Walktober 2011

In October 2011, 6 committed Wokabaot Jalens teams signed up to compete in an online pedometer challenge, organized by the Australian Government. This program is free of charge and all you need is a pedometer, a team of 4 and internet access. 

It is a very challenging program – 1700 (!) individuals from Australia participated, both men and women. “After the first week we realized that our Vanuatu teams are in the top scoring teams!” 

Four weeks of hard walking have come to an end and three of the Vanuatu teams are among the top 10 teams of all 444 teams! These enthusiastic teams were highly committed and managed to walk up to 40.000 steps a day. 

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Read the full story here.

looking back at the walktober challenge 2011. One participants shares her story:

We thought we (our team) give this challenge a try: Not only were we walking, it was a great way of sharing and learning about new healthier experiences that we are facing through the challenge. 

We were also looking for ways to improve our fitness (i.e climbing hills, walking certain distances, or walking at a certain pace). We were walking constantly to shops, bus stops, to pick up print outs instead of sending someone else to pick it up etc :)))
 

Personally this online challenge has boosted my energy to where I am now. I have been walking already so the online challenge enabled me to increase my steps and gradually try and increase it daily over the course of the challenge.

We have a great team leader who continuously encouraged our team to walk more. The results during the challenge for me is; some weight loss and an increase in my energy levels. 

Our team (Vanuatu Eagles) is continuing to walk twice a week eventhough the challenge ended and we have other interested friends who want to join our team to walk.

Thank you for making it possible for us to participate.  And if there is another one in the future, please count us in!

Best regards

XXX

Continued commitment

Hi again, 
we will try and send you some pictures soon,  as our walking sessions still continues after the October Walk ended last week. It's twice a week group walking - Monday and Thursday.

Oh Katja, other women are so interested and already we have a new member walking with us now with no pedometer - she does not care.  By the way Katja can you help us buy/order more pedometers at our own cost, I tried asking transport @ ... but they were unable to assist.

Thank you tumas
xxx

Walktober challenge experiences

Gud morning team,

wow! 

 

Dora, I am so excited for you, that longfala road to black sands and malapoa stage area and return is a long walk, me few steps lower than your one, just 42,971 steps... great am happy for all of your effort. 

 

 

Some pictures from yesterdays exercises. This is the walking distances that makes that steps for all of us. 

 

Sharing this pictures with you all from my mobile phone. its not really clear :)) but at least something..

 

Keep walking for your health purposes. All the best for today.

 

with much love,

XXX

Vanuatu eagles - week 3

Hi Katja and thanks for the reminder.  Yeps its the last week of the October Walk and I know many of us have done extra kms last weekend.  Yesterday I broke the record by walking from Teoumaville to my workplace did some work and in the afternoon I walked back the same distance - its about two hours from home and another two hours back.

Pheww... I thought people saw me on the road and thought I was crazy (without knowing my aim was 30,000 steps).  To my suprise, my steps did not beat my other two colleagues which boosted our group to 3rd position as of this morning!  

Oh my, we went walking at lunch time and made fun of ourselves but yet we are not giving up, we are maintaining our targets (to maintain those steps for this week) and we are going walking this afternoon again together.  Its great fun!!!

Happy walking ladies.

xxx

Vanuatu eagles - week 3

Congratulations to Vanuatu Eagles who is ranked the third (of 441) as of today (but this does not mean it stops there:))

Ladies!! we can all make it.  Please set your target each day or each week (as a team and personally)  and work towards it.  Encourage each other and walk together. Share healthy tips too.

The secret to making up your steps is start in the morning and then accumulate through out the day.

Stay safe and healthy ladies

Happy walking olgeta!!!

xxx

one team shares the corporate walking experience

Hi and thanks Katja for your continiuos words of encouragement. For your information our group is ranked 5 out of the 444 teams as of this morning, we want to maintain to be up in the top five groups...

For your info, I have a very good team, all team members are very smart walkers.  We have group walk twice a week, every monday and thursday and we try to reach 20,000 everyday, in fact most of the times last week we achieved and went over this goal.  I guess if we want to maintain the position (to be within the top 5 teams) we have to increase this goal to 30,000 this week, right ladies??!

