Long-time CHF member helping to create safe “Streets for All”

It’s rare that a simple purchase has a long-lasting impact on your life. But for Center for Health & Fitness member Julian Katz, purchasing a bicycle 27 years ago sent him pedaling down a path that eventually landed him the well-earned nickname of “Cycling King of Hermosa Beach.” During the past three decades, Julian worked tirelessly as a community advocate for safer streets and respectful use of the roads for everyone. His efforts led to the installation of 40-plus miles of bikeways throughout seven separate cities in the South Bay, including the first bikeway in the Beach Cities.

We sat down with Julian to see how he put his plan into gear to help make safe “Streets for All.”

Q: You’ve been referred to as the “Cycling King of Hermosa Beach.” How did you earn this title?
A: “When I first came out here, my wife was still in Philadelphia. The first weekend it seemed like there wasn’t much to do, so I figured I’d buy a bicycle. I hadn’t been on a bike in 30 years probably, so I started to just ride in the afternoons after work, and on the weekends. I just liked it.

I kept riding recreationally and about nine years ago, I became a Public Works Commissioner in Hermosa Beach. In that commission, I encouraged the department to form a subcommittee to see if we could develop a Bike Master Plan in Hermosa Beach, because I would ride a lot and see there were very few facilities for bicycles. So we formed a subcommittee with the Parks and Recreation Commission and developed the Hermosa Beach Bike Master Plan, which allowed us to put the first bikeway on Hermosa Avenue.

In the course of doing all of that, I got to know fellow cyclists in Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach and we decided we would try to get seven cities together and develop a multi-city bike master plan, later called the South Bay Bicycle Master Plan. We corralled the seven cities (El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Lawndale and Gardena) and got them to apply for a grant with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and they were awarded a quarter-million dollars.”

Q: What would you say was the biggest challenge in applying for the grant and getting seven cities to collaborate?
A: “After getting the grant, building the plan and getting it approved, we discovered the biggest obstacle is getting the cities to implement what they said they were going to do – set up 213 miles of bikeways by 2020 – and we’ve probably done only 30 or 40 miles. So there’s still a long way to go, and we’ve eaten up five years. So that’s the challenge.”

Q: For those who are not familiar with the South Bay Bike Coalition, can you explain your role with the organization and what the SBBC does?
A: “We created the South Bay Bike Coalition to apply for the grant. Our role has been constructive advocacy. We worked through the plan and are constructively advocating for its implementation. Jim Hannon was part of our coalition. He founded the Beach Cities Cycling Club and asked me to be the Vice President of that organization, so I fill that role too. Our objectives are very similar, but the cycling club isn’t meant for advocating. They are ride monitors and leaders who provide education. We’re in the midst of trying to merge the two organizations because it seems like a natural way to get people more into advocacy and to bring them together, so hopefully it will work out.”

Q: What is your favorite Blue Zones Project “Power 9 Principle?”
A: “I like Purpose. That’s been pretty important in my life. To have an objective, a goal and a plan. I’m an engineer, and we work pretty much according to a plan. We have a schedule, we write things down and we have a goal – it may not be today’s goal, but I try to stick with it. I don’t operate randomly very often.”

Q: What further improvements can be made to increase the livability of our streets?
A: “Making it safer for pedestrians – getting cars to slow down is a big one. We don’t need to drive as fast as we do. We’re going to get out of our cars whether we like it or not. By making the streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists, we can encourage younger people to ride or walk to school, get exercise and be healthier. It’s pretty clear from what I’ve read that if you get exercise in the morning, before you go to school, you’re far more alert when the day begins, and you’re more open to learning, instead of waking up during first period.”

Q: What can bicyclists as well as motorists do to help improve bike safety in the Beach Cities?
A: “The most important thing is to be respectful of any person with whom you share the road. We have a pamphlet called “Share the Road” – it’s rules of the road for cyclists and motorists. And that’s one of the things SBBC works for is to get people on bicycles to be respectful and not try to take the whole road. We have a lot of cyclists in the South Bay who like to ride fast in groups and not share the road, and they can be very aggressive. That’s not an effective way to get cooperation, so it’s really about mutual respect.”

