Wellness Homepage

GFPS Spotlight On Wellness

Welcome to the GFPS "Spotlight On Wellness" 
​Each month we will feature a Great Falls Public Schools employee and find out how they keep moving and stay healthy!
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October 2016
Keely West, WEST

• What motivates you to be healthy? I have always been a very active person, running cross country and track in high school and then 5 years at MSU on the cross country and track team. I love the feeling I get when I am healthy and in shape. I always have lots of energy and my mood is so much happier when I am working out regularly. I love eating good food, so working out allows me to enjoy my food without feeling guilty about it. My lifestyle is very active and I love doing things outside. Being in shape and healthy lets me do pretty much anything I want to do.  I help coach cross country at CMR and also teach fitness classes at the Peak in the mornings and evenings.  One of the biggest things that has helped me stay in shape is to still continue to set goals for myself even after finishing competitive running. This last summer I completed my first IRONMAN which included a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and finished with a full marathon. As a side note, my fiancé trained and did the race with me and when he finished he proposed at the finish line. On my bedroom mirror I have my goals written out so they are a constant reminder to stay healthy and not skip workouts. Also, teaching 2nd grade takes a lot of energy and I love being able to be on 

• What is one of your favorite healthy activities? By far my favorite healthy activity is running. I run almost every day, sometimes twice a day, anywhere between 5-10 miles. People always joke that they can tell when I miss a run because I get a little cranky . When I am not running I love teaching booty barre and Pilates. Those classes have been great for me because they have strengthened my whole body to help prevent running injuries. 

• What advice would you give someone trying to be healthier? My advice to anyone trying to be healthier is to find something you love! Running, Pilates, and booty barre is NOT for everyone. You have to find something that you enjoy and will want to go back to again and again. Finding a friend or group to workout with can be super helpful because you hold each other accountable. Being healthier doesn’t mean following a strict diet and exercising all the time. It is all about enjoying life, eating good food, and staying active so you can continue to enjoy all that life has to offer! ​

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September 2016
Leann Svir, Riverview 
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One of the reasons we asked Leann to be our first guest, was the fact that she bikes almost daily from her house on the East end of Great Falls all the way over to Riverview! Thanks Leann for sharing  your story!

• What motivates you to be healthy? My two biggest motivations are my boys and my physical comfort.  I have two very energetic boys.  One is a 6th grader and one is a freshman.  As a family we like to keep them very active with baseball, hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, etc  so I work hard to stay healthy enough to keep up with them.  Also, I want to feel good as long as I can during my lifetime.  So I try to keep my joints and muscles moving and I try to maintain flexibility which helps prevent stiffness and injuries.

• What is one of your favorite healthy activities? I love riding my bike, we have a great trail in Great Falls, hiking, and walking my very energetic dog.  She is a miniature Australian Shepherd and has more energy than all of us.  I have to walk her 4-6 miles every day.

• What advice would you give someone trying to be healthier? Get up and move.  Walking is great for everyone.  If it gets cold, just bundle up and go.  Eat lots of vegetables.  Use the colors of the rainbow to help pick them out for a wide variety.

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Keely after her first IRONMAN and proposal! 

Leann with her bike!