Multnomah County is proud to support the Bicycle Transportation Alliance's 2014 Bike Commute Challenge
For added inspiration, read this story from The Department of County Human Service’s Brenda Kemple-Richards on lifestyle change through bike commuting. This is Brenda’s second year as co-captain of the Lincoln Building team. In her own words, Brenda shares how bike commuting helped her take control of her health, a journey that lead to her first Bike Commute Challenge in 2013.
I have a story to share. Back in March of 2013 I weighed about 192 pounds. My resting blood glucose was high, and cholesterol about 238. My doctor was concerned. She said: “Time for medication, Brenda.”
She explained that the combination of increasing weight, pre-diabetes, and high cholesterol mean that I was at an increased risk for heart disease. I asked her to give me six months to make improvements before putting me on medication. At that moment I made a decision to change my life.
The very next day, I decided to take my bike to a shop for tuneup. After all, I had not even taken it on the road in over a decade. I began a regimen of slowly riding my bike and walking my dogs. I started off at one mile a day on my bike to increase my stamina and strength. Eventually, I worked up to seven miles a day , three times a week.
In July of 2013, I decided to push myself a little harder and started riding my bike to work two days a week which is 16 miles round trip. I was inspired and that inspiration caught on in my department at AMHI. Others started riding their bikes to work each day.
My diet changed, too. I ate oatmeal for breakfast three times per week. I dressed it up with cinnamon and added flax seed to my foods to increase the cholesterol-reducing fiber and lower my cholesterol levels. I ate lean proteins and plenty of vegetables.
In September 2013, I went back to the doctor. My blood pressure was strong and healthy at 172/68 and my cholesterol went from 238 mg/dL to 184 mg/dL. My doctor was so surprised. She said my numbers resembled readings when I was 21! My weight dropped by almost 20 pounds to 177. I was feeling the best I ever had. I was very proud of myself and my accomplishments.
This journey encouraged me to inspire others, and with the BTA bike challenge in September, my coworker and I became co-captains at the Lincoln building. We encouraged nearly 60 other teammates to join. In previous years the team had attracted between 8-10 people. 60 was quite a change!
My journey has helped me see my true potential. I was able to change my outcome from developing diabetes and heart disease to living a life where I feel vibrant and in control. I did it by starting very slowly - one day at a time.
Today, I feel I am on top of the world! Stress levels are in check, cholesterol levels the best I have seen in years, and I forgot to mention, glucose readings below 100 most every day. I have learned I am in control of my own destiny and it only takes a little motivation and a lot of determination and reaching out for support and encouragement from my community to make this happen.
Brenda Richards