Q: What sparked your transition from bicyclist to bicycling advocate?
A: “It wasn’t safe enough! I looked around at the rest of the world and a lot was happening to increase bike safety in Europe and other parts of the United States, but not much was happening in the South Bay. And it’s the perfect place! The weather is good all year around, but there was very little interest. So we worked to spark interest, and the number of people riding bikes has increased noticeably over the past 5 years, especially among women. So I’m doing what I can to help those new riders and make all rides safer.”

Q: If you could live in any of the original Blue Zones which would you choose?
A: “Oh, well I like Sardinia. We’ve been there! I loved the island. I like the beach. I have a boat, so why would I want to be in Loma Linda? You can have a boat in Sardinia, easily, but not inland like that.”

Q: Any words of advice to someone interested in biking in the Beach Cities?
A: “We always welcome new advocates and people who want to work with the public, cities, commissions and city councils to make the cities safer for everyone! We all can benefit from safer streets.”

— By Michael Lindsey, Communications Intern

Living for Longevity

CHF member Carmen Sellers, 82, is an archetype for health, happiness and the life-extending benefits of Blue Zones Project’s ‘Power 9 Principles’ 

By Eric Garner, BCHD Senior Communications Specialist

If it were up to eleven-year-old “Hermosa,” every day would be a dog day afternoon spent basking in the sun and napping on the couch. But instead, three times a day, the aging “senior dog” is roused by a coaxing tug on her leash from owner Carmen Sellers, a sprightly 82-year-old with a perpetual gleam in her eye and pep in her step that belies her age.

“Our walks are more of meanders, strolls or lollygags, to be honest. Hermosa hates exercise, so I motivate her along,” laughs Carmen, a longtime Center for Health & Fitness (CHF) member and avid Blue Zones Project backer whose outspoken health advocacy is inspiring countless locals, aside from her impervious four-legged friend, to embrace a “Blue Zones lifestyle.”

The project’s local poster woman does far more, however, than simply expound healthy advice. She also exemplifies the nine lifestyle behaviors that New York Times bestselling author and National Geographic explorer and researcher Dan Buettner believes can crack the lock on longevity: Blue Zones Project’s “Power 9 Principles.” Carmen happened on Buettner’s community health improvement project four years ago and discovered she’d been, unwittingly, adhering to a “Blue Zones-style” of living for more than 30 years.

“The running joke is that I’m trying to live until I’m 105 and strapped into a wheelchair,” says Carmen with a chuckle. “But I’m after quality of life, not age. And that’s what attracted me to the Blue Zones Project.”

“Blue Zones” are the areas of the world with the highest rate of centenarians – Ikaria, Greece; Loma Linda, California; Nicoya, Cost Rica; Okinawa, Japan; and Sardinia, Italy. Buettner and his research team spent years in these longevity hotspots and observed nine shared behaviors exhibited by centenarians in each Blue Zone. Buettner’s research spawned the creation of Blue Zones Project, a national well-being improvement initiative designed to make healthy choices easier where people live, work, learn and play. Beach Cities Health District (BCHD), one of the largest preventive health agencies in the U.S., successfully launched Blue Zones Project in Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach in 2010.

The “Power 9”

1. Move Naturally 

The world’s longest-lived people inhabit environments that constantly nudge them into moving without thinking about it, according to Buettner’s research.

It’s safe to say exercise also comes second-nature to Carmen, who enjoyed a successful Ultra Cycling career throughout her 50s and 60s, competing in a slew of local, state, regional, national and Senior Olympic events – highlighted by her record-breaking relay performance (65+ age category) in the grueling 3,000-mile Race Across America in 1999.

Today, long retired from racing, the ever-energetic senior bikes 50-75 miles every week; walks her dog for 45-50 minutes (three times daily); lifts weights and takes balance classes at CHF (three days a week); stretches and does calisthenics while watching TV; and seizes every opportunity to bend the ear of anyone in the market for healthy advice.

“When people mope or complain about their health, I tell them to start stretching and moving their bodies each morning, right when they wake up, and then keep moving,” Carmen says with chipper confidence. “Exercise is a natural way to rid aches and pains and create a healthy, happy state of mind. Trust me, it makes a world of difference.”

