Over the last 20 years I have gone to a variety of spas, usually once per year to help kick start my focus on living healthier. Though I have been to other places more than once, H3 is the only place I have continued to visit time and time again—and I plan to continue visiting from here on out.
I first came to H3 in November of 2009 for one week. I didn't really have specific goals before coming the first time; I was simply hoping to get back on track with my health. I didn’t know it at the time, but it turned out goal setting was something I found I needed to work on. In just one week at H3, I left 4 pounds lighter, with achievable and realistic goals for my health and a game plan for my return home. While the exercise classes were all great, the real benefits for me were the lectures and the one-on-ones I shared with my Health Habit Coach. Goal Setting, Body Image and Developing Your Week One Action Plan were lectures that truly stuck with me and that I continue to attend every trip back to H3. My Health Habit Coach taught me how to set realistic and achievable goals, which I am proud to say I actually followed through with.
One of the other great aspects of H3 is how much all the participants learn from one another. The conversations during meals of people's experiences and journey's have inspired me beyond losing weight; to ask myself what do I want to spend my time and money on? What brings me joy? How can I get out of the rat race or find a better balance to it all?
Before my first visit, I sprained my ankle 2 weeks prior to arrival so I thought I would be limited on the classes I could participate in ….which turned out to be one of those great blessings in disguise. Really, my only apprehension was that my sprained ankle would stop me from getting all the benefits of the program, but it didn’t take long for me to realize I had no need to worry. Since I had a hurt ankle, I spent most of the week in the pool. It reminded me how much I enjoyed being in the water—I found my passion for swimming while at H3.
To me, my newfound love for swimming turned out to be the most important thing I gained from my H3 experience because from that point on I decided I would only do exercises that brought me joy. When I returned home, the first thing I did was join a gym with a pool and started swimming. I had never swum competitively before, just recreationally as a kid. But, by January I had signed up to do a one mile swim in July 2010 to keep me focused on my goal…shockingly for a very successful person, I had really never had a goal before. In July 2010 I swam that 1 mile in the Hudson River in 38 minutes - my first race of any kind ever.
I have continued to come back to H3 ever since my first visit a couple years ago and each time it’s a different experience. The last time I attended the 3-Day Boot Camp Workshop...something I considered a stretch because I knew it would be difficult, but I gave it a try and loved it! I formed a bond with the people participating in the Workshop with me—it was great having the same group the whole time and being able to count on one another because we were all stronger and weaker at different things. It felt really great seeing that I was in good enough shape to keep up with the group...the previous year's work had really paid off in what I could enjoy doing.
In the last two years I have made the following changes in my life, many of which were inspired and supported by my time and the great staff at H3!:
- Quit a 35 year pack-a-day smoking habit in September 2010
- I am 30 lbs less than the first time I went to H3 (I’m working on the next 30)
- Swam from Brooklyn to Manhattan under the Brooklyn Bridge
- Bought a beautiful road bike—I haven't gone more than 20 miles but am enjoying riding it without hands while singing off key (it’s NYC, so comparatively speaking it’s not that crazy)
- In June 2011, I swam around the Statue of Liberty in 33 minutes
- Took up running on December 31, 2010 (didn't want it to be the New Years Day fall by the wayside cliché)
- And, my biggest accomplishment to date...on September 24, 2011, I swam 10k (6.2 miles) in the Hudson in 2 hours and 45 minutes!
So those are just some of the milestones during my journey in the last 2 years with H3.
Janine Serell; New York, NY
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