NEW YEAR, SAME ME (ROLLING MY EYES AT WEIGHT LOSS COMMERCIALS AHEAD OF THE NEW YEAR)

Is it just me or are weight loss commercials ahead of the New Year almost as annoying as political ads??

They seem to prey on the people most desperate for change.?They wave around something shiny and new —?the latest and greatest — frequently communicating the not-so-subtle message that you are less than and for that very reason you need this one life-changing, be-all and end-all product or service.

• What if feeling good in your body didn’t have to be like that?
• What if getting in shape didn’t require a fancy gym membership or expensive new gym equipment?
• What if the dollars spent to get fit were miniscule and the return was oh-so-much higher?
• What if the small investment you made went on to make positive ripples across the community from our local Children’s Hospital to local businesses and organizations?

#CANTRELL5K2023

This isn’t just about selling 5K registrations to us.?We’re here to sell you a dream- a dream maybe you never thought attainable.?We’re here to tell you that it?is.?We have runners that travel across state lines to come out to our 5K.?Avid runners are certainly welcome and many flock to our event to compete for our?cash prizes, yet that doesn’t speak to our mission.

You see, we’ve been at this a while. 2023 will be our fourteenth time hosting this unique health initiative. Our heart has always been for the first-timer.?Our aim is to reach the person who never dreamed they could complete a 5K.?We want to let them know they?CAN?do it! In a given year, we’ve seen first-timers comprise as many as 46% of participants. Of course, that percentage falls when one-time first-timers come back to participate in the?Cantrell 5K?year after year. We’re happy to welcome them back each year as it’s a boost of confidence and gets us thinking, “Hey, we must be doing something right!”?Yet, we’re still hoping to reach the first-timers we know are still out there and place them on a different trajectory — from defeat to renewed hope, from desperation to expectation.

For less than $30, we want to help jumpstart you into a healthy lifestyle using the?14th?Annual Cantrell Center 5K & 1 Mile?presented by?Boland Prosthetic & Orthotic Center?on?Saturday, February 25th, 2023?as your launching pad.

It’s been said that the energy on the day of the Cantrell 5K is palpable.?On that day, thousands of all ages, shapes, sizes, and backgrounds come together with a common goal: to get moving while raising funds for our local Children’s Hospital, part of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

The Cantrell Center 5K & 1 Mile presented by Boland Prosthetic & Orthotic Center benefits our local Children’s Hospital,?Atrium Health Navicent Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital, where no child is turned away regardless of ability to pay.?To date, we’re proud to say we’ve raised over $38,000.00 for the kids.

SOME MORE FUN FACTS:

• You can walk or run either the 5K (3.1 miles) or the 1 mile.
• We give away a host of resources including a FREE 8 week training program and free expert advice from our Certified Wellness Trainers for the duration of that 8 week program & MORE!
• Your participation includes a colorful long sleeve shirt and a race packet full of goodies.
• To encourage you to keep up the momentum, we’ll have “race row” present on race day.?This way, you can sign up for your next local run/walk event right after crossing the Cantrell 5K’s Finish Line!
• You can?fundraise through RaceEntry?& get free entry or earn back your registration by sharing your unique referral link, plus there’s a 10% discount for 4 or more registrations. See?cantrellcenter.com/5k?for more details and ways to save.

ARE YOU IN?

If after reading this, you’re still not ready to take the leap, I hope you’ll at least look at those weight loss commercials a little differently.?Take a step back and give yourself some grace.?Start where you are with what you have.?We’d love to help!

?ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jen Zamora has been with the Cantrell Center since 2008, starting at the front desk as Member Services Coordinator.?She received a promotion to a Supervisory role two years later where she served as Wellness Administrative Supervisor.?In 2018, she became Director of Public Relations at the Cantrell Center.?Having been at the Cantrell Center for so long, she’s seen her weight fluctuate over time and has fallen victim to the newest, shiniest “solution” being advertised more than she’d like to admit. But with age, comes wisdom and she’s learning that shame and self-critique are often heavier than the pounds that cause them.??She feels fortunate to work at a place that promotes health and wellness and gives back to the community through helping people see that a healthy lifestyle is attainable while also raising funds for our local Children’s Hospital.