​An inspirational success story from last year's 30x30 challenge!

A Wellness Champion profile from the Wellness Team, Office of the Chief Medical Officer

Jessie Jim (Yaax̣ƛin​) of Hesquiaht First Nation proves it's never too late to improve your health and wellness! At 57, she has lost 66 pounds / 30 kilograms (almost the weight of her seven-year-old grandson, she says) since participating in last year's 30x30 Active Challenge. Jessie's secret? She just kept right on going after September ended, treating every month as 30x30 – that is, she aimed to do at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. She also made some other healthy changes to her lifestyle.

It all started in September 2019 when Jessie was gifted a jacket she couldn't zip up at the First Nations Health Directors Association Annual General Meeting. “I was the heaviest I had ever been," she says. “I began to make some health and wellness goals, both short-term and long-term, including food-related goals."

Jessie didn't let arthritis and bad knees that limited her wellness activities stop her from walking daily. She also changed her diet and eating habits, and by the end of the 2019 challenge – in one month -- she had lost 14 pounds.

To keep herself motivated towards her health and wellness goals, she started her own monthly challenges while continuing her walking. She incorporated eating in moderation and drinking more water while cutting out pop and sugary drinks. She checked in with her doctor each month and was pleased when the doctor informed her that her blood pressure had reached a healthy level!

(Jessie continuing her wellness journey with photos from December 2019 and April 2020)

“Something else I noticed that has changed is my sleeping," Jessie shares. “I used to have to take two-hour naps and sleep in often. Now my sleeping schedule has improved and I'm not napping anymore."

Jessie has a new goal to lose 34 more pounds – for a total of 100 pounds -- and feels close to reaching it. She is very happy that she can easily zip up the jacket she was gifted last year.

We are proud of you, Jessie! You are an inspiration for others in our communities. We wish you a healthy and safe autumn season.