Corporate challenge - Walktober

Five motivated and committed Wokabaot Jalens teams are taking it up and have started the Corporate Walking challenge yesterday. What great role models you are! 

Good Luck and keep us posted about your progress. 

Waes woman wokabaot blong laef!

Taking it some steps further

Several teams are now registering for the Corporate Walking Challenge 2011.

Great work - good luck ladies, you can do it!!

Thank you so much Katja for that email, I am deeply encouraged as I thought that by walking more than 10,000 steps a day I could still have so much portion on my plate. By reading this email, I will make sure that I will stick to a healthy diet as well. For the past 2 weeks I felt so much alive, more fresher and alert at work and more energetic during my netball game every saturday. I am so thankful to be part of this program....

another success story

Dear Katja,

Just an update on my last check-up at the Specialist NCD at VCH, after taking medication (3 tablets every morning)  for high blood pressure for two weeks, the reading came down from 197/180 to 140/80. no diabetic no cholesterol. I now find myself regaining the strength I lost for the past few weeks and the weight is going away so fast. I find that walking for half an hour is just my level so far. i do not eat salt anymore and cutting it from my house too. (my family have difficulty accepting it but I give them my example to convince them….hahaha) so they accept easily. I use herbs for condiment: parsil, coriander, green onion, basil etc. and I love it. My round face is becoming  not round anymore!!!!! I’ll do my next check-up on the 1^st of november. I’ll keep you posted with my health condition.

Thank youa again for convincing me to seek medical help, I sincerely appreciate it and it changed my life.

God bless.

xxx

update

The monitoring phase of the Wokabaot Jalens has terminated in July 2011 and data analysis is currently in the process. Participants are encouraged to keep up with the healthy lifestyle and regular exercises for long-term success.....One participant shares today:

"Walking has become a habit to me now. I really love walking and have maintained my weight since."

Vanuatu Daily Post

After 12 weeks with the Wokabaot Jalens Program, Letty W. Kaltonga talks to the leading lady Agnes David about her experience. 

I love walking and walking is part of my life. I walk to work every day and throughout the day as well but joining this program has boosted me up to walk that extra mile. Especially when I went through the first health screening test, my weight result was 79 which was marked as overweight in comparison with my normal weight used to be 65 and my height is 1.62m. My waist is 99 which is beyond the normal waist measurement which is 88, too much fat storage along my waist, the above results is very disturbing and has exceeded my normal body index. This is very serious I have to take some drastic measures in order to avoid the catastrophic situation I am heading for. The advice is my life is in danger if I don’t make any change. There are only two ways out that is to walk a lot or do more physical exercise and change my diet to healthy diet in order to lose weight. After the test results my aim is to make sure that I improve my health so I was concentrating and focussing on reducing my weight and changing my diet without realizing that I will hit the 1million steps challenge record. With the determination I have for improvements I have done so much work i.e. walking and eating healthy diet during the last 12 months and I lost 10kg.

Read the full story here

Healing diabetes effects through lifestyle interventions - a success story.

Dear Katja

I am so glad that I have joint this program (Wokabaot Jalens). I am a diabetic and also a hypertension patient. I had high blood pressor since I got pregnant with my first child and now she is almost 30 years old. I have four children. In 2003 my legs got numb and I had since then asked doctors what to do to help my legs but never had an answer which could help me.

I am so glad to say that since I joined your program I feel the difference. Now I can sleep well in the nights and I do not need my legs to be massaged every evening any more. At my office, you can look across the sea and at the point at Devel's point there are 11 Windmills. If I wanted to see the Windmills I had to use glasses to see them but now every morning I can see with my naked eyes which I am so glad I could see them very clearly.

Once again thank you Katja for introducing this program to us, and I am so glad that I am part of it and to tell you honestly I am not going to stop now.

Thank you again

XXX

feedback

Hello again, 

I have really enjoyed the Wokabaot Challenge because it has changed my diet.  It was quite difficult to cope, but I am gradually cutting off the bad habits. 