2. Know your Purpose

The Okinawans call it “ikigi” and the Nicoyans call it “plan de vida” – for both it translates to “why I wake up each morning,” according to Buettner’s research.

For Carmen, it simply translates to helping others.

During the past 25 years, she’s worked one day a week for the City of Redondo Beach, connecting isolated senior citizens to legal, health and social resources in the community. A self-admitted “social butterfly,” Carmen’s a known fixture at most older adult happenings in Redondo Beach, which range from line dances and bingo to yoga and Tai Chi. “It’s incredibly important for seniors to build a social life,” she says. “I love my dog and home, but it’s healthy to venture out and connect with people. I try to lead by example.”

Carmen also serves as an ambassador of sorts for Blue Zones Project, volunteering at a variety of local events, including 10k runs, free fitness initiatives and workshops. Prior to finding the project, she donated 20 years to Beach Cities Health District (BCHD), performing customer service work at its community gym and administering preventive health services to older adults in the community.

“Volunteering is just excellent,” says Carmen with youthful enthusiasm. “Helping those in need and serving your community gives your life purpose and meaning, but more importantly, it also gives purpose and meaning to those around you.”

3. Down Shift

Although everyone experiences stress, the world’s longest-lived people have routines to shed that stress, according to Buettner’s research.

Unlike her furry housemate, down-shifting doesn’t come naturally to Carmen, whose thoughts, fittingly, have a tendency to race at breakneck speed.

So every Thursday morning, she squeezes her “mental brakes” through mindful meditation at Veterans Park in Redondo Beach. Under the instruction of mindfulness enthusiast and BCHD Social Worker Shiori Lange, she’s learned to use controlled breathing exercises and visualization techniques to quiet her thoughts and focus on the present moment.

Although admittedly tedious at times, Carmen emphatically points out the stress-relieving benefits are worth the effort. “I have a really chatty Kathy mind … and mouth,” she says. “I’m always on the go, so it’s very healthy for me to take the time to down-shift.”

4. 80% Rule, 5. Plant Slant

While most Blue Zones dwellers only consume small amounts of meat, all of them eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and rarely eat to excess, according to Buettner’s research.

The mere mention of greasy, battered food provokes an audible gag from Carmen. Decades ago, the burgeoning cyclist eagerly swapped deep-fried eats and meat products, save an occasional piece of fish, for raw vegetables and plant-based proteins at the urging of her brother and former racing mentor. It began as a way to build lean muscle and cut fat, but soon developed into a lifestyle.

“I tell people all the time, ‘I don’t make myself eat this way – I like it,’” asserts Carmen. “I feel better and more energetic when I eat plant-based foods, and guilty and unnatural the few times I don’t. And you can forget about deep-fried junk, I won’t touch that.”

6. Wine @ Five

A glass or two of red wine, especially when combined with a plant-based meal, is a good idea for most people, according to Buettner’s research.

Red wine, specifically Cannonau wine from Sardinia, Italy, contains artery-scrubbing flavonoids and the powerful antioxidant polyphenol. Both nutrients are known to lower the risk of contracting certain diseases, including heart disease and some forms of cancer. Moreover, enjoying wine in moderation (1-2 glasses) while breaking bread with friends and family reduces stress, strengthens social connectivity and aids longevity, according to Buettner’s findings.

“I’m a big believer in wine,” says Carmen with a sheepish smirk. “I drink a half-glass each night while preparing dinner and an additional half-glass with my meal. And I just happen to prefer red, so it works out nicely.”

7. Right Tribe 

The worlds longest-lived people chose, or were born into, social circles that supported healthy behaviors, according to Buettner’s research.

When Carmen and her friends formed a cycling group years ago, the 12 to 15 members were all in their 50s. Together, they rode miles of sundrenched highways and byways throughout the South Bay, only braking for coffee and an occasional pastry along the way. “We all loved to ride, but I think we valued the social aspects more,” she fondly recalls. “We supported and encouraged each other.”

