Cori:
I had originally contacted Dawn for my office, as several of us were overweight and in need of motivation, so we hired her to come and give us weekly motivation and tips.
Well, in the course of about a month of her coming weekly, she got me to thinking...I am tired of the way I look, and feel, and she does personal fitness training. So, I hired her for a gift for my upcoming 15th wedding anniversary to my husband and myself. We hadn't worked out at all in the last 11 years; it was time for us to start both for stress reduction and to lose the excess weight. My goals are to look and feel better for my 40th birthday, in December 2006, and make the next 40 years healthier than the first.
I have been working out now for seven weeks. I survived Thanksgiving fairly well, felt horrible aftereating the heavy fattening meal, but got right back on that bandwagon the next day.
I have lost 20 lbs in 7 weeks, and do not feel deprived at all. After all, it is not a diet like all the diets I have tried before, it is a new way of life for us. I feel 100 percent better than I have in years, and if we miss a night at the gym, I can really tell a difference in my stress level. Dawn is a Godsend for us.
Glen:
At 38-years old, a bad genetic history and a sedentary lifestyle were taking their toll on me. High blood pressure and Type II diabetes were no surprise, since both of my parents had suffered from these maladies; the only thing I was missing was heart disease to round out the rough genetic hand life seemed to have dealt me. I was constantly tired and could barely make it through the day, much less truly enjoy my free time with my family. Something had to give; I had to start feeling better if life was going to be worth living. I knew all along I needed to be exercising but just couldn't get motivated to do it.
Then, my wife started telling me about Dawn. Cori had met her at her office where Dawn was providing motivational seminars. We decided to give Dawn a try to see if we could get motivated to change our lifestyle and boy has she been motivational. Dawn started me out with an exercise program tailored to my needs and helped me asses my eating habits that were sabotaging my efforts to control my weight. I was amazed that Dawn really didn't encourage me to severely limit my eating, she instead focused on eating in a health balanced manner that met my body's needs.
The exercise felt great. Dawn started me with a program that I could handle without pain or injury, and has adjusted it as my strength and stamina have returned.
One of the most unexpected advantages of working out was the dramatic effect it has had on my stress levels; it's amazing how the day's worries evaporate as the workout progresses. I actually enjoy lifting so much that Dawn has broken my exercise routine into upper and lower body routines, so I can lift five days a week versus three, at my request. I no longer dread going to the gym but look forward to it. Over the last eight weeks, I have felt better and seen my lean body mass (muscle) increase while my body fat percentage has decreased.
I went to Dawn with the goal of feeling better in the long run, and honestly believe that this lifestyle change can make me feel better at 40, 45 or 50 than I felt at 30.
DAWN:
When Cori began discussing the possibility of me training her and Glen, I was so excited!
They represent so many other folks who work stressful full-time jobs, have a family to raise, and have all the demands for their time, like so many of us. They have every good reason available to them to continue on in an unhealthy lifestyle, like do so many Americans. The difference is, Glen and Cori have chosen to change the course of their fitness, health and lives. They've made a conscious decision to make a profound lifestyle change for themselves and their family.
For the next 12 months, they have agreed to allow you to accompany them in their journey toward a fit and healthy lifestyle. Each month, Glen and Cori will be sharing their thoughts; and I will be reporting on their progress and sharing my insights with you as they continue.
Cori, Glen and I hope you are inspired by their story.
As of this introduction, Cori has been working with me for eight weeks, and Glen for seven weeks.
Cori's Initial Stats:
Total Body Weight: 233.75 lbs.
Body Fat: 41.7%
Lean weight: 136.27 lbs.
Fat Weight: 97.48 lbs.
Glen's Initial Stats:
Total Body Weight: 367 lbs.
Body Fat: 36%
Lean weight: 234.88 lbs.
Fat Weight: 132.12 lbs.
I am not the typical "No-Pain-No-Gain" trainer. With de-conditioned clients, my goal is to slowly incorporate positive change in small increments. What you will not see here is a quick-fix-but rather a slow, gradual change toward a healthy lifestyle for both of them. Change is uncomfortable for all of us, and my goal is to make the changes small and as comfortable as possible at first. I try to make the pay-off big, and the discomfort small at the beginning, especially when it comes to eating and exercise. Success breeds more success, and small changes build momentum toward profound change as time goes on.
For Glen and Cori, the payoff of cardio workouts and weight lifting was immediate in their lowered stress levels and increased metabolism. The payoff of changing their eating from once or twice a day, to several smaller meals a day, was immediate as well. Both began to feel more energy and, as a result, caffeine and sugar began to have less importance in their daily intake.
As of 12/26/05:
Cori:
Total Body Weight: 215 lbs. (down 18.75 lbs.)
Body Fat: 34.2% (down 7.5%)
Lean weight: 141.47 lbs. (up 7.47 lbs.)
Fat Weight: 73.53 lbs. (down 22.38 lbs.)
So far, Cori has lost 4 inches in her hips, 3.5 inches in her waist, and 3.5 inches in her thigh measurement!
Glen:
Total Body Weight: 364.75 lbs. (down 2.25 lbs.)
Body Fat: 31.4% (down 2.8%)
Lean weight: 250.21 lbs. (up 15.33 lbs.)
Fat Weight: 114.53 lbs. (down 17.59 lbs.)
As you can see, Glen's total body weight didn't change much. If you've ever started eating and exercising properly, and didn't see much change on the scale, you know how discouraging this can be. I know so many people who have dieted or exercised, who initially did not see a big change on the scale, and just gave up. The real story with Glen is occurring with his muscle mass and body fat, and this is producing some changes in the way he looks and feels. When he began lifting weights and fueling his body properly, his muscle responded favorably. His biceps grew an inch, and so far, he's lost three inches in his waist measurement!
If there is one lesson I want you to learn this month, it is this. Do NOT trust the scale to be the sole indicator of your progress! If you're reading this, and you're struggling, DON'T GIVE UP!!! ...Dawn
