If you have a health or fitness question, Johnson took ro personal training with a stub born resolve that tends to make the trainer work Johnson’s co-workers commented about her After each of them inquired about the other, I intro e-mail DEAR ETHEL at mariacallahan@gmail.com or harder, too. Together, we started looking at the weight loss, but in actuality, she had only dropped six duced them formally and they’ve now been dating for visit www.mariacallahan.net. 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