Page 14 - HCPVitalityChronicles

Walking Her Way Back to Health: Sandra Ayers Reaches Platinum Status

The journey to Platinum has not been an easy road for Vitality member Sandra Ayers,
th
Administrative Assistant III at HCP 190 Torrance. She had always been physically
active in the past and completed 5Ks, 10Ks and half marathons as a runner. Then the
knee problems began, then the foot problems, and ultimately, two foot surgeries—first
to fuse a big toe due to arthritis on the joint and then realignment of a bone due to a
small fracture—that kept Ayers out of physical activity for a prolonged period of time.

“Before the surgeries, I was in pain so I couldn’t exercise,” said Ayers, who avidly
walks for fitness and loves walking her dogs. “After the surgeries I could not walk
whatsoever. It was a very grueling and depressing time, and during that time I ate
a lot and gained a lot of weight. I had been active and after the surgeries I couldn’t
do anything—no shopping, no walking my dogs. Altogether, it was three years of
pain and suffering.”

However, Ayers is anything but a quitter. After her first surgery, she borrowed an
electric wheelchair from a friend so that she could at least get around a little bit
outside and stay mentally engaged in life. And when she was completely restricted
from physical activity, she participated in many of the Vitality program’s online courses,
campaigns and conversations. The courses on stress management and mental well-being
were interesting to her, and she completed a conversation on sleeping well. Not only
did these provide useful tips to live by, but she accumulated Vitality points for completion.

Last summer Ayers participated in two organized walks, and she recently reached Platinum
status. She also joined Health Enhancement's Health & Weight Management Program at the
end of September and has since lost 25 pounds—good for her health and an extra 1,500 Vitality
points.

“The Vitality program is very motivational for me,” said Ayers, who got a FitBug earlier
this year and walks twice a day at work during her breaks. “It helped me to keep my
focus to the day I could walk,” she said, adding that she does not quite do 5,000 steps
a day but is working toward this goal.

“The beauty of the Vitality program is that you can start doing things at your own
pace,” Ayers said. “Start with courses to get tips on staying healthy, and talk to other
people in the program about what they’re doing. I’m not young anymore and I won’t