Today’s Guest – Jennifer Stagner
1. Your name, title, and age? What do you do (or did you do) for a living?
Jennifer Stagner, Technical Manager, 32. I manage the ecommerce activities for www.tops-products.com including search engine optimization, consumer sales, and conversion analytics.
2. Who was the person that inspired you as a child to eat healthy and stay fit? What was their relationship to you?
My grandfather was a constant presence in my life growing up. As a young girl, I looked up to him and keenly observed everything he did. Fortunately for me, he embodied a great number of positive traits, including a holistic everyday approach to eating healthy and staying active.
3. What did they do to inspire you?
My grandfather was an engineer who ardently believed in always being the best you can be. For decades he would come home during his lunch hour, lay out a well-balanced meal, and take time to put his health first before going back to a demanding office. He would come home from a rigorous day, pack me in the car, and take me to the tennis courts every night to play. I still remember the series of stretches he faithfully performed before and after every game; as he demonstrated squats, lunges, and arm exercises he would extol the virtues of caring for your muscles. As I ran up and down the court with the exuberance of youth, flailing wildly at incoming yellow balls, he would without fail pause every so often to ensure that I caught my breath and drank the water he always carried with us to the courts.
4. How did their lesson change your life?
My grandfather changed my life by leading by example. He put 100% energy into everything he did including exercise and eating right. Despite his engineering background and impressive vernacular he always took the time to explain in terms a growing child could understand why he was so consistent with his health. He understood the connection between caring for his body and how that translated to clarity of focus, strength of spirit, and physical endurance.
5. Do you convey their message to your kids currently?
Having observed how well my grandfather structured his daily activities to seamlessly weave in healthy eating and enjoyable exercise I have made it a point to follow that example with my own son. As part of our daily routine I will listen to him regale me with elementary school exploits, listen attentively as he introduces his cast of school characters, and quietly ensure he takes a few pauses to eat a dinner inclusive of the required food groups. When he is at his most determined to steal the seconds from time before bed I’ll offer to be his adventure partner; suggesting a bike ride or a basketball challenge. From time to time I’ve found myself reiterating as I showcase how to stretch arm muscles that it’s important to loosen up before you attack those tennis balls.
6. What would be your main message to children today to lead healthy lifestyles?
My main message to children would be that exercise and eating right help you feel confident, healthy, and enable you to have more opportunities; exercise and eating right are not isolated and unpleasant events but rather a way to keep having fun inside and out. It’s easy to focus and pull out that spin move around opponents on the basketball court if you aren’t distracted by hunger pains and slowed down by inactivity. Making exercise and health eating a part of your daily routine helps you achieve your goals.
7. Do you have a web site you would like to promote….web address only?