Anne’s Success Story
Look at those curvy bits! : )
Anne has dropped 10lbs., .7% body fat and 14.25 inches in the last 10 weeks, but most of all Anne is stronger, happier and more confident. With a few tweaks in her nutrition, a strength and core exercise program and walking for 20+ minutes each day she has managed to improve her strength, balance and confidence to a level that will allow her to enjoy her trip to China and join us in a step class. Anne took on this challenge even though she was in the throws of a busy schedule as a college instructor getting ready to retire. This was a challenging time for sure but she did what she could, when she could and here is what she has to say about her journey. Well done Anne! Let’s see where the next 10 weeks takes us : )
“My decision to get a personal trainer was long in coming. I had been talking about it for about 2 years as I struggled to keep my weight and fitness level stable at a reasonable, but not really great level. For most of my adult life I considered exercise a 4 letter word although I had managed to change that mental tape in the last few years. I stopped exercising in the fall when I got a viral bug which dragged on for over 2 months. By that point I was afraid to return to the exercise I had been doing for fear of hurting myself; I had become so heavy, out of shape and have had many musculoskeletal injuries from work, exercise and play in the past. I know I don’t heal as quickly as when I was younger! My back, hips, feet, shoulders, hands and actually almost everywhere hurt all the time. I ate to console myself which really helped the situation – not!! I was at the point of accepting I would be like this the rest of my life, but with some wonderful support from my fit and smart daughters, I finally made the call to Nancy. On our first meeting she told me she would not “kick my butt” as I was hoping, but assured me she would guide and support me to reach some goals that she insisted I articulate! She wrote them down so they were now cast. Hmmm, I thought, I am going to have to do push myself. Not sure this will work.
Well, I was wrong. I already had lots of knowledge about nutrition, but was not applying it. What Nancy has helped me to do with nutrition is just become more aware of what I put in my mouth. I was back to planning which is so key. I found if I could plan for the day ahead, that was enough of a stretch for me, rather that planning for the week. Just tracking what I ate helped me to be aware. I am now eating often (5-6 times per day) but well and notice when I am full, which is much quicker than 10 weeks ago. I have lost 10 pounds slowly, but pretty steadily over 10 weeks and feel much more in control of what I put in my mouth and therefore my body.
Although nutrition changes have been important, the instruction and guidance with exercise has been more critical for me. I am doing things that I have not been able to do in a long time and having more energy at the end of my days. I hurt much less J and notice significant change in my ability to prevent injuries in my daily life. About a month after I started with Nancy, I stepped off a curb without noticing. This would normally have caused me to twist an ankle and wrench my back, but guess what. Those core muscles actually kicked in to stabilize me and I was uninjured. It happened again this week when I fell into a whole I had dug for planting a cedar tree and survived unharmed. Amazing!! Perhaps not a smart move, but at least I don’t have to remember my foolishness with pain for the weeks ahead.
I look forward to the visits I have with Nancy. She keeps me on task, doing things the best way to get the most benefit and without inury. I have opted to continue 1:1 for a bit longer as I know my own tendency to quit when making these kinds of health changes. It is a significant cost factor, but it is worth every penny to me. I have gained enough confidence to join a class – pilates for goodness sake! I want to retire this summer with strength, energy and flexibility to enjoy life. When my income drops, I will likely continue with classes, but I bet I will actually have enough commitment, knowledge and determination to continue on my own at home. However I would really miss all the positive energy and fun I have while exercising with Nancy. That in itself is a piece of health. Thank you Nancy.”