SAP Success Stories: Tracy Arnish
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What is your role at SAP? Vice President, Human Resources for SAP Canada and SAP Labs North America
What was the turning point when you decided to make a change? Coming off of Christmas 2010 I was feeling run down and sluggish. Over the holidays I had spent time with my sister in-law who was training for a fitness competition. Seeing her train, along with some inspiration from a couple of colleagues at work motivated me to take the first step towards revisiting my wellness strategy.
How long have you been working on achieving your health-wellness and fitness goals?I have always been very active. Coming from a family of athletes, sports and training have been a part of my life from a very young age. However, I lived by the mantra that “I work out so that I can eat what I want”. Recently I learned that exercise only accounts for 20% of your overall weight management and that 80% is based on what you eat. This was one of many learnings I have realized over the past 12 months.
What inspires you to continue and achieve your health-wellness and fitness goals?I am motivated by a few things; first of all I have a lot more energy and my immune system has never been so strong. As well, I am motivated by the results that I have seen. I set continuous goals and monitor my progress daily to keep me on track.
What advice do you have for others who want to live a healthier lifestyle?Set small goals for yourself initially. Be realistic about what you can achieve because when you hit your goal or over achieve there is no greater motivation. If you set unrealistic initial goals there is a chance you won’t hit them and that can cause you to give up before you have really tried.
Is there a particular snack you eat to give you energy throughout your workouts?I now eat 5 – 6 small meals a day and avoid starchy carbs and sugars. I eat meals that are high in lean meats, veggies, fruit and protein. My favorite snacks are mixed nuts (26 nuts per serving to be exact) or homemade protein smoothies. It is amazing how when you cut out less healthy foods after a period of time you no longer crave them and you start to crave the stuff that is good for you. Unbelievable but true!
How does an onsite wellness facility benefit your training? I feel very fortunate to have access to an onsite wellness facility. 12 months ago when I first started my commitment to a healthier lifestyle the SAP gym was a huge enabler. I built time into my day to work out so that by the time I headed home to my family in the evening my workout was complete. Once you get home there are hundreds of distractions that get in the way of going back out to get in a workout so by building this into my regular day I could go home and focus on my family.
What are your future goals in health, wellness & training? I have always been a runner but this year I plan to get off the street and onto the trails. In May my husband and I plan to run the Iron Knee which is a 20km trail run through the North Shore mountains. Otherwise my goal is to maintain where I am at today from both a health-wellness standpoint and a fitness level. It has taken time to recognize that this type of a lifestyle takes work but I remind myself that anything worth having has to be earned.
