Diana Hall named Fittest Employee for February

A few of you have known of the medical pathways I have traversed over the last three years but it is likely that most have not. Shortly after arriving at NTCC in 2010, I began experiencing some medical concerns and after months of testing and conversations with physicians from both M.D. Anderson in Houston and with the Mayo Clinic (among others), it was determined that I have a disease called Multicentric Castleman?s Disease or MCD for short. You will find this disease listed among the American Cancer Society?s ?cancers?; however, it technically is not a cancer but does quite consistently emerge into a cancer, Non-Hodgkin?s Lymphoma. In order to combat that possibility, I?ve undergone three years, off and on, of chemotherapy treatments. Currently, I am in remission and no treatments are necessary but chemotherapy will likely be a maintenance medication for me for the rest of my life as are the weekly blood testing/monitoring and frequent trips to MDA/Houston. And now you may be thinking: So, how is she being nominated as the fitness story of the month? I asked myself that same question before determining the following:

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1. I had thought I was rather fit and also overall healthy in my habits since my weight loss of 88 pounds several years ago. (That?s what having five children will do to you.†J) I lost that weight by becoming active again and just being a bit more careful of my food intake. I began walking and eventually began running. As I got a little older though, running was too difficult on my back and joints so I moved to inline skating as my routine form of exercise.

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2. However, when diagnosed with a disease that can be overall frightening but also can lead to ?bigger? things, and a disease that causes extreme fatigue, low energy levels, and general feelings of pain and discomfort related to the lymphatic system, I decided it was time to wage war big time. It probably helps that this girl thinks, ?Oh no sir! You are not winning this one! I will fight you, sickness, with everything I?ve got.? I had something to prove. To myself.

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3. That then led to the focus on two things: my spiritual health and my physical health. The physical health part is what so many of you have heard for so long: exercise to create energy. Doesn?t make much sense does it? But it works. The more I exercise, the more energy I have and the better I sleep. I realized running wasn?t for me but walking was just so boring! Thus then began my trek down the biking/cycling road. I began riding my bike almost every day; starting slow and building up. On bad/cold/wet days, I simply use the FIT here at NTCC †(stationary bike) but mostly, I love the open air of bike riding?and take along my camera to catch some pictures along the way as I stop for water. Some of you have passed me either on 271 headed toward Gilmer, riding out to the College and back or to Bob Sandlin State Park. (I live in Pittsburg) What began as just riding at the park in Pittsburg a couple of times around the 1 mile track has now turned into riding to Gilmer and back?36 miles. I recently even tried a trip over to my Mom?s in Atlanta, TX and succeeded in the 55 mile trip. (Not a fan of the lack of shoulders on the roads that direction nor of the rumble strips??..) My goal one day? To ride the MS† 150 in memory of my cousin who recently passed away after living most of her years with MS. (A three day, 150 mile bike ride between Houston and Austin.) Much of the completion of that goal depends on the effects of my disease at the time since, during the chemotherapy moments, bike riding isn?t always an option until I feel a bit better as you can imagine.

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4. I have also managed to complete two rounds of P90X. For those that don?t know about that: it is a series of DVD?s which Tony Horton, a trainer, produced with exercises that focus on building the core, including the back, legs, arms, and chest. Although there were a few moments in that quite difficult program that I thought I was either going to die or be unable to walk or even pick up a glass of water due to the soreness, I successfully completed the full program. I was thrilled to be able to brag to my 26 year old son that his old mama did it and he couldn?t. (He quit before the first week.†J) This program did a better job of toning some areas than the bike riding did. (Arms, back for instance) And I also believe it helped with the endurance portion of my cycling. I will be starting round 3 in a few days.

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5. The best part about riding my bike and staying so active? My energy level is high; my nights are spent sleeping and overall sleeping well; and I get to eat a BUNCH more good food when I get the chance. (Yogurt with granola every morning when I get to work, don?t often get to eat lunch but LOVE my dinner time meal! And I even reward myself with an occasional trip to Braum?s or to Brookshire?s for a little Blue Bell!) It helps, too, that I drink about 125-150 ounces of water a day.

So now you all know ?the rest of the story?. †I have no excuses for not doing it because I now know I can. And you can too!

 

Diana L. Hall

Director of Human Resources

Northeast Texas Community College