Stacey Bazak woke up one morning three years ago and decided to take control of her health — and ultimately her life.
It was December 2020 and her 40th birthday was fast approaching.
“I was really scared of turning 40. It was a big deal to me. I woke up that morning and something just clicked in my head,” she says. “I had been leading an unhealthy lifestyle most of my life. No exercise, not eating well, and that morning, I decided I wanted to change things.”
Photos by MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Stacey Bazak has lost 100 pounds since taking up running and has won multiple medals in races.
Bazak set a goal to lose 40 pounds by the time she turned 40 in March 2021.
“I changed my eating habits at first and then I started walking on my treadmill at home.”
Bazak achieved her goal. Excited about her results, she wanted to keep the trend going. A friend suggested she try running.
“I laughed at her and said ‘I can’t run. That’s the biggest joke,’” she says. “But then it stuck in my head. So, the next day I tried running. I ran for a few minutes and the next day, I ran a few more minutes. I loved it and got hooked.”
She began by running five minutes at a time and every day she’d try to run a little longer. Bazak recognized she had to let herself be a beginner at first. When you try something new, you’re going to feel uncomfortable and get frustrated, but that initial struggle is worth it.
“I was so motivated by what I think they call a runner’s high. I would feel so good afterwards,” she says. “And during the pandemic, I didn’t really see anyone. So, once I started seeing people again, nobody recognized me.”
Bazak paired running with modifications to her eating habits. She began running at 5 a.m. because it was the only time she could fit it in with her busy work schedule. She is also a single mother of two children, aged nine and 10. And this became her routine.
As humans, our bodies — and perhaps more importantly, our minds — crave the comfort that routine offers. Routines require little conscious thought and allow you to carve out time to pursue your passion every day.
And once you set your routine in motion, there’s no wriggling out of it because you’re too tired or don’t feel like it — a daily practice can be a game-changer.
For Bazak, running was an accessible way to get active. All she needed was a pair of running shoes and an outdoor path or treadmill.
These days, her outdoor runs and treadmill sessions are some of the most fun parts of her new active lifestyle — and she’s lost 100 pounds in the process. Simultaneously, she’s researched nutrition, new recipes and how to best fuel her body.
Bazak has sustained her weight loss and seen countless improvements in her life and overall health. “It started as a weight-loss journey and has turned into so much more.”
Once Bazak found her running groove, she decided to sign up for her first race — the 10K at last October’s Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service half-marathon.
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Stacey Bazak before her life-changing transformation.
“(That race) was very emotional for me. Never in my life would I ever have thought I could do such a thing,” she says. “It was a huge personal accomplishment for me.”
Just a few weeks ago, Bazak also completed the 10K at the Manitoba Marathon, beating her previous time.
Her race at the marathon coincided with a poignant time in Bazak’s life — the 20th anniversary of her father’s passing. His death also motivated her to make changes in her own life.
“My dad wasn’t really a healthy guy. He was in his late 50s when he died and it all happened around Father’s Day,” she says. “So, that was my main motivator. I (ran that race) for him because he would have been my biggest cheerleader.”
Bazak’s transformation has gone beyond the physical changes. She feels better in her body from the inside out and it’s also helped her shift the way she thinks about herself.
“I’ve never been as happy as I have been the last two years. Running is part of my routine and has been a release for my mental health.”
When it comes to routines, it’s human nature to enjoy some tasks and loathe others. Some of the must-dos you dislike, like doing dishes or filing taxes, have to be completed. But if you can create a routine that also includes activities that make you happy — like Bazak did with running — you’ll increase your energy instead of draining it. Doing something you love every day naturally boosts your energy levels and leaves you feeling positive.
“I’ve actually inspired other people in my circle, too. It’s such a good feeling to pass it on,” Bazak says. “The impact that I’ve had on my friends has been such a positive experience.”
One of those people is Leah Madrid.
“I’ve known Stacey since kindergarten so I feel like her journey, in some ways, has also been mine,” Madrid says.
Madrid says she’s seen Bazak struggle in the past to build her self-esteem. But since Bazak set that initial goal, Madrid knew something was different this time.
“We started the journey together because I had also just had a baby and wanted to make some changes. We’d have great conversations about new recipes and new foods to try,” Madrid says. “And then Stacey started running and I was like, ‘what is happening here? This is so great.’ And then she signed up for a race like it was no big deal. It was amazing.”
Bazak then asked Madrid to sign up for the Manitoba Marathon with her. Madrid wasn’t so sure.
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Bazak (centre) with childhood friend Leah Madrid (right) and Karen Bor- enstein at this summer’s Manitoba Marathon.
“I’ve never been a runner. I had always tried but I was just kind of the person that did gym classes and that’s it,” Madrid says. “Stacey told me how great a marathon feels when you’re there, in the moment, and you feel like you can run forever. I thought ‘no, no, this isn’t for me.’”
But after giving it more thought, Madrid decided she at least had to try.
“I was just so inspired by Stacey (after she ran the 10K) because I knew where she had come from and how hard she worked. It’s a bit emotional for me because I’ve known her my entire life.”
So, Madrid signed up for the 5K race at this year’s Manitoba Marathon. Not only did she run it in 28 minutes — meeting her goal — she also placed sixth in her age group.
“My goal next year is to run beside Stacey. I’d love to be able to cross the finish line beside her.”
Bazak’s health journey has not only instilled confidence, but she now knows she can tackle any challenge. She’s already training to run her first half-marathon next year.
“My goal over the winter is to train to do the half at next year’s Manitoba Marathon. I love making new goals and the rush I feel when I meet them,” she says. “But the most important thing for me is that I have more energy, feel better and I can play with my kids longer. This is for them.”
sabrinacarnevale@gmail.com
@SabrinaCsays
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Sabrina Carnevale
Columnist
Sabrina Carnevale is a freelance writer and communications specialist, and former reporter and broadcaster who is a health enthusiast. She writes a twice-monthly column focusing on wellness and fitness.