I was addicted to chocolate during lunch hour.  This habit has completely has stopped after going on the pedometer.  I am now eating fruits during lunch hour. It is a big achievement for me!!  I have on my mind that I am doing it for my family and children and that’s how it has keep me moving.  

Thanks!!!

 

I did enjoy the wokabout jalens and I am so happy that just few weeks when we started the wokabout jalens..I was told that my wedding will take place in May 27th and sure did I fit well into my wedding dress and I felt so happy and metally fit for that day. Thank you so much and looking forward to continue with my wokabout...

feedback

Hi,

 

Thanks indeed for a wonderful initiative that got the woman of Vanuatu to challenge themselves in this Wokabaot challenge. 

 

I have been one of those many who really enjoyed this program and always want to go one step higher. This week is the last week and it sees some of us really trying to walk those steps and challenge oursleves to more than the usual step numbers.:)))

 

By the way the Walkabaot Challenge has really motivated some of us to not only walk but try some other exercises apart from walking. I have a great partner who supports me, walks with me, skips with me, runs with me and do other exercises with me, and it was very encouraging.

 

Thank you for a great initiative.  Please count me in for the next challenge.

 

I have truly enjoyed every walking activity from the beginning to the end and I will continue my walking for a better healthier me and my family.

 

With best regards

XXX

some more feedback...

... you know, I have plenty of friends who really want to join the Wokabaot Jalens .A lot of ladies know that when they see a ladies walking home or to work and they know those ladies have a pedometer with them...So please bring plenty of pedometer because more ladies wants to join the Wokabaot Jalens....

One active lady shares her success strategies

Hi,

some feedback for you:
As of last month i met up with a group of 5 women and told them its OK and healthy to wokabaot in public. We have been going on now for few weeks, and I am planning to met up with them to share the healthy tips you shared with us with them so they can see the importance of keeping healthy, it's just that we have not yet come up with their time as yet.

I have walks with these women and taught them the how walks movement and beats to make a full body movement and that they can be sweating and also told them the more you sweats the more you burn up body calories or body excessive fats. They are now practising and keep up with their walking speeds every mornings. :)) am really proud to see my other fellow sister doing their healthy exercises.

One woman last week approached me and asked if possible she can join with me in my mornings power walks. I assured her that as long as her body agrees with her soul then she is most welcome.

Last month, I had a weight balance, i lost almost 8 kilos :), am feeling much lighter and feeling healthier.

My secret of gaining the 1 million steps is, i have set my aims and goals to achieve the steps that is, a daily 30,000 steps and on public holidays and Sundays 50,000 steps, eventhough i never make 50,000 steps as yet.

I promised my self on day 1 of our program to reach my goals within 6 weeks. I set and structure my distances and exercises. but I think i reach my goal on week 7 or 8 which is not much satisfactory to myself :(

Challenges
Guess what  - I am a really sugary tempting person, i loved chocolates and sweets etc...love eating too and more careless but still working on my exercises each morning. I am struggling with keeping honesty to my health and life, but am slowly each days.

There are some weekends, when i faced rude guys on the road and sometimes drunken but never give up.

Thank you for asking and here is what i wanted to shared with you in this course.

Thank you for your advices and support as always....

some more feedback...

What XXX and myself we used to do, is during our lunch hour, we always walk to where we can climb hills.  We do that every lunch, that is why and now, if you come back in July, you will noticed that.  We are now losing a lot of weight...!!!

A great initiative - spread the health information to your communities!

Good afternoon!

 

Guess what - our church health and temperance department has adapted the health tips you sent earlier and integrated them into our Sunday fitness exercises for church members! 

 

 

Plis find attached as our coordinator did after i share the health information with him, hope you don't mind. i am always sharing this with him for integrating into his programs esp. the healthy information tips.

 

bleesings.

XXX

Pacific Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults

Wokabaot Jalens success stories...

