Peer Leader Spotlight: Chris Jock
Chris Jock is the Get Healthy North Country Program Coordinator for the Bombay Community Center and participated in the March/April program.
Q: Have you made any changes to your health or daily habits because of the program? If so, what?
A: I’m trying to. I’m trying to do better with exercising and stuff — trying to walk more and get out and do more things. I’m also trying to stay away from sweets a little bit; that’s my downfall.
Q: What advice would you offer to other communities interested in implementing a similar program?
A: Pam and Julie were so easy to work with. If I have an issue, I can call them up, and I know they’re going to answer — or get back to me if they don’t have the answer right away. I’m very thankful, and I think the program is great. Hopefully we can get some more programs going. It seems like a lot to begin with, but then you really get into it and they help out and support you.
Q: What challenges have you faced in improving your health, and how has the program helped?
A: I’m just trying to get out more and walk around instead of sitting on my phone, doing things outside. I seem to have more energy when I’m not cooped up — especially in the wintertime, you’re cooped up anyway, so it’s good to move around, and it helps.
Q: How do you find that more exercise helps you?
A: I find I’m not as tired. It’s been a while doing this, and it seems to just give you more stamina, so you can go longer during the day and get things done. It’s a good program, and I think people, just by talking about it, realize they can do more things — and setting a goal for yourself was one of the whole things, a goal to accomplish.
Q: What was your biggest takeaway?
A: Just setting goals and trying to do more to help yourself, rather than just complain about things — getting up and doing things.
Q: What surprised you about the workshop?
A: Everybody really got involved. A lot of people don’t usually talk about different things, but everybody was involved — it was shocking. Julie and Pam were awesome; they got people involved and talking, and it wasn’t pressure. You could talk about what you wanted to — you didn’t have to talk about things you didn’t want to. There was no pressure at all — just a nice, relaxing conversation, and things went pretty well.
Q: What would you say to someone considering this workshop but who’s nervous or not sure they want to participate?
A: You really don’t have to do more than you want to — but if you don’t try it, you don’t know. I wasn’t sure about it either, but once we got into it, it was kind of fun — just sitting down, talking, and discussing your problems. People understand, because they’re going to see the same things. So it really wasn’t too bad.
