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July Member of the Month - Daniel Cruz
Posted 28 July 2008
This month’s Member of the Month,Daniel Cruz went from just a plain old fever to walking, cycling and climbing fever. He was nominated as Member of the Month by his friend and colleague, Euey Madden. The best part is that his new lifestyle is not only good for him, it's good for the environment too.
Fitbug: How did you first hear about Fitbug?
Daniel: Through a program with work (Oldham Council). Also my friend, Euey Madden (who also nominated Daniel as Member of the Month) had done it and recommended it to me.
Fitbug: What made you join?
Daniel: To be honest, in November I was 14 stone, I mean I’m a well built lad which isn’t bad. Then I lost a stone on my own, well half I lost on my own, and then I got the virus (a lot of people suffered from the Novo virus over December) and lost the other half. (Laughs).I wanted to keep it off. I actually do a lot of walking and hiking on my own and I wanted to finally get around to figuring out how much I walk.
Fitbug: What did/do you hope to accomplish?
Daniel: I wanted to keep the weight off and track what I was doing.
Fitbug: Why does Fitbug work for you?
Daniel: Like I said, I’m quite well built, I just walk and cycle. When I was 18 I was 12 and a half stone, and now at 40 I’m 13 stone, that’s not bad. I’m basically trying to get to something sustainable, and that was the reason for Fitbug, to try and make it sustainable.
Fitbug: What have you gained?
Daniel: I think my fitness level has certainly gone up, now every day I’m going out for one walk at least. I try and go out for half hour after lunch and I’ve found it really makes me feel better and breaks the day up.
Now instead of hopping in the car, I happily walk the 20 minutes to get milk or bread at the local supermarket and the children often join me on the bikes, it’s good because the rest of the family has had a benefit from it too. It’s the mental knowledge that I can walk a little bit more than before. Apart from time, it doesn’t really cost me any thing.
Fitbug: Who/what was most helpful?
Daniel: Physically seeing every day what I do and the nutrition pages helped teach me what I should be eating. Now instead of junk after lunch I’ll maybe eat fruit. Really what I’ve gained most is now I think twice about what I eat.
Fitbug: Why do you think it works?
Daniel: It makes you think. Like about that journey to the supermarket, or walk around town. Instead of the chocolate bar why not have some fruit or a smaller portion at meals. It makes me stop and think about each day.
Fitbug: How do you feel?
Daniel: I feel great. I’ve always felt healthy, but I feel healthier now. I feel as good as I want to be. I don’t want to go to the gym and get a six pack. Now I walk to work, I can do it, and it’s maintainable. Sure I don’t have muscley physique, but how aerobically fit are some of the guys who go to the gym? Can they walk 10 miles?
Fitbug: Have you met any personal challenges?
Daniel: My friend Euey nominated me because I encouraged him to join me walking the Yorkshire three peaks challenge - we managed to walk the three mountains in nine hours 10 minutes covering 25 miles.
Fitbug: What’s your advice to other FB members?
Daniel:Use the car less and don’t have such unrealistic goals. Walk to the local town. Ten and a half miles only took me two and a half hours. I can walk almost as fast as people jog. It’s really about keeping things realistic for your own life. One of the things I like about Fitbug is that the target is personal, and not judged by universal standards.
Daniel now...
Fitbug: How did you first hear about Fitbug?
Daniel: Through a program with work (Oldham Council). Also my friend, Euey Madden (who also nominated Daniel as Member of the Month) had done it and recommended it to me.
Fitbug: What made you join?
Daniel: To be honest, in November I was 14 stone, I mean I’m a well built lad which isn’t bad. Then I lost a stone on my own, well half I lost on my own, and then I got the virus (a lot of people suffered from the Novo virus over December) and lost the other half. (Laughs).I wanted to keep it off. I actually do a lot of walking and hiking on my own and I wanted to finally get around to figuring out how much I walk.
Fitbug: What did/do you hope to accomplish?
Daniel: I wanted to keep the weight off and track what I was doing.
Fitbug: Why does Fitbug work for you?
Daniel: Like I said, I’m quite well built, I just walk and cycle. When I was 18 I was 12 and a half stone, and now at 40 I’m 13 stone, that’s not bad. I’m basically trying to get to something sustainable, and that was the reason for Fitbug, to try and make it sustainable.
Fitbug: What have you gained?
Daniel: I think my fitness level has certainly gone up, now every day I’m going out for one walk at least. I try and go out for half hour after lunch and I’ve found it really makes me feel better and breaks the day up.
Now instead of hopping in the car, I happily walk the 20 minutes to get milk or bread at the local supermarket and the children often join me on the bikes, it’s good because the rest of the family has had a benefit from it too. It’s the mental knowledge that I can walk a little bit more than before. Apart from time, it doesn’t really cost me any thing.
Fitbug: Who/what was most helpful?
Daniel: Physically seeing every day what I do and the nutrition pages helped teach me what I should be eating. Now instead of junk after lunch I’ll maybe eat fruit. Really what I’ve gained most is now I think twice about what I eat.
Fitbug: Why do you think it works?
Daniel: It makes you think. Like about that journey to the supermarket, or walk around town. Instead of the chocolate bar why not have some fruit or a smaller portion at meals. It makes me stop and think about each day.
Fitbug: How do you feel?
Daniel: I feel great. I’ve always felt healthy, but I feel healthier now. I feel as good as I want to be. I don’t want to go to the gym and get a six pack. Now I walk to work, I can do it, and it’s maintainable. Sure I don’t have muscley physique, but how aerobically fit are some of the guys who go to the gym? Can they walk 10 miles?
Fitbug: Have you met any personal challenges?
Daniel: My friend Euey nominated me because I encouraged him to join me walking the Yorkshire three peaks challenge - we managed to walk the three mountains in nine hours 10 minutes covering 25 miles.
Fitbug: What’s your advice to other FB members?
Daniel:Use the car less and don’t have such unrealistic goals. Walk to the local town. Ten and a half miles only took me two and a half hours. I can walk almost as fast as people jog. It’s really about keeping things realistic for your own life. One of the things I like about Fitbug is that the target is personal, and not judged by universal standards.
As this month's star member Daniel receives a gorgeous Molton Brown gift set. If you'd like to feature as our member of the month - or if you know someone that deserves to -
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