As the years rolled by, time took an inevitable toll on the tightly knit group – friends relocated, injuries and illnesses sidelined some and others passed away – leaving only Carmen and two original members, a husband and wife in their 80s, to pedal through their Golden Years as a unit. Though their rides “needed to evolve a bit” in recent years – the husband-wife tandem now pilot a bicycle-built-for-two due to health issues – camaraderie and connectedness endure.

“We aren’t riding 60 miles at a time anymore, and we don’t meet as frequently,” says Carmen with a whisper of nostalgia in her voice, “but we still ride two to three times a week. It’s something we all look forward to.”

8. Belong

All but five of the 263 centenarians interviewed in the Blue Zones belonged to some faith-based community, according to Buettner’s research.

Carmen’s a big-believer in the changing power of religion, even though she doesn’t attend church or claim any religious affiliation. Nevertheless, 35 years ago, she gratefully watched her older sister completely transform her life for the better after discovering Evangelical Christianity.

“Oh, she was a mess before,” recalls Carmen. “Religion turned her life around in a big way, which was miraculous to see. But, personally, that’s not for me. I consider myself spiritual.”

Not a day passes where Carmen doesn’t spend time appealing to a higher power or the universe – usually while walking along the Greenbelt in Hermosa Beach, her hometown for more than 40 years. “It’s therapeutic to believe in something greater than you,” she says. “I’m totally wowed by the universe.”

9. Loved Ones First

Happy, healthy centenarians in the Blue Zones put their families first. This can take shape in many ways, including investing time and love with their children and grandchildren, according to Buettner’s research.

Eight-year-old Tommy is a likely cycling and motocross legend in the making. The spunky up-and-comer routinely secures top finishes in punishing off-road races, much to the chagrin of older competition. Losing never enters the pint-sized pedaller’s mind … except when grandma rolls into town.

“I can still beat him on flat ground. Tommy’s not used to second place, so it really irks him,” Carmen crows in delight. “He’s ultra-competitive just like his father … Oh, maybe it runs in the family.”

Carmen, her son, Tom – an accomplished former professional racer in his own right – and grandson unite over a mutual love for extreme sports, but they reinforce their unique family bond through regular phone calls during the week and family outings, laced with intergenerational competition, on weekends.

“Last time we raced, I edged little Tommy out by the nose of my bike tire. My victories are getting narrower and narrower each time, so I’m planning to just quit while I’m ahead,” says Carmen with a telling twinkle in her blue eyes.

Watch Carmen’s honoree video for Spirit of Wellness 2017 here.

The Power of Change: Dash Michael’s Struggle with Addiction

“For years I said I wasn’t an alcoholic, but I had one foot firmly in the grave,” says Center for Health & Fitness (CHF) member Dash Michaels, who just a few months ago celebrated five years of sobriety.  His long, arduous battle with alcoholism is a stark reminder of the perils of addiction as well as an inspiring comeback story that shows it’s never too late to make a healthy change.

Addiction plagued Dash early in life, beginning in his early 20s. It came on slowly at first, a few too many drinks with friends during late nights in Hermosa Beach, but – as addiction often does – intensified quickly and took a major toll as he aged.

“I recognized that I had an addiction to alcohol in my late 20s and early 30s,” says Dash, now 59, “but I knew how to control myself enough not to spiral out of control. I even had long periods of sobriety during those years, but the urge to drink would always return. And it really took hold in my 40s.”

From the outside looking in, it appeared that Dash was living a charmed life at 40 – he had money, a successful career, fancy cars, a big house and a loving wife and step-son. But alcohol was secretly turning his American dream into a nightmare.

“My life finally just went overboard. My marriage crumbled, we had to sell the house and there I was: a 48-year-old man living on his own down at the beach, still acting like a kid. And from there it continued to grow out of control.”

What Dash describes as his darkest days took place when he accepted a job in Nashville, Tennessee. No sooner than he moved back east, the economy tanked and he lost his job. He found himself spending all of his time alone at home, drinking away days, weeks and months at a time.

“Man, I didn’t have a pot to piss in at the time, and every last cent was spent on food for my dogs and vodka, in that order. Each day, I’d get up in the morning, get a pint of vodka and down it in about an hour – then repeat the process at noon, midafternoon and evening. I was drinking enough to kill myself, but, luckily, somehow I survived.”

