In February 2015, I received an e-mail from a woman who was totally frustrated with herself because she had gained a lot of weight over the past several years. Even though she had tried, she could not stick to any diet to lose the weight. She was so embarrassed and self-conscious about her struggle that she almost didn't hit the "send" button on that e-mail. But she finally did and I received her cry for help.
I get e-mails like this all of the time and I am quick to respond to find out what it is that I can do to help. So I called Brenda and spoke with her about her issues. As she spoke, I heard the desperation in her voice and the strong desire she had to lose her weight and get healthy. She also told me about some of the health issues that she was dealing with like fibromyalgia and a frozen left shoulder that had been treated with surgery. She said that she was interested in starting a program with me. Then came the part I was waiting for..."But I can't start right now. I need to tend to some out of town family business and I will call you when I get back."
It is almost epidemic, the number of people who contact me with a desire to get healthy, who want to lose weight, who want to start feeling better and who say they are "willing" to do what it takes...but then put it off. They begin to tell me all of the reasons and excuses of why they won't be able to work so hard, find the time to exercise or that they are not interested in a special diet (what I refer to as the "self-sabotage syndrome"). I never expected to hear from Brenda again.
But, I did. Brenda called me when she returned and she was ready to get started. We met for her free consultation and discussed her desires and goals. Brenda wanted to lose 50 lbs in a year and I told her that it was a very realistic goal and that I could help her to achieve it as long as she would do her part. Brenda had to put in the time. Brenda had to do the work. Brenda had to follow her diet. Brenda had to sweat. Brenda had to push past the pain and the desire to quit when the going got tough. I would lay out the plan, guide her through it and be there for accountability, encouragement and inspiration...but it was up to her if she wanted to succeed.
I am a firm believer in people being able to accomplish whatever they put their minds to and once Brenda started working with me and seeing results from her program, she decided that she wanted to lose her weight more quickly. I saw her determination in our workout sessions together. She was a fighter! She would not quit till she accomplished what I asked of her. I noticed that she had started coming into the gym everyday to exercise and so I tweaked her program and ramped up her cardio to a point that she initially thought impossible. It was tough, but she did it! And I knew she could!
Brenda is a success story. She has not lost 50 pounds yet, but she is well on her way. Brenda is a success because she has changed her lifestyle. She has gone from sedentary to active and has taken control of her life and is moving it in the direction that she wants to see it go. Her shoulder has gotten stronger and has achieved a greater range of motion without the pain. Her fibromyalgia does not affect her like it used to as the pain has lessened, become less frequent and does not interfere with Brenda living life. Brenda has more energy. Brenda's confidence level has soared and she is a force to be dealt with in the gym. Brenda meets every challenge head-on. Every week since Brenda has started her program she has lost weight. Brenda is a new person and she is re-defining herself each day. And it is nothing that I did. It is the sheer will and determination of someone who truly wants to make a difference in their life and is willing to pay the price to make it happen.
Brenda is an example of what anyone can do...as long as they do the work!
In 12 weeks, Brenda had lost 36 pounds. That is an average of 3 pounds per week. At this pace, she will meet her goal of 50 pounds in about 4 more weeks for a total of 4 months. At the time of this posting (7-8-15) Brenda is down 40.5 lbs and has only 9.5 lbs to go to reach her goal! Brenda has also gained incredible strength and endurance and has lost 4% body fat.
Update: Congratulations, Brenda! At her weigh-in on 8-4-15, Brenda reached her goal and surpassed it! She has lost a total of 52.6 pounds!
Update; 10-16-15: Today Brenda reached a total weight loss of 75 pounds! Congratulations, Brenda! That's a total weight loss of 2.27 pounds per week.
Update; 11-12-2015: Today, Brenda reached a weight loss of 81.6 pounds! She has also reduced her body fat by 14.1%. Brenda is also studying her course work to become a certified fitness trainer!
Update; 1-19-16: Brenda reaches 90 pounds lost!
