Finding the fire to stay healthy

By JASON ELLIOTT

Staff Writer

COEUR d’ALENE — Some were motivated by being overweight.

Others came to stay on a path to eating healthier.

Either way, they couldn’t help but be inspired by the message that nine-time Bloomsday wheelchair champion Craig Blanchette delivered on Monday afternoon to a group of patients in the Heritage Health Rx program at the Kroc Center.

Blanchette, who owns and operates a certified life coaching business, spoke to the group on Monday. Blanchette, who lives in Vancouver, Wash., at least once a month speaks to patients via online video chats.

“Someone asked what it takes to make changes, and how do you get someone to do something to benefit them that they’re not ready to do yet?” Blanchette said. “You need to inspire them, and usually you do that by doing something amazing. Sure, setting world records is amazing, but it is what it is. Sometimes, just by coming and speaking, they can look at me and it can inspire them to chase their dreams. The other is to awaken their desire to make their life better.”

For example, there’s Michael Anderson, 63, who recently stopped smoking and has been fighting with his weight since his youth.

“I’ve been overweight for most of my life,” he said. “My physician offered me Kroc Rx through the Heritage Health program. I’ve always wanted to join the Kroc Rx program. I went to the Eat Well: Be Well program and wasn’t losing the weight I wanted to.”

Anderson then met Blanchette and suddenly found himself on the right path.

“I filled out his assessment and was looking for something that I didn’t have to count calories,” Anderson said. “The program he does, they offer a complete menu. But the big aspect of it was the coaching. You can be involved as much as you want, and they’ve got a tremendous network of people that will tell you their stories. And it’s good motivation. And Craig’s a personal trainer; he made me feel like what I was doing was important to him.”

It has also been important to Anderson’s wife, Julie.

“Watching him go through Craig’s program has made me aware of my carbohydrates,” she said. “My eating and snacking as well. Since he’s been on the program, I’ve lost five pounds. Overall, I was 180 and I’m 167 now. I’ve lost a lot of weight, and I just love coming here. I love it and can always find something in the building to use to keep myself fit.”

For Sarah Prater-Werts, it was pain in her legs that brought her to the program.

“I was having a lot of knee pain and was overweight,” Prater-Waits said. “I was having problems with my left knee and had surgery three years ago after breaking my kneecap in half. I tore the patella so bad that they had to sew them in. I was tired of the pain and everything and heard about the program and got inspired to do this.”

Since January — when the three began going to the classes — each has experienced a change in weight, and lifestyle.

“The classes really force you to see what you’re eating,” Michael Anderson said. “You would go through the different aspects of foods, whether it was carbohydrates or fiber. Jen (Ramsrud, the instructor of the class) broke it down and made us understand the kind of food we’re eating and if it was for it, or against it. It showed us how fats worked and how you’ve got to have so much fiber.”

“I was 245 pounds when I started and am now down to 210,” Prater-Waits said. “I’ve dropped a lot of weight. I’ve learned through the classes I’ve been through and learning to stop smoking, Craig taught me I could succeed, no matter what my limitations were. I just kept going and learned to eat right and it was a great, inspiring thing for me and my daughter as well. It was a wonderful thing he was able to come today and talk about some things I haven’t heard about before.”

And for the long-term?

“It has changed considerably,” Anderson said. “I used to eat maybe 70 percent of my food in carbohydrates. And now, it’s maybe 20 percent. And I’m aware of how much fat I eat and if this is helping or hurting me. There’s no one way or the other. Long-term, I’d seriously like to get down to 200 pounds. I haven’t been 170 pounds since fourth grade. I’m at 246 now and have lost 18 pounds since I started in the program. I’ve got more energy and look forward to getting up in the morning.”

Same with Prater-Waits.

“I want to be at my high school weight, which was 130 pounds,” Prater-Waits said. “I want to be able to run a marathon, and that’s what I want to do. When he talked about a patient running a marathon, I thought, ‘Yep, that’s what I want to do.’ I want to run Bloomsday again, because that inspired me to do great things. And I know I can help other people as well.”

Classes held on Mondays are like a typical doctor’s visit, with medical professionals taking a patient’s weight and vital signs before class.

And even though it was just an hour, Blanchette can sense the change after seeing the patients.

“You talk with them and eventually it starts to burn in them and it inspires them,” Blanchette said. “And it’s a blessing to share my story and it helps them make changes that are beneficial.”