In this week’s blog/podcast I want to share with you a fascinating story. In December we were selling “I Got This” long sleeve t-shirts over social media when I met Anne Samic. Anne let me know why she wanted the shirt. Anne wanted the shirt to remind herself that no matter how hard life can get for her, she can overcome it. One of the reasons why I returned to running is due to reading some encouraging stories in Runner's World magazines. At the time I was recovering from a patella tendon rupture and used those stories in my recovery process. I felt as though, if this person can overcome losing a leg and still run the Chicago Marathon, then I can come back too. 

I’m excited today to be in a position to bring these types of stories to you through this platform. Anne shared her own story with me and it blew me away. I interviewed Anne by sending her my questions and she was gracious enough to send me her answers. Although she will not be on the podcast, I will read to you guys her story and it will inspire you. 

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Anne said that she didn’t know why she was sharing her story with me, because she usually doesn't share it with others. I immediately knew why Anne shared her story with me. That it would be a great story to be told on our Keep Calm And Run To The Best You (The Podcast) 

Coach: Anne, why did you feel comfortable sharing your story with me? 

Anne: You seem genuine and care for your clients.  I looked at your Facebook page and goggled all that you have done for your clients. I like what I read.  With a lot of coaches, you can see that they are in it for money and not for health

Coach: Thank you so much for sharing your story with me and now the world. Let’s start by telling everyone what do you do for a living?

Anne: I work for Spectrum as a level three customer support agent. I assist customers with activation, billing, and troubleshoot cable-related issues.

Coach: How long have you been in your profession?

Anne: 17 years 

Coach: What moved you to be in this field?

Anne: I got started at Spectrum through a dear friend who knew that we were financially struggling with the job I had at the time. I also wanted to be home to raise my sons.

Coach: That’s awesome Anne, you are a hard worker and you seem to enjoy what you do for a living. Let’s go back in time for a moment, you are on quite the weight loss journey. Take us back to the start of your journey, how were you feeling at the time?

Anne: Terrible 

Coach: What was your wake up call? 

What made you get up one day and say I need to change my habits? 

Anne: I went to my primary physician and was told with my disc disease I was headed for a wheelchair. I knew that was not an option for me. I wasn't even out of the parking lot when I called my insurance to see if they covered weight loss surgery and was in tears when I found out that they didn't.  

I then came home and did a lot of research and found that surgery was very affordable in Mexico. I started researching facilities as well as the way that I could afford to pay for them.  I found “A Slimmer Me” and was very impressed by what I read and I applied for a personal loan all without talking to any of my family friends. 

I was called back on a Sunday while out for dinner with my husband and daughter in law and the words out of my mouth were; “I was approved for surgery!”  

The look on their faces will be forever with me. They wondered what surgery I was approved of. 

I didn't dare to tell them that I was considering weight loss surgery. I waited to get back to the house and spilled my guts. We were all scared about having this surgery. 

I researched everything I could. I was worried because I was told that with the sleeve I could only lose about 100 pounds and I wasn't sure if that would be enough to get the results I wanted.   

I started getting in a healthy regime before surgery where I made sure to hit 10,000 steps a day. I then had the surgery in June 2017.  I was blessed and I worked my butt off to lose. I started walking the moment we got home and had lost over 100 pounds by December. Then came the complications. I had gotten a hernia and had to have another surgery. I chose December 26th as it was an outpatient procedure and what could go wrong?  Well, short answer EVERYTHING! I came home and was told that I needed to lay around for about 2 weeks and not be active at all.  With that my body shut down. In January I stood up to go to the kitchen and passed out.  My husband raced me to the ER where I was given all kinds of new complications including Chiari Malformation and I needed to have yet another surgery to help my symptoms. I had that surgery on April 1st, 2018 and at that point, my weight had dropped to under 100lbs.  Everyone at this point was worried that I had made the wrong decision to have the weight loss surgery. I fought harder, and at this point needed to gain weight. With this change, came more health concerns. Now I have been diagnosed with a rare CSF leak disorder.

Coach: Wow, you had so much to deal with and overcome. Once you had this revelation that something needed to change, besides walking, what other steps did you take?

Anne: I started with a Bootcamp with a Crossfit company here in Rochester, I changed my eating habits, and no matter how much I hurt, I put my Fitbit on and got my steps in and started walking. I was slow but would never give up.

Coach: Hard as that first step was, did it get easier once the decision was made?  We see that you had a bit of a hiccup along the way.