Update; 5-2-16: Brenda has earned her Personal Training certification through AFPA (American Fitness Professionals and Associates) and is now working on getting her
MS Fitness and Wellness certification. Good job, Brenda!
I get e-mails like this all of the time and I am quick to respond to find out what it is that I can do to help. So I called Brenda and spoke with her about her issues. As she spoke, I heard the desperation in her voice and the strong desire she had to lose her weight and get healthy. She also told me about some of the health issues that she was dealing with like fibromyalgia and a frozen left shoulder that had been treated with surgery. She said that she was interested in starting a program with me. Then came the part I was waiting for..."But I can't start right now. I need to tend to some out of town family business and I will call you when I get back."
It is almost epidemic, the number of people who contact me with a desire to get healthy, who want to lose weight, who want to start feeling better and who say they are "willing" to do what it takes...but then put it off. They begin to tell me all of the reasons and excuses of why they won't be able to work so hard, find the time to exercise or that they are not interested in a special diet (what I refer to as the "self-sabotage syndrome"). I never expected to hear from Brenda again.
But, I did. Brenda called me when she returned and she was ready to get started. We met for her free consultation and discussed her desires and goals. Brenda wanted to lose 50 lbs in a year and I told her that it was a very realistic goal and that I could help her to achieve it as long as she would do her part. Brenda had to put in the time. Brenda had to do the work. Brenda had to follow her diet. Brenda had to sweat. Brenda had to push past the pain and the desire to quit when the going got tough. I would lay out the plan, guide her through it and be there for accountability, encouragement and inspiration...but it was up to her if she wanted to succeed.
I am a firm believer in people being able to accomplish whatever they put their minds to and once Brenda started working with me and seeing results from her program, she decided that she wanted to lose her weight more quickly. I saw her determination in our workout sessions together. She was a fighter! She would not quit till she accomplished what I asked of her. I noticed that she had started coming into the gym everyday to exercise and so I tweaked her program and ramped up her cardio to a point that she initially thought impossible. It was tough, but she did it! And I knew she could!
Brenda is a success story. She has not lost 50 pounds yet, but she is well on her way. Brenda is a success because she has changed her lifestyle. She has gone from sedentary to active and has taken control of her life and is moving it in the direction that she wants to see it go. Her shoulder has gotten stronger and has achieved a greater range of motion without the pain. Her fibromyalgia does not affect her like it used to as the pain has lessened, become less frequent and does not interfere with Brenda living life. Brenda has more energy. Brenda's confidence level has soared and she is a force to be dealt with in the gym. Brenda meets every challenge head-on. Every week since Brenda has started her program she has lost weight. Brenda is a new person and she is re-defining herself each day. And it is nothing that I did. It is the sheer will and determination of someone who truly wants to make a difference in their life and is willing to pay the price to make it happen.
Brenda is an example of what anyone can do...as long as they do the work!
In 12 weeks, Brenda had lost 36 pounds. That is an average of 3 pounds per week. At this pace, she will meet her goal of 50 pounds in about 4 more weeks for a total of 4 months. At the time of this posting (7-8-15) Brenda is down 40.5 lbs and has only 9.5 lbs to go to reach her goal! Brenda has also gained incredible strength and endurance and has lost 4% body fat.
Update: Congratulations, Brenda! At her weigh-in on 8-4-15, Brenda reached her goal and surpassed it! She has lost a total of 52.6 pounds!
Update; 10-16-15: Today Brenda reached a total weight loss of 75 pounds! Congratulations, Brenda! That's a total weight loss of 2.27 pounds per week.
Update; 11-12-2015: Today, Brenda reached a weight loss of 81.6 pounds! She has also reduced her body fat by 14.1%. Brenda is also studying her course work to become a certified fitness trainer!
Update; 1-19-16: Brenda reaches 90 pounds lost!
Update; 5-2-16: Brenda has earned her Personal Training certification through AFPA (American Fitness Professionals and Associates) and is now working on getting her
MS Fitness and Wellness certification. Good job, Brenda!
Well done, Brenda!