The winds of positive change first began to whisper in 2010. At the urging of his ex-wife and his best friend, Randy, Dash moved back to the South Bay and took a job in sales. Though the move home did little to quell his drinking, it did set the stage for what Dash calls his “big wakeup,” which came after he lost his car keys in a drunken stupor, stranding him miles from home for eight days.

“After the car incident, I sat alone in my room for three days and listed out all of the things going wrong in my life. And alcohol was the common denominator in all of them. And I finally just said, ‘I’ve had enough.’”

The afternoon of November 28, 2010, Dash stood trembling on the street just outside the Hermosa Beach Alano Club silently pleading with God for the courage to walk inside and ask for information on the club’s Alcoholics Anonymous program. As he timidly approached the doors, he caught the attention of a tall man dressed to the nines in a striking suit and tie who asked, “Are you court appointed?” Dash replied that he wasn’t.

“Good, then you’ve got half the battle beat,” said the man, who Dash describes as a cross between local L.A. weatherman Dallas Raines and actor Don Johnson.

Moved by the words of support, Dash thanked the gentleman, quickly exchanged a handshake and walked into the Alano Club where he was greeted with the same question and response by a nice-looking woman in reception. The two brief exchanges marked the beginning of sobriety for Dash, however, they also marked the last times he’d lay eyes on the thoughtful strangers again.

“When I hit the 90-day mark of sobriety, I started making a serious effort to find that man and woman, to thank them for telling me exactly what I needed to hear at the time. I went to meetings in Malibu, L.A., Palos Verdes, basically all over the area, but never saw either of them again. I’d even ask people in recovery if they ever heard the phrase ‘you’ve got half the battle beat,’ and they all say no. It’s not something I’ve ever heard since.

“Call me crazy, but I believe they were angels sent here to save me,” said Dash, choking back tears. “There’s no doubt in my mind. And I’m just so grateful that I got another chance at life.”

More than a year into sobriety, Dash joined the Center for Health & Fitness (CHF) in 2012. At the time, he couldn’t do a single pushup. The years of alcohol abuse had deteriorated his muscles and all but killed his stamina – but instead of feeling discouraged, Dash eagerly accepted the challenge to take back his health and did it with his trademark grin on his face.

“If I can quit drinking and change my life, why can’t I get back in shape? Exercise isn’t work for me anymore, it’s easy. Even if you give a little bit in here, maybe just complete half of your goal, you’ll leave feeling invigorated. It’s a shot of adrenaline each day for me to visit the gym and to see familiar faces.”

Today, with five-plus years of clean living under his belt, Dash may have the most recognized face at CHF – visiting a minimum of five days a week to lift weights, take cycling and yoga classes and, true to character, crack a few jokes and offer up words of encouragement to everyone within earshot. Outside of CHF, his personal life is also thriving: Dash has become close friends with his ex-wife and step-son; his career in sales is back on track; and he reports experiencing a stronger sense of faith and purpose than ever before. 

His disciplined exercise regimen has paid off, too. Two years ago, after falling on nine straight waves, Dash summoned the strength and agility to hop up on his surfboard and ride out his first wave in decades. “That felt damn good,” Dash said with a grin.

“I’m living again. And the best part is every day I get the opportunity to treat people better, to bring happiness to others and to, hopefully, motivate someone else to turn their life around.”

After meeting Dash, you walk away feeling like you have half of your battle beat, too.

Member Highlight: John Niehaus

It didn’t happen suddenly, but John Niehaus is not half the man he used to be. And he couldn’t be happier about his transformation.

Using nothing but good-old-fashioned exercise, proper nutrition and support group therapy, the gritty 68-year-old Center for Health & Fitness (CHF) member has lost 200 pounds the healthy way. Now at 182 pounds – it’s hard for even John to believe he tipped the scale at almost 400 pounds two years ago.

“Looking back, I honestly just let myself go,” says John. “My self-discipline weakened, my mentality changed and I became inactive. I knew I was gaining weight, but I told myself ‘I’ll do something about it tomorrow.’ But tomorrow never comes.”