"Hi.  I wish to take this opportunity to thank you personally for initiating this program which I was very fortunate to participate in.  I thank you sincerely because I have found it to be very successful compared to my previous attempts to reduce my body weight.  With this program I have indeed lost a lot of weight and my blouse and skirts are starting to hang loose....  I also feel smarter and alert everyday I come to work and I am feeling very cool about it.  I am very proud of this achievement and I wish to continue to participate in the next program should there be anymore after this one ends."

Well done!!!! 

the current leader of the Wokabaot Jalens shares experiences...

Gud morning,

Mi very happy blong luk se mifala i kamaot first.

Ating by yu luk long group blo mi XXX mo XXX tufala i stap workabaot evry morning mo afternoon mekem se steps blo tufala i bigwan.

Every wednesday mifala i gat sports long kawenu field. Naoia mifala i kam 1st  long volley ball, soccer mo basket ball

Ating hemia nomo smoll report


cheers

PMO

another feedback from a participant.... !

This week i persuaded Mrs XXX one of our weak step member to our Wednesday physical activities and she was surprised for her self and made 12,000 +steps..i convince one of the male overweight gentlemen in the area where i live and now he started doing power walk with me each morning. He was reluctant and slow on our first few mornings but now he is going on his feet and am proud to be his power walk friend
this Sunday i am invited Mrs XXX for a morning power walk at Mele beach we are bringing our kids and partners will sent you our pictures.:) when i managed to borrowed a camera.:) so this Monday is labour Day and a public holiday in port Vila so will be involving more physical exercise.
 
Thank you for your advice always on food consumptions and motivation, its making an impact not just in my personal lives but on all other women in port Vila i hope!

one of many feedbacks from a participant....

"Thank you so much for that email, I am deeply encouraged as I thought that by walking more than 10,000 steps a day I could still have so much portion on my plate. By reading this email, I will make sure that I will stick to a healthy diet as well. For the past 2 weeks I felt so much alive, more fresher and alert at work and more energetic during my netball game every saturday. I am so thankful to be part of this program...."

Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department

Week 1 - we organized for Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays each lunch hour for Dance/Aerobic/ Zumba workouts. We had a successful turnout that first week. On Wednesday afternoon from 3:30 -4:30pm, beach power walking was done. Everyone donated funds for fruits for lunch hour! 

A great lunch hour activity initiative from the Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department!

Action in EX FOL

Ministry of Education

"Dear Shark Team Members and other female colleagues,

 

Thank you for attending our Healthy Eating Lunch program today and I believed that we have enjoyed the food and most of all the program. Please be reminded that next week tuesday (26th .04.2011) is our Healthy morning breakfast at work. Therefore bring something healthy for breakfast including lots of fresh fruits. Again thank you tumas long olketa we oli save kam joinem team for today's program. Wish you all a happy wokabaot jalens through out this week!"

Women and Wokabaot Jalens participants... 
yu lidem way blong heltia Pacific!

Ministry of Health, Health Promotion Officer

Hi xxx,
This intervention program is in a big progress and thank you for the other ministries feedback to what they are doing after the training at the FOL complex. I've been to a few ministries for other business and i can tell that these women who attended the women intervention program are now proactive to TOP up their STEPs everyday to 10,000. To me this is important in a sense that it helps these ladies in the ministries and vulnerable groups really come to understand the importance "Physical Activity" which we called it "Walk for Life".

I can say, theres a big progress and improved in the MOH within the ladies. They are doing really well and not only in getting physically fit, but also there's improvement in their diet control during lunch as i saw everyday. Most of them have lost some weight already. They really work hard to achieve their targets everyday and I would like to also say thank you to A/Director PH, Shirley Laban for being a big motivator to all these women to be part of these intervention and also always supportive to push things go forward. Thank you also to Mr Jerry Iaruel as main man behind the logistic preparation and administration work that had been done in time as result of this program turned successful.

What is happening in the Magistrate Court? Find out.

