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Superhero of the Month –
Charley Hajduk
Congratulations Charley! You are definitely a superhero!
Team Mo and I chose our SUPER HERO OF THE MONTH based on several important factors that we believe reflect the values on which the Mo-Mentum Fitness world-class culture has been built upon.
Mo-Mentum’s Core Values include:
- Mindset for Growth, constant never ending learning….if you’re not growing you’re shrinking
- Over deliver on all we do
- Tribe we all need an incredible tribe!We are the average of the five people we spend the most time with.
- TransparencyWe believe in honesty and being transparent
- Vitality- we believe in living vibrantly and all out
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Meet Charley,
Mo-Mentum Fitness’s Superhero of July 2019! She definitely is a superhero!
Describe what your life (and your health) was like before fitness
“Everyone and everything was more important than me. I would always sacrifice what I wanted to do for others. I have a husband who has had two fusions – cervical and lower back and manages ongoing back pain every single day. I wanted to be there every minute of every day just in case he needed anything. I think I was smothering him.
Meanwhile my own mental and physical wellness was going downhill. I kept making excuses as to why I wasn’t able to do things, my back hurt, I had no energy, and just didn’t get excited about things. I was like a hamster running around my own little wheel. I couldn’t figure out how to get off.
I started on my “fitness” journey (which was more like getting out of the house) a little more than two years ago, going to yoga. It was something just for me and could get the ball rolling, both on a physical and mental level. I really enjoyed it and fairly quickly felt better, balanced and stronger.
Then came the annual physical and a “warning” that my blood pressure was creeping up. Over the year, I tried more yoga and started getting into yoga sculpt and yoga with cardio elements. The annual physical came around again, and the blood pressure was higher. The doctor gave me a month to get it down or she “could prescribe something.” Alarm bells went off, what was I doing, I am 45 years old and I need blood pressure medicine. Not a chance. I asked, what do I need to do? Cardio!”
Was there ever a low point or an experience that made your priorities change
“I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror. My clothes didn’t fit. My good friend committed suicide in December which made me feel I was wasting the time I have on this earth.
And finally, it was sitting in that doctor’s room feeling so unhappy that it had come to this – I was hyper tensive and categorized as obese.”
How did fitness come into your life (or back into your life)?
“My New Year’s resolution was “Say Yes.” I was planning on saying yes to things that would get me back out in the world and more involved with friends, community, and family.
Elena was my yoga instructor at another gym and she added to it, “Say Yes To You”. I didn’t get what that meant at the time.
At the same time, Elena just so happened to join Mo-Mentum and she asked if I wanted to join her there for yoga. It took a lot of persuading as I had until then refused to do yoga in a room with a mirror. I plucked up the courage, went to Mo-Mentum, looked at myself in the mirror, and thought I don’t recognize this person anymore. Mentally I was in a much better place (thanks to Elena over the previous year) but physically, I was not happy at all. Everyone was so welcoming and immediately I thought I have the tools here to make a change. If not now, when? I started slowly – just going to yoga, then I tried spin and that has really changed everything.”
What kind of results have you seen since starting a regular fitness program?
“40 pound weight loss. Have gone from a size 12 to sizes 4-6. Back in the little black dress of 1999 and able to share clothes with my mom. Blood pressure coming down from 146/95 to 110/70″
Why do you make fitness a priority in your life?
“Enjoy the challenge. Feel happier. See the difference. Social interaction. Support and positive feedback. Time for me not to have to worry or think – can leave everything at the door. Keep doing new things, meeting new people.”
These days, what truly makes you happy and feel at peace?
“I am not letting my body and mind go to waste. Being confident enough to say “Yes I can”
Please talk more about the actual changes in your life?
“Planner – I plan a lot more – grocery shop for the whole week, take snacks (thanks Susan!) on plane rides, find hotels with gyms, plan my day around ‘my time at the gym’
Find time for me
Tons more energy and wanting to “Say Yes” to anything
Spend money on myself – yoga mats, new sneakers, leggings
Don’t drink alcohol anymore unless it’s a special occasion – that crutch has gone
Always have my water bottle with me (I used to drink less in two weeks than I do in a day now)
Want to be more social
Different mindset – focus on what I want – feel like I am getting stronger versus “I can’t do this”
How do you feel compared to 1 year ago?
“A completely different person. I was depressed (didn’t want to admit it), now I am optimistic. I see a future that I look forward to. I feel I can inspire others. Someone called me an athlete – I have never been one of those.”
SPECIFICS? JOB? AGE? CHILDREN?
“46 at the end of this month, CEO of my own company, 3 step-children, one brand new grand baby and married (together for 18 years)”
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