Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation - 50-year-old makes exercise a non-negotiable part of her day!

Posted about 4 years ago

A daily routine is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. Over time, what you do with it can make or break your health.

Tonja Thigpen, administrative director of nursing at Mary Washington Hospital, chose to make exercise the cornerstone of her routine. While she’s always been physically fit, she decided she wanted to add more structure and regularity.

“I found I was lacking in my goal of inspiring those around me,” said Tonja. “Over the last year, I joined Burn Boot Camp, which changed everything.”

Burn Boot Camp is a nationwide gym that offers a mix of challenging exercises without repeating the same workout twice. Each boot camp is 45 minutes long with an average burn of 700 calories per camp. The gym offers both co-ed and women-only camps, as well as complimentary childcare for certain time slots.

At the boot camp, Tonja found the community she needed to both inspire others and find inspiration for herself. Joining has certainly added structure and regularity to her exercise routine. She attends Burn Boot Camp six days a week.

“We always have excuses at the end of the day — we’re tired, or we had a long day at work,” said Tonja. “I decided to start my day at 5 a.m. with exercises to stay consistent and avoid excuses.”

Read the rest of the ANA article...