1. Group exercise on Mondays Wednesday and Thursdays.  To start off, we will go down to Korman Stadium and walk around to boost the step numbers before going home. On Wednesday we leave office at 3.30pm but on Monday and Thursdays, we leave AS SOON AS we finish work and start walking down.  Perhaps XXX you start walking up to us at the Magistrates Court as early as possible and we all walk down to Korman.  (We might come up with other activities as we progress).
   
   
2. All of us are required to inform our partners/husbands and family members about our committment to this weekly program to seek their support.  Remember this is for our own good health so they need to support us if they want to see us alive for longer.
   
   
   
3. Last week, I notice that some of our step figures are round figures and I hope we are not just making them up or recording them properly.  I also notice that for XXX, she did not wear the pedometer on Saturday and Sunday because it was raining.  Just a reminder that we need to wear the pedometer from the time we wake up in the morning until when we go to bed.  So even if you are not going for a walk, every steps you take just around and inside the house counts - and it is Sunday to Sunday- no difference for working days and weekends or nights and days, as long as we are up and moving, let the pedometer hang on you.
   
   
   
4. Some of us noticed that last week we often find our pedometers not reading properly, that means we are not checking it regularly or putting it on properly. Please try and check now and often whether it is sitting properly as it should be in order to read properly.
   
   
5. This week, we try and improve our readings, if yours was 5,000 last week, try to increase to 6,000 or 7,000 this week but our goal is 10,000 everyday as usual.  Hopefully our weekly program (if we put our efforts to it), will help to improve our number of steps - nothing sipos yumi no kasem 10,000 everyday, so long as we try our best.
   
   
   
6. Lastly, XXX will be going away to Australia but she confirmed that she will remain with the group by sending us her readings each week. XXX will also be going on a Court tour but this should not stop her from participating, meaning she will continue to walk her steps on Tongoa and send us the recordings.

To conclude, it is great news for some of us especially XXX to be feeling a lot of difference in the body in terms of walking longer distance and feeling stronger and healthier  I am also experiencing a lot of difference within myslef too, and am sure we are all experiencing the same and therefore heading for a better and healthier life.  

Let us not forget our healthy eating tips, we should pin a copy up on the wall to remind us always.

Step tables from the Department of Statistics

The Department of Statistics and Finance tracks their team members step numbers well - look at this table they created!

Great work! 

So, at the next screening in July everyone is in this shape? :)

Fresh Fruit Eating Day at MoE!

Today is Fresh Fruits Eating Day at the Ministry of Education, organized by the "Sharks" team. One of the activities they came up with is to bring some fresh fruits to the office and to share them at work.

What a great, healthy, fresh and energizing idea, isn't it? 

Thank you sharks, for sending the pictures!

Wokabaot Jalens - it's happening!

The kick-off of the Wokabaot Jalens in Port Vila, Vanuatu was a great success! More than 200 ladies registered to take the lead and step up for a healthier life. A busy scheduled week lies behind us and we are ready and committed to take up the challenge!

I am extremely pleased to see so much interest by the ni-Vanuatu women to act and to take another step towards a healthier and happier life. Mouth to mouth propaganda created a lot of interest, also from the private sector and we hope that we will have the chance to have another round, sometimes soon.

But let us now focus on the current Wokabaot Jalens with 200 ni-Vanautu ladies taking action.

WOKABAOT JALENS - WAES WOMAN WOKABAOT BLONG LAEF - EVRY DEI 10.000 STEPS!

Pacific Media Centre: VANUATU: Shaping up - ni-Vanuatu women in action

Shaping up: ni-Vanuatu women in action!

Find the full press release here

Preparation cont

Another box of materials just arrived from the US! Another step for many more to come...

Preparation

Another step: all materials for the Wokabaot Jalens taking place in Vanuatu have been ordered and are arriving these days in Auckland.

Posters, brochures etc are looking good!?!

Only two more weeks until Wokabaot Jalens!

Healthy lifestyle perception of ni-Vanuatu women

In November 2010, we have conducted focus groups with ni-Vanuatu female civil servants about physical activity and healthy eating.

We learned about perceptions and attitudes of ni-Vanuatu women and will use this information to design a culturally sensitive physical activity program!