Informal Learning - part two of ten

 

I have been procrastinating about writing this blog as I didn’t really know what to write or who to write about. The last blog “Part One (of what???) – Read to find out more!” stated that this would be a ten part series. I am not sure why I wrote that. The laziness in me wishes it was never promised, but the dreamer in me is glad it was. Literacy seems to be focused on the formal learning that takes place; but really lifelong and lifewide learning can happen informally and more often than not, it does. Like I said in the previous blog, those informal teachers never really get credit or thanks. The subject of my last blog, didn’t know they were being blogged about until after it was written. Even though I wrote that we should thank our informal teachers, I am also guilty of not doing so. 

 

This time around I informed my subject that I would be blogging about them and asked them some questions. Prior to informing them of my intent, I was looking at their profile on facebook. Yes, this person is a facebook friend and I have learned that facebook is a funny networking tool, I felt like a bit of an intruder looking at their profile. When I noticed they were online, we started chatting. Jeni Briscoe has been a personal trainer for about ten years now, and started bodybuilding 13 years ago. She has worked hard, owns a gym and brought the sport of bodybuilding to the forefront in Fort St. John through the Northern Classic and the winning of her ‘pro-card’. 

 

Growing up I never had a problem with weight, only with self-image. I always thought myself fat, even though I wasn’t. I never dieted, or ate unhealthy; I just did not like how I looked. Even later in life when I would put on a few pounds and take them off, I never liked how my body looked. I had a very poor body image. I don’t know when it started. It could have been when my favorite Mariposa outfit became too small. It was a wonderful 1980’s pink striped skirt with a matching top, when cotton became the all the rage. I think I wore the outfit to bed. I remember crying when it became too small and I tried to wear it even when I couldn’t do up the zipper. I don’t know if that was the moment, but something happened that caused me to hate my body.  I have always been confident in every other aspect of my life, but this one. Over the last four years my weight has gone up and down and skyrocketed to almost 200 lbs. For those that know me, know I am not a ‘big’ person and, at the time, stood at only 5’2” (I have since grown ¾ of an inch which I will talk about later). Yes, this created all kinds of problems such as back pain, reflux, I even went to the doctor a couple of times to find out if I had a thyroid problem or diabetes. I needed to blame something besides my poor body image and bad habits. 

 

In 2007 I started seeing Jeni at Today’s Techniques to begin an exercise regime. It worked for a bit, then my back went out and I couldn’t exercise for about a year after that. I tried the Weight Loss Challenge at the gym in January 2008, and I didn’t loose any weight, and I may have even gained some more. I was not mentally or emotionally ready to commit to loosing weight. I still had a poor body image. Jeni took me aside and told me about a cleanse and gave me some information. I did some research and tried it out. I loved it! I felt better, my reflux was gone and I started to loose some weight. I did a few more cleanses and then started seeing Jeni once a week. 

 

During this time, I have learned a ton of stuff. I get the food thing now. Jeni recommended a book, “The Eat Clean Diet” by Tosca Reno and it changed my life. I didn’t get the food thing before and now I get it. Why protein goes with certain foods and why certain foods need to be avoided, I get the importance of eating six meals a day. I understand the benefits of weight training, not just for my core muscles, but for my metabolism too. I have even grown ¾ of an inch through this process. I have actually started to like my body.  It hasn’t even been hard work. 

 

Because of Jeni’s practical knowledge, compassion, friendship and honesty, I have learned how to see myself through a different lens. I no longer see myself as a fat person, but rather as a lean, mean fighting machine. My goal is to enter the Northern Classic Bodybuilding, Figure and Fitness show this year and wear a bikini for the first time in my life! I will wear it with pride and confidence. 

 

Thank you Jeni Briscoe for helping me get out of my funk, and for being my leader, mentor and teacher. You are a superb trainer who has taught me about diet/nutrition and exercise. Over the last year you have supported me through my self-doubting and stood by my side during my ‘funks’. I love lifelong learning!

 

If you have any stories about the informal teachers in your life, feel free to share them. For more information please contact Erin Evans, Literacy Outreach Coordinator, 250-262-2088. Have an awesome day and don’t forget to thank your informal teachers!

 

PS - Thank you too Dr. Gammage.  I know you tried, but I just wasn't ready to learn.