Vancouver swimming and water aerobics instructor Cecily Bequette recently hit a milestone. She lost half her body weight.
“I was jumping up and down, yelling and screaming,” Bequette said of learning the good news.
She has struggled with her weight her entire adult life. In September 2007, at 374 pounds, the 5-foot-2-inch Bequette decided it was time for a change.
She started doing water aerobics for two hours a day, five days a week at Marshall Community Center. Soon, she was hired to teach the classes for Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation. She also teaches swimming for Vancouver Public Schools.
Through exercise and changes to her diet, Bequette, 38, has lost 187 pounds. She organizes weight-loss challenges at Marshall to encourage others to get healthy, too.
One key, she said, is setting small, achievable goals. Bequette takes weight loss 10 pounds at a time.
In April, Bequette went on a walk in Salmon Creek with two contestants from the NBC show “The Biggest Loser.” The event inspired her to organize her own community walks and hikes.
Her Walk With Me group meets every other Saturday. Its Facebook page, which contains information about upcoming walks, is at http://on.fb.me/kDJS4q.
Brewer pleased to have beers picked by chain
Getting your beer picked up by a chain restaurant — even if it’s just in the local region — is a nice confirmation that you picked the right retirement career, said Larry Pratt, co-owner and brew master at Salmon Creek Brewery & Pub in downtown Vancouver.
Pratt, who runs the restaurant and microbrew pub with his wife, Ana Pratt, recently had four of his specialty beer offerings added to the menu at Applebee’s restaurants in Clark County.
“They’re into this hometown theme and they wanted to have a local brew on tap,” he said. “It was pretty cool. The regional manager came by, tasted the beer and made the decision right then.”
Pratt’s Belgian Golden, Helles, Amarillo Jack Salmon IPA and Oatus the Red beers were selected to be served at the chain’s four locations in Vancouver and Hazel Dell.
“All of them will have at least two of my beers on tap,” Pratt said. “I think it’s great that more people will get to try them.”
Pratt, who used to work for a major airline, retired several years ago with the notion of opening a brewery with his wife.
He first started selling beer in Woodland in January 1996, before moving to his downtown location at 108 W. Evergreen Blvd.
Salmon Creek Brewery makes about 30 beers overall, and sells 22 ounce bottles and growlers from its restaurant and pub.
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