The medically prescribed dietary odyssey worked for that purpose. But it left Stewart in no shape to further pursue her health goals.
"I would try to run and jog but I didn't have any muscle," she said. "It left me with no muscle or habits on how to be healthy."
Though she grew up in Sonoma Valley, Stewart, 33, was never much of an outdoors person. Severe allergies, a deviated septum and her weight created barriers to exploring and discovering many of Sonoma County's beloved landscapes and trails.
On Jan. 4, however, she and several dozen others embarked on a 2.1-mile hike in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park as part of an 8-week, fitness program aimed at introducing local residents to the joys of walking in the outdoors.
The program, which cost $80, is free to people participating in Sugarloaf's ParkRx program, which gives free access to fitness events to those who could benefit medically from physical activities.
About half the 40 hikers who went on the Saturday morning trek, from Sugarloaf's White Barn to the Uranus marker on the Planet Walk trail, were participants in the ParkRx program. Other program activities include Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing), yoga hikes, Tai Chi and family outings.
The Hiking for Fitness series that started Jan. 4 is targeted toward beginners, with each Saturday morning trek becoming slightly more challenging by ramping up the mileage and elevation change.
The hikes are mostly located in Sugarloaf but also include treks in Howarth Park/Spring Lake, Jack London State Historic Park and Sonoma Valley Regional Park. The final hike, on Feb. 22, is 4.4 miles long with an elevation gain of nearly 1,000 feet.
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