Best friends makeover: Month 9

RECAP: Nine months ago, Tracy Metcalfe, 46, and Tanya Leavitt, 37, both of Calgary, embarked on a yearlong Best Friends Makeover. Both women are devoted single moms who had gone back to university as adults to better provide for their families. They both worked in the nonprofit industry, shared rent and lived frugally but still had trouble keeping up with the high cost of living and heavy debt loads. They had little time and no budget for fitness, and didn't have much of a social life.

To the rescue, their own team of professionals assembled by Canadian Living Magazine. The team included coaches in: fitness (Shelly Stranaghan); nutrition (Rory Hornstein); life skills (Cathy Yost); career (Gimalle Crawford); finances (Jennifer Kirby); and image (Astrid DesLandes) as well as Dr. Rita Dahlke, a family physician.

Something new
If you asked Tanya nine months ago to take a high-energy African dance class, “I would have laughed out loud,” she says. But there she is today, crouched at the front of the class, struggling to coordinate her arm and leg movements to the powerful drum rhythms blasting from the speakers. “This class is way outside the box for me,” says Tanya. “I took it because I just need to push myself. At the same time, I can honestly say ‘who cares’ if the instructor stops the class to see if I’m managing OK,” which has happened.

Taking this dance class is a perfect example of how Tanya and Tracy, her best friend and partner for this yearlong Canadian Living Magazine makeover, are changing their lives. Both women say breaking free from old habits and fears, and taking calculated risks, are the most significant changes they’ve made so far, and it has affected their health and well-being in so many positive ways.

Starting something new
In Tracy’s case, she made the difficult choice a few months ago to leave a workplace she wasn’t happy with. She has now decided to start her own business. Meanwhile, Tanya is focusing on feeling better about herself on the inside. Her newfound confidence has made it easier for her to put her finances in order, create a fabulously successful workplace workshop and start exercising regularly. Now Tanya feels more prepared to make further improvements – on the outside.

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