Ha Nguyen

I am “stepping up” to support Healthy LifeStars and their programs to prevent childhood obesity by motivating and educating kids to live active healthy lives.

Exercise and eating healthy has been a part of my life for several decades. My weekday diet is eating like a pescatarian and snacking on fruits and veggies. In my earlier years, I was a swimmer, marathon runner and triathlete. This gave me the foundation on how to train and mentally be prepared for an athletic event. As my knees began to wear out from running, I transitioned to be a paddler. After having my second kid, I decided to train for team USA dragonboat to shake off some baby weight. Teamwork is key for synchronized paddling at 100 stroke per minute pace start with 20 paddlers. Eating right for a whole year made a huge difference in my performance – more energy! Outside of being an oil markets expert, I currently enjoy paddling small canoes. I recently finished a 3-day 265m canoe race sleeping in alligator infested waters (that’s right…that’s how we do it in the south!), portaging around miles of logjams or dams and ending the event in choppy bay waters. I currently participate in shorter canoe races and am training for the 2022 MR340, an endurance race across Missouri from Kansas to St. Charles.

Why do I participate in these extreme sporting events? Exercise gives me mental stability, reinforces my healthy eating habits and I enjoy teamwork. Will you “step up” with me and be a part of the Houston Lean Mean Machines team?

I am asking for your support in a week-long virtual StepAThon™. This fun and friendly competition challenges individuals, families, and teams to get active and raise money for a healthy future for our kids!

Grab a friend, family or fur babies and take a walk or work on some house chores.

Join me for a fun healthy week as we support an incredible cause!