photo by: Joan Young
I first met Joan Young in 2011 in one of those brief ISTE-esque moments, but we’ve been friends ever since. Joan is an elementary teacher and academic coach with a passion for building efficacy in kids. Outside of the classroom Joan can be found making us all feel like lazy schlubs. She is in a state of perpetual motion and is known to chase a Cardio Bootcamp class with an hour of Zumba.
I was tempted to edit the uncomfortable parts of Joan’s journey to being the fit person she is today. I frankly wasn’t prepared to hear how difficult it has been. But, I think that many people will find the honesty of her full story to be helpful. (I suggest that you skip the first question if you are looking for a lighter read)
You seem like a perfect example, especially for women, of someone who is really tending to their mind and body. Yet, when I asked you for the interview, you said that you still thought about yourself as, “the fat kid.” Can you tell me a bit about that reaction and how you got to where you are now?
Now that answer could take up an entire book, but I will try to be concise. I’ve struggled with my weight all of my life, and particularly since the age of 16 when my thyroid went haywire and basically stopped functioning properly. I gained about 20 lbs. in the course of something like 2 months and I was terrified! I was afraid to eat, and my parents took me to several doctors before I was diagnosed properly.
Unfortunately, one of those doctors was verbally abusive and inappropriate, doing a breast exam without my mom in the room, and telling me there was nothing wrong with me except that I was “obese.” I blacked out there on the table. I don’t remember too much about the whole thing but found a letter in my journal later on in my life that described the incident. Of course it was way past any statute of limitations to report him, but I wrote him a letter a couple of years ago telling him how he screwed up my life! He basically told my mom that I just needed to eat half of what I was eating and I would be fine. After we left the office I told my mom I would NEVER go back there but she didn’t ask what happened.
In any case, we found a new doctor and I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, due to my immune system attacking its own tissue. I’ve been on thyroid medication ever since and though they say it keeps my thyroid levels in the right place, I can still gain weight very easily.
For many years I was afraid to eat, afraid to eat a “whole” of anything, going through cycles of dieting, starving, binging and purging. I think it was probably not until my late 30’s and early 40’s that I got more normal with food, not fearing bouts of feeling out of control or depriving myself, but looking at food as nutrition. I record my food intake every day using an app called Lose It, just so that I can look at the balance of nutrients and save myself the worry about gaining weight.
I still don’t think I see myself the way others do. When you asked me to answer these questions and represent a “fit” teacher, I was like.. um.. that isn’t me. But then I think about the commitment to my health and how I’ve changed my lifestyle and I guess it is me!
Can you describe your basic week in terms of exercise?
My goal is to get an hour of a good workout, 5-6 days a week. So, that might look like this:
Monday: Bootcamp ( comb. of weights, cardio, and way too many squats!)
Tuesday: Run/walk 4-5 miles
Wednesday: Bootcamp or Zumba toning class.. or both if I have time! Each class is an hour!
Thursday: I try to walk at least 30 min somehow on that day. This would technically be my workout day off.
Friday: Cardio Hip Hop class followed by Zumba.
Saturday: Cardio kickboxing sometimes followed by Zumba.
Sunday: Usually it will be a 4-6 mile hike taking anywhere from an hour to 2.5 hours.
How has your dedication to fitness influenced you as an educator?
My dedication to fitness has made me a much less stressed out educator and it has also reinforced my commitment to sharing the importance of movement and exercise for kids. I am not a natural runner..at all! I’ve shared these challenges with students, those times when I really did not want to run, and how I got to the other side. They respect someone who takes on challenges.
What strategies do you use to create a good work/life/exercise balance?
I try to put as many items as possible on my google calendar and leave time open for my family. I go to bed at roughly the same time every night. And that really helps me ensure that I get enough sleep. I also use apps such as Wunderlist and Kanban2go to keep track of tasks.
If you are already so fit, what keeps you motivated? How do you work past the urge to sit on your couch?
Well, I wish I had a positive answer for you. The fear of relapse into my years of unhealthy eating and obsession with weight keeps me motivated. Working out keeps my body and mind functioning optimally, from not lapsing into being depressed or stressed. I know that my body actually needs the endorphin boost from exercise so I see it as preventive medicine.
What two pieces of advice would you give to people who want to be fit like you?
Find others to keep you committed. When I started Zumba at a local dance studio, it was the people, the fun crowd who kept me coming back. They also held me accountable because they noticed when I didn’t show up.
Start small and do what is do-able. Don’t expect change overnight. When I first started running, my lungs ached. I hated it. I would also say that doing an exercise or sport that you enjoy is really helpful. You will get to the point where you see exercise as a privilege, not a chore.