Tai is a wonderful example of taking advantage of the services here at the DAHLC even while juggling full time work and motherhood.

"I had a couple of goals...first was stress management. Working out always makes me feel better, but like so many people I struggled to actually do it. There was never enough time, you know?  It felt selfish to set aside "so much time" for me. I also wanted to be healthier in a general sense...have fewer aches and pains and just feel better overall. Like many things in life you get out of it what you put into it. It took work to ensure that my workouts were a priority, and when they were, I felt better and did better in the other aspects of my life too."

When asked what her biggest barrier is, Tai said, "Time!  I have an older (and very spoiled) dog who doesn't tolerate long times at home alone, so I wasn't keen on working out after work. I needed a workout that fit into my lunch schedule. But I didn't know where to start.  And because I was working out on my lunch, I didn't want a workout that would make me sweaty and gross, I had to go back to work!"

Like many people, Tai falls prey to prioritizing herself last. She found that the more she took care of her personal needs, the better she could care for those around her.

Some of the services Tai used included the exercise prescription. "I met with Anthony and I think I told him something along the lines of "I have 30 minutes from when I walk in to when I walk out, and the workout has to fit inside that!" He did a great job of creating a plan that fit into my time constraints."

She also participated in the Pregnancy Program and Mission Motherhood Program. With the dramatic transition into parenthood, Tai found these classes invaluable in building a supportive community and staying healthy.

Tai leaves us with an encouraging message:

"I have no data to support this, but I'd bet that half the people at the DAHLC have also felt like they didn't know where to start too. So really you're surrounded by like-minded individuals who have been where you are.

I feel a lot healthier!  I also feel much more comfortable prioritizing my health and well-being.  It's not selfish to make your health a priority, in fact it makes a lot of sense to do so because when you're healthy and happy, you can better take care of the people and responsibilities in your life."

Thank you, Tai, for being such a proponent of health and well-being in the midst of this busy life. You are an inspiration! Hear more from our members by clicking here.

Tags: Member Success, Member Success Story, mom, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Program, prenatal, Tai Kraft, Uncategorized