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