Hilo Weight Watchers Diana Kahler going stong and keeping fit
Recently I was on the Keaau High School track instructing middle school athletes how to read passing zone markings so that they could understand the rules for a successful relay team.
During the two hours that I was helping I noticed a woman walking laps on the grassy infield, wearing a Big Island Marathon 5K finisher’s tee shirt.
On the second week of my tutorial the same woman appeared again walking laps on the infield but this time I decided to strike up a conversation.
The woman turned out to be 73 years young, Diana Kahler.
“I’m actually 73 and a half,” Kahler said with a wide grin. “I walk everyday no matter where I’m at and since I had to drop off my great granddaughter for track practice I thought I’d do a few laps.”
Kahler is a mother of 6, a grandmother of 11 and a great grandmother of 11.
Born and raised in Marquette, Michigan Kahler grew up playing a lot of different sports.
“My childhood home was a half block from the shores of Lake Superior and summer vacations were spent swimming, playing sandlot baseball and kickball,” Kahler said. “Television was not invented yet and in the winter I would go downhill skiing and sledding, but ice skating was my favorite activity.”
Kahler had chilling memories, no pun intended, of outdoor skating rinks and fire fed warming shacks.
Walking had always been a part of her life, so doing laps around the track for two hours was a piece of cake for her.
“I walked eight blocks to and from school four times a day during the school months,” Kahler said. “Sometimes there were snowdrifts five feet tall and that never stopped me from walking to school.”
Kahler started walking to school in the first grade and it continued through high school.
“I believe those walks to and from school is where I got my love for walking which continues now,” she said.
It was during high school that Kahler joined the Girls Athletic Association and played volleyball, basketball and softball for all four years.
“I received the school letter in athletics in my junior year,” Kahler said.
While growing up Kahler listened to the radio and one of her favorite programs was ‘Hawaii Calls.’
“While listening to Hawaii Calls I would dream of living someplace where the skies were often blue and the weather always warm,” she said. “When the opportunity presented itself 35 years ago I took it.”
Once here Kahler took advantage of our beautiful weather and began walking everyday without the snow drifts.
“I found walking to be a marvelous method of managing my stress as I was working fulltime and completing my degree at the University of Hawaii,” Kahler said.
Her enthusiasm with fitness and tropical weather saw her complete her first half marathon on Oahu I 1999 and six weeks later she became a finisher in the Honolulu Marathon.
“I participated in the Great Aloha Run in 2000 and then began walking less,” she said. “In 2001
I rarely exercised and became overly absorbed in work and volunteering. I began eating as a method of managing my stress.”
The following three years following Kahler’s decision to stop walking was a disaster as she gained 40 pounds, developed aching joints and saw her cholesterol and blood pressure shoot up.
Motivated by two of her friends who had joined Weight Watchers and lost 100 pounds Kahler joined the Hilo group and lost those 40 pounds within a six month period.
“I returned to walking regularly and eating healthy, with the help of Weight Watchers I remain at my goal weight to this day,” Kahler said.
Retired from a lifetime of work, primarily in the Early Childhood Field, Kahler works a few hours a week in Hilo helping others take better care of themselves and keep their weight off.
“I find retirement a bit stressful due to the reduced social interaction,” she said. “But now I have more time to be involved with my Hawaii family and I find it a delightful benefit.”
Today Kahler walks three miles, six days a week, either at the Hilo High Track or around her neighborhood in Naauao.
“I plan to increase my mileage to four while adding in some hills and to increase the intensity in February,” Kahler said.
To maintain her upper body strength Kahler will work with hand weights and resistance cords daily.
“My goal is to stay healthy and injury free and mitigate some of the disabilities that so frequently impact the independence of the elderly,” she said.
Kahler’s infectious enthusiasm for walking has spread to family and friends.
“Walking is a great family event and it is free, you can do it almost anytime and anyplace,” she said.
Kahler has gotten her great granddaughter, Tawnee Respicio and her grandson Treysin Brugman to participate in the New Years Day Resolution Run/Walk. All three walked and finished the 5K of the Big Island International Marathon on March 18, 2012.
“Several members of Weight Watchers came out to do the Resolution Walk with us,” Kahler said.
Kahler continues on her healthy diet which includes a daily intake of five servings each of fruits and vegetables, power foods, non fat dairy and whole grains.
We can all learn from this healthy 73 and a half year old!
KMS track and field team wins 66 medals at P & R
Girls Pee Wee
Kaylee Marques 1st standing long jump, 1st 50, 2nd 70
Girls Midgets
Jaysha Pavao 1st 400, 1st 4×50 Coraleen Quilinderino 1st standing long jump, 1st 4×50
Jaredy Salle 1st 4×50 Kailee Sibayan-Santiago 1st 4×50
Junior Girls
Chantel Carlos 3rd 200, 3rd 4×100 Narizza Saladino 3rd high jump, 1st 4×50
Ruby Galapon 1st high jump, 1st 4×50 Kanoe Cabanlet 2nd high jump, 1st 4×50
Tawnee Respicio 2nd 200, 3rd 4×100 Tianna Celis 3rd 4×100
Kimiko Johnny 3rd 4×100 Diana Doan 2nd 4×50
Jessica Andres 2nd 4×50 Kyla Andres 2nd 4×50
Sheann Belmes 1st 4×50 Gretchen Padamada 2nd 4×50
Intermediate Girls
Audra Payne 2nd high jump, 2nd 1200, 1st 4×200 Gerenel Galves 1st high jump, 1st 4×200
Maria Calso 2nd shot put, 1st 4×200 Eve Paguirigan 1st 4×200
Girls Medals 33
BOYS Midgets
Rhodney Hernando 1st 100, 2nd 200 Kalena Nihipali 2nd softball throw, 3rd 50
Jake Cambia 2nd standing long jump Albert Zuniga 1st standing long jump
Junior Boys
Jo Joe Villa 1st high jump, 3rd 100, 1st 4×100 BoysMedals33
Christian Batad 2nd high jump, 2nd 100, 1st 4×100
Dallan Oandasan 1st shot put, 1st discus, 1st 4×100
Kolby Gebin 1st 100, 1st 4×100 Kyle Rice 1st 800, 1st 4×50
Kayden Souza 1st 4×50 Bronson Pili 1st 4×50
Joseph MacDonald 2nd shot put, 2nd discus, 1st 4×50
Greyson Haskell 3rd 400, 3rd 800 David Pinyerd 3rd high jump, 2nd 800, 1st 1200
Intermediate Boys
Paxton Rhyss 3rd high jump, 1st 4×100 Joshua Quero-Ondo 1st 4×100
Reynaldo Arcellana 1st 4×100 Charles Caldwell-Kaai 1st 4×100
KMS Team wins Total 66 Medals, Kudos to Coach Randee Arkin Joseph, also known as ‘Mrs Big Dog’