A former amateur bodybuilder and nine-year veteran of the Air Force, John didn’t struggle with weight through the first 40 years of his life. He was blessed with a naturally muscular and athletic build, which helped him endure the strain of military service in the Southeast Asia conflict. But as John entered into his late 40s and early 50s, his eating habits worsened and the weight gain began.

“I was one of those guys who would drive to the nearest McDonalds as soon as the McRib came out,” says John. “But I couldn’t eat just one. I had to have three or four. It was out of control.”

John was soon diagnosed with Type II Diabetes – which required daily insulin injections and pills to regulate his blood sugar. Doctors repeatedly said the weight was the root of his health problems, but John was resistant to change.

That was, however, until his weight complicated a serious surgical procedure.

“I was so big that the doctors couldn’t roll me over or move me from one table to another,” says John. “It was apparent my weight was negatively affecting all aspects of my health, and I finally said ‘enough is enough.’”

Though he hadn’t used his membership for a few years, John summoned the resolve to return to CHF in 2013. He hired Personal Trainer Lauren Alnes to help design his workout plan and began working out four days a week.

“People can be hesitant to spend money on personal training,” says John, “but it was a no-brainer for me. Lauren is constantly coming up with new exercises for me to try, and she talks to me about my nutrition, too. I’ve never been disappointed, and she’s been instrumental to my success.

“Plus, any money I spend on training, I won’t spend on food – which is good.”

To address his overeating, John met with an addiction specialist at Kaiser, who explained to him that food was actually his “drug of choice” and he was exhibiting the classic signs of addiction. He was referred to Overeaters Anonymous sessions to learn coping skills and receive peer support. And John hasn’t stopped attending the group sessions since.

“The mental side of weight loss is just as difficult as the physical, if not more,” says John. “There are so many days where you want to give up and eat a burger and fries or skip your workout at the gym, but you have to be strong enough to say no. And it’s much easier to make healthy decisions when your trainer and friends help hold you accountable.

“It’s also important to remember that it took years to put on the weight. So it will take years to take it off. There’s no quick fix.”

Two years of hard work later, John is 200 pounds lighter and nearing his goal weight of 175 pounds. He continues to exercise two to three times a week, eats well-rounded meals and visits with his support group weekly to stay on track. He still has diabetes but doesn’t need to take insulin shots or pills anymore, to the delight – and dismay – of his doctor.

Even with all of his progress, John already has another meaningful goal square in his sights.

“The only reason I talk about my weight loss is to give people hope and to let them know they can overcome difficult health challenges, too,” says John. “All the tools you need are at CHF, and there are people here who care about you and want to see you succeed.

“It will take time and a lot of hard work, but it will pay off. So don’t give up on health and never ever give up on yourself.”

Member Highlight: Laura Ruiz

Surrounded by friends and family, Center for Health & Fitness (CHF) member Laura Ruiz celebrated her 45th birthday on March 6, 2014. She remembers being thankful that day for her health, happiness and career – and recalls being blissfully unaware of the dramatic twist her life would take the next morning.

Laura was at work on March 7 when she got the call from her doctor. The words “Stage 3 Breast Cancer” hit like a hammer – thrusting Laura into a fight for her life against the same cancer that took her mother just three months earlier.

“It changes your life immediately,” says Laura, now 46. “There’s so much to process and to work through that you become depressed, angry and sometimes enter stages of denial. But the beautiful thing is that you have a choice. You can either get busy living and fight, or get busy dying. I don’t do pity parties, so I decided to fight back by being happy and by living.”

Laura’s cancer was considered triple negative, meaning it was aggressively growing and progressing. Initially, she wasn’t considered a candidate for surgery and had to endure several rounds of chemotherapy – which left her body bloated and weak.

“Chemotherapy is one of the most challenging aspects of cancer,” says Laura. “It made my body feel like a wet noodle. It messes with your emotions, appetite and moods – it is torture to endure. But you have to try and stay positive and find the joy in day-to-day life. That’s the key.”

After many rounds of chemo, Laura got the news that her cancer had shrunk enough for surgeons to operate – and the tumor was successfully removed in October 2014. However, Laura would still need to undergo 38 additional rounds of radiation during the next two months.

