"Inspired to Run, Part II": Ledys' Marathon Story

Part II of our "Inspired to Run" series, in anticipation of the upcoming 2012 LA Marathon, features the story of Ledys Lopez -- SOSMentor board member, Team ShapeUp runner, and mentor. Ledys shares how the LA Marathon has impacted her personal health, and her big plans for this year's Charity 2-Person Marathon, where she'll be running with SOSMentor ShapeUp student Alex Yarza. Enjoy!

Until recently, I had been fighting weight problems my entire life. I was always a heavy child and as I became a young adult, I was classified as obese. I tried every diet and exercise plan out there, but nothing worked.

When a friend of mine first introduced me to LA Roadrunners in 2010, I weighed 235 pounds and was a size 12/14. When I completed my first LA marathon, I weighed 180 and had dropped to a size 8/10. Training for the 2010 LA Marathon allowed me to focus on my health, improved my self-esteem, and given me an incredible sense of empowerment.

This year, I am running in the Charity 2-Person Marathon, but I am not just running for my own health or well-being. I’m joining with a partner, a Hollywood High School student named Alex Yarza, to run for SOSMentor. Although he’s much younger, Alex is someone I can really relate to. He used to suffer from childhood obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

With the help of SOSMentor and their ShapeUp program, Alex learned how to make healthier eating choices and incorporate physical activity into everyday life in order to shed his excess weight and stay healthy. Today, he is at a normal weight, is confident in his own skin and in control of his health.

SOSMentor ShapeUp has helped countless young people like Alex by bringing Registered Dietitians, volunteer mentors, and physical trainers into schools to give kids the knowledge and skills they need to be healthy. SOSMentor’s volunteers mentor high school students in nutrition and exercise for 5 weeks. Then, the high school students become mentors to children at a nearby elementary school. It’s an innovative and effective program that I’m proud to be a part of (I am on the SOSMentor Board of Directors and will be serving as a mentor this Spring).

Alex has become an advocate for healthy eating in his community and even plans on mentoring other high school students during the Spring ShapeUp program. He is participating in the Charity 2-Person Marathon not only to stay active, but also to raise money for the organization that helped him so much.  

Having earned my doctorate degree in Educational Psychology and completed my dissertation on juvenile-onset obesity, I am passionate about educating and encouraging young people like Alex to establish healthy habits that will last them a lifetime.  And I’m proud to be running for an organization like SOSMentor that does this work every day. 

"Inspired to Run, Part I": Sumi's Marathon Story

As the 2012 Honda LA Marathon approaches, we wanted to share some of the inspiring stories of our Team ShapeUp members, who are raising money for SOSMentor while training for the Big Day.

Part I of "Inspired to Run" is the story of Dr. Sumi Kawaratani, who ran her first marathon last year. You can support Sumi and Team ShapeUp by donating any amount to the team HERE!

In 2010, a close friend and fellow Rotary Club member, Carole Donahue, approached me about running in the LA Marathon to raise money for SOSMentor, the nonprofit organization she and her husband co-founded to empower students to eat healthy and get active. The idea of participating in a marathon seemed completely crazy to me – I had never walked more than a mile or two, much less 26.2 miles! 

Nevertheless, I agreed to train with her and the LA Roadrunners, presuming I would probably have to drop out at some point. To my own surprise, I stuck with it. At first, we walked 2 or 3 miles, and before you know it, we were doing 12-16 miles! Over time, I gained more and more confidence in my ability to cross the finish line. 

Having already mentored students in nutrition and physical activity in SOSMentor’s ShapeUp programs, I became even more motivated to raise money and finish the marathon for all the kids SOSMentor serves. By asking everyone I possibly could to support me and donate to this cause, I raised $700 for SOSMentor! 

On the Big Day, March 20, 2011, it began to sprinkle – but with our plastic ponchos, we were prepared to brave the weather. The rain fell harder as we pressed on through the streets of Los Angeles. I had to keep my eyes locked on our pace leader to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I thought of calling it quits time and time again, but I kept reminding myself, “You didn’t do 6 months of training for nothing! I gotta finish this for all those donors who supported me, and for my teammates. I gotta finish this for me!” 

It was a true test of my will, not to mention my body! As we neared the finish archway at 26 miles, one of my teammates LJ urged me, “Let’s cross that finish line!” With a groan, I managed a slow trot and finally reached what I had been working toward for all this time. 

The experience was so exhilarating that I'm at it again this year, training to run with SOSMentor Team ShapeUp. My main motivation is supporting this worthy organization, which does wonders in educating children about diet and exercise. SOSMentor has successfully trained so many young adults to take charge of their health and fitness. I applaud their great work and look forward to supporting them once again in the 2012 LA Marathon!

We Want YOU to Be a Mentor!

“As a volunteer, I have seen firsthand how SOSMentor’s program impacts a child’s life. I have witnessed a child’s behaviors and attitudes change for the better through the program and am proud to have been a part that transformation. It’s an awesome process to observe!” – Alan Bernstein, SOSMentor volunteer

Many of our dedicated volunteers, like Alan, have expressed how deeply rewarding it is working with the kids in our programs. In just 90 minutes a week for 6 weeks, our mentors are able to make a huge impact in the students’ lives.

Not only is mentoring kids in healthy eating and exercise an excellent way to empower them to live a healthier lifestyle, mentors also learn more about improving their own health and well-being.

You don’t have to be a nutrition expert or fitness aficionado to be a mentor. Working with the students is a collaborative effort in which everyone learns from each other. ShapeUp staff members and teachers lead the workshops and we provide volunteers with everything they need to work with their small “table group” of students.

Volunteers and students often form meaningful bonds as the program progresses. At the culmination event, many students share their personal stories of how the program has impacted them. It’s a touching experience for everyone involved, and we want you to be a part of it!

Ready to be a mentor? Our 2 upcoming programs are: 

University High School (11800 Texas Ave., Los Angeles 90025)

• Orientation: Wednesday, February 22
• Workshops: Mondays, February 27 - March 26 (3:15 pm - 4:45 pm)

Hollywood High School (1521 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles 90028)

• Orientation: Thursday, February 23
• Workshops: Wednesdays, February 29 - March 28 (3:15 pm - 4:45 pm)

You can fill out a mentor application HERE, and see more information in the flyer below. 

Hope to see you soon!

Need help sticking to your resolutions? Check out SuperTracker!

By now you’ve probably seen MyPlate, the healthy eating visual released by USDA last year that recommends we fill half our plate with fruits and vegetables. Sounds simple enough, right?

Well, sometimes it’s easier said than done. That’s why we were excited to see the new SuperTracker tool on ChooseMyPlate.gov.

As many Americans set resolutions to eat healthier and exercise more in 2012, the SuperTracker appears to be a useful resource for achieving these goals. With this tool, you can easily look up nutrition information for your favorite foods, keep track of your food intake and physical activity, and analyze your progress over time.

Check out the website and let us know what you think in the comments below. Will you be using SuperTracker? What healthy goals have you set for 2012?