Anne:  I had a lot of hiccups. My body was so large and I was so out of shape that I kept getting hurt. I had a lot of falls, I cried so many tears that I wanted to be healthy. 

Coach: Oh wow….. How did running come into the picture?

Anne: I have always wanted to run. I just didn't put the dedication into myself. I was too busy being a mom, a wife, and a worker that I didn't dedicate any time to myself. 

Coach: Despite your different ailments that you faced, how do you still find the courage to get out the door to run?

Anne: I know that the pain I have every day will be there no matter what. 

I decided that if I took that pain and made other pain that I know that I could control, I would be able to push forward and become a better me. 

Coach: What has running done for you?

Anne: It has taught me a lot of patience, a lot about self-dedication, and that no matter the time, a mile is a mile doesn't matter if it's a 12-minute mile or a 20-minute mile it is still a mile that I put in. 

Coach:  What At The Moment Are Your Healthy Habits?

As a busy wife, mom, and customer care rep,

What is your Exercise Routine? How many days per week do you run, walk, etc. Also, what time of day do you get this done?

Anne: I run pretty much 4 to 5 days a week. I run on a nice treadmill. When we purchased the treadmill, my husband said it would be a clothes hanger, lol.  

I start my day running so normally that is at 3:30 am. Then go to do a workout video of some kind depending on if it's a leg or arm day or strength.  During the summer I also go out as early as 3:30 am.  I LOVE that no one else is out at this time and it's a peaceful way for me to relax and get ready for my busy day

Coach: Any special diet that you are currently following? 

Anne: I follow the low carb/ very little bread/ high protein/ and a lot of water plan

Coach: How do you feel now since adopting this healthier lifestyle? 

Anne: I feel a lot better. Food used to be my go-to when I was stressed, now I am more apt to go run or lift heavy stuff.  My philosophy now is food is fuel 

Coach: Wow! For our listeners who may have missed it, how much have you lost? 

Anne: I decided to look up this information in my medical records and holy cow my highest weight they have recorded was 425lbs, I am now at 148!

Coach: How do your family and friends enjoy this version of you?  

Anne: For the most part they still struggle some with my habits of running and eating. They don’t like that I pick my food apart and I beg them to go for walks with me.

Coach: Sometimes our families could be our worst critics. Is there anything that you are doing now that you could not do before losing weight?  

Anne: Most definitely I can buy clothes online, I can carry laundry up and down stairs without getting winded. I park as far away from the door in the spring and summer as I can weather pending.

Coach: What has you excited today, any special goals that you are working on at that moment?

Anne:  I am making some pretty hefty goals for 2021. The one that I will put a hard focus on starting in January is a sub-30-minute 5k.

Coach: Everyone, Anne is 277 lbs and excited about a sub-30-minute 5k! We are all routing for you, Anne. Thank you for sharing your story with us. 

Before we let you go........

If you could go back in time and thank Anne Samic that decided to take her first steps into this health journey…… What would you say to her?

Anne: Dear Self,

I have watched you suffer for many years, with asthma, relationships, food, family, and overall life.  You put others first before yourself; you took care of those who didn’t care about you.  You made some hard choices over the last 48 years.  These last 5 years you have taken over you and are creating the person you want to be.  You need to smile at what you have done and quit grieving what you lost.  You have become stronger with everything you do.  You have never quit even when quitting looked better than moving forward.  You have learned the word NO and that it's okay to use it and put yourself first.  I am proud that you have taken control of your body and that you continue to fight no matter what life throws at you and there have been many curveballs. Anne, you are a gift to the world and your family.

 Remember that what you see in the mirror isn’t what others saw in you

What is your story?

Comment below or email me at coachtadris@gmail.com

The Week That Was:

Our blog will not only give a brief to the point running, walking, intermittent fasting, and weight loss tips, but we will share the positive things going on with us from the previous week.

Speed Work Paying Off!

As members of our program ran our 5k on January 1st, we achieved personal best.

Jamie Burke crushed it with a sub-29-minute 5k. (28:45)

I turned in my fastest 5k time in at least 2 years.

Photo of The Week

Mother Gina Davidson with her daughter for a workout. Gina did her own 6.5 mile run in the cold in the UK. Followed that up with a one mile walk with her daughter. Don't forget to take time to be a parent. We applaud Gina for her massive efforts this week.

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Remember, we are just one run or walk away……

So Keep Calm And Run To The Best You My Friends!

-Coach Tadris 

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