In January 2015, Laura was officially declared cancer-free and given the green light to start exercising and rebuilding her strength. Her doctor specifically recommended that she join CHF because of its experience with cancer patients. Laura agreed and began personal training sessions with Aidan Acuff.

“I was nervous to start exercising because my body was so weak and I’d gained so much weight, but Aidan and Derick really made me feel comfortable from day one,” says Laura. “Aidan is such a great motivator and he really helped me get into a routine. He also changed my outlook on nutrition.”

Recently, Laura made the switch from one-on-one personal training sessions to Aidan’s Small Group Training class. The program pairs 5-6 people together for group personal training sessions two-three times per week in a group exercise setting. Participants have access to special equipment and workout together under the watchful eye of their trainer.

“I’m not someone who likes big groups of people, especially when I exercise, so Small Group Training was a perfect fit,” says Laura. “We all support each other in class. We push each other and, most of all, we have become friends. It’s been great for me.”

Since joining CHF in February, Laura has lost 40 pounds and gained back muscle tone, stamina and a ton of confidence. She considers her post-cancer-self to be more grounded and humble, and she has even reconnected with her faith by returning to church. Simply put, Laura believes that beating cancer not only made her stronger, it also made her a better person.

“My advice for anyone facing a seemingly insurmountable challenge is: don’t ever give up,” says Laura. “Do what makes you happy and never lose your will to live – because life is beautiful.”

Member Highlight: Paul Senior

To welcome each New Year, many people set fitness goals as their resolutions.  It’s common.  However, there’s nothing ordinary about the fitness goals being set and achieved by Center for Health & Fitness member Paul Senior year-round.

Paul, 69, joined CHF at his wife’s urging seven years ago. At the time, his goal was to lose a few pounds and “firm up.”  So he took a conservative approach – using the treadmill and light weights.

But as his physical condition evolved, so did his objectives.  And he enlisted the help of long-time CHF trainer Derek Malit to accomplish them.

Derek quickly put Paul to work on cardio, strength and endurance, because in his older age, Paul felt his strength and stamina were deteriorating.  And he wanted to fix it.

At Derek’s urging, Paul began training and participating in as many CHF classes as he could. He enjoyed the variety of exercises – and people – each group exercise session presented.  

Paul was having fun and, importantly, seeing results.  His strength was returning and his energy levels were as high as ever.  But he wasn’t satisfied.

“I vividly remember my old drill sergeant barking out, ‘drop and give me 25!’” said Paul, an ex-military man.  “In my 20s, 25 push-ups were a cake walk.  And I wanted to tell my wife I’m as good as I was in my prime – as far as doing push-ups anyway … So I set a goal.”

With Derek’s help, Paul quickly checked 25 push-ups off the list.  And true to form, he took it a step further.  He told a bewildered Derek that he wanted to now qualify for the Army Airborne Ranger School physically, which requires paratroopers to do 49 push-ups in two minutes and 59 sit-ups.

“I was taken back,” said Derek.  “Generally, 69-year-olds don’t qualify for the Rangers, or even want to, but Paul isn’t your average man.  He’s a goal-setter and his work ethic is second to none.  So I said let’s do it.”

Spoiler alert: Paul has qualified – exceeding both requirements.  And he’s not slowing down.  This year, he plans to improve his bench press and rowing reps.

Ever-humble, when you ask Paul what the key to his success is, he is quick to give credit to those around him.

“There have been many members who have encouraged me and helped me over the past couple years,” said Paul. “The positive reinforcement they and the Health District staff have given me has really helped keep me motivated.”

Paul hopes to inspire other CHF members to get fit and healthy in the New Year. He firmly believes there is a place for everyone at CHF and that the friendly, welcoming environment is conducive to success.

“The Center works with people at many stages of life; some have serious, maybe debilitating, diseases, and I see them diligently and determinedly working with the Center’s staff to improve their mobility, strength and weight,” said Paul.  “These people inspire me to reach my goals.  They’re heroes.”

To read more about Paul in The Beach Reporter article, ‘Redondo Beach man steps up for health and charity: climbs 180 flights of stairs at World Trade Center’, click here.