“Cycling class helped city woman improve health, now teaches others - Cumberland Times-News” |
| Cycling class helped city woman improve health, now teaches others - Cumberland Times-News Posted: — CUMBERLAND — Mary Cannon went from sitting on the couch every night to becoming an indoor cycling class instructor, and she shares her story of sweating off the pounds in this month's All You magazine. The Cumberland resident has been teaching the class for the last seven years after she realized that her lack of concern for her health was going to end up killing her. "Eight years ago, I weighed 240 pounds and my legs were so swollen that my doctor told me the skin on them was dying. After a full day of work, I barely had the energy to walk from the dinner table to the couch, where I spent most of my nights with my feet up," said Cannon in an "I changed my health for the better" article in All You. "As tired and depressed as I was, I knew I had to improve my health or I might not be around for my kids, then 18, 15 and 10," said Cannon. "I used to fall asleep at the dinner table with my head on the table. I was very sedentary," said Cannon in an interview with the Times-News. The pivotal moment in Cannon's life came when she decided to walk a quarter-mile after dinner. "I started adding a little more to my walking routine every night, and I started cutting back on what I ate every week. I set small goals. If I would have just looked at the big picture of losing 125 pounds, I would have never accomplished my goal," said Cannon. "Once I started exercising, I lost more weight, I felt better and had more energy." Cannon attended her first cycling class in March 2002 and after toughing it out, fell in love with the activity. By the third time of trying the class, people are hooked, explained Cannon. "I even joined a gym, where I signed up for a ... class, figuring it couldn't be harder than riding a bike. I was wrong! It was so intense I almost quit," said Cannon in the All You article. Indoor cycling is a very intense cardio workout and usually burns about 350 to 500 calories in 30 minutes, according to Cannon. Cannon suggests that those interested in joining a class should have an aerobic base before getting on a bike. "I can't find any other type of exercise where you can burn that many calories in 30 minutes," said Cannon. Her own class not only offers an intense workout but also a support system. "If it's not fun and you don't sweat, it's time to find something else," said Cannon, a certified instructor at the YMCA. "Exercise is just a byproduct of the great support system. We have formed friendships in this class. If someone doesn't show up for class, I send them an e-mail or a card asking them how they are and tell them I missed seeing them in class. I know what it is like to suffer with weight issues. I have been dealing with it all my life. It's a struggle every day and without that support system you're not going to make it." For Cannon, all the hard work has paid off. "All that sweat was worth it. In 22 months, the skin on my legs returned to normal, and I lost 125 pounds in time for my 40th birthday," said Cannon in the All You article. For her the hard work not only made significant losses in the weight department but also made significant gains in the health department . "There are other numbers, like your heart rate number, that are more important than the numbers you see on the scale," explained Cannon. "When I was 240 pounds, I had a resting heart rate of 85 and my blood pressure was sky high. Now I have a resting heart rate of 45 to 48, five beats above Lance Armstrong's." Cannon is working toward her bachelor of science degree in sports management from California University of Pennsylvania. She has thought about becoming a wellness coach or a motivational speaker. "This whole thing changed my attitude about life. I can't do desk work anymore. I can't save anyone's life by sitting behind a desk. If I've prolonged one person's life by teaching them, then it makes everything worth it," said Cannon. Cannon teaches a 30-minute class at noon every day of the week except Wednesday. She fits her class around the working person's schedule and suggests that employers should allow their employees to attend some type of exercise during their lunch hour. "If employers would realize the importance of exercise and allow their employees to exercise, there would be less sick days and they (employees) would have more energy and better attitudes. It is a trickle-down effect," said Cannon. The All You magazine featuring Cannon's article is currently available at Walmart. All You is devoted to value-minded women and offers budget-friendly recipes, smart-shopping strategies, coupons and candid health information. All You is owned by Time Inc. Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com. 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