How I Did It

Readers share their amazing personal health and wellness transformations. Read their stories to be inspired — and feel free to share your own!

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Just Keep Moving Forward: A Swim Bike Mom’s Journey

By Meredith Atwood / May 16, 2013

Back in August of 2010, I decided to become a Triathlete.

What is funny about this?

At that point, I had only completed two 5K events in my entire life; zero cycling events (and my bike was gathering cobwebs in the garage). Oh, and zero swimming laps since about age eight.

So that was the first funny thing.

The next funny thing is that I was about 100 pounds overweight. Okay. So 50 pounds, but still. Probably 65 pounds. Regardless. Overweight. Chubby. Chunky. Fat Albert. Hey hey hey.

And even funnier, I had two kids under three years of age. And a husband. And I worked a full-time job as a litigation attorney. And I thought I had time for triathlon.

Now, in deciding this, I wasn’t a complete idiot.

I used to be an athlete. Sort of. I played basketball, volleyball and softball. I was a lousy softball player, because I could not hit the ball on purpose. But if I hit it by accident, it would go pretty far. I did swimming and gymnastics as a kid, but I was too chubby to really be any good at gymnastics and too young and stupid to recognize that I was a good swimmer. Plus, I am (and always have been) a massive chicken, so gymnastics was terrifying.

Then there was my real sport – Olympic weightlifting. By “real”, I mean the one that stuck the longest and the most intensely. I won the Junior National Championships back in the day, went to Junior Worlds in South Africa (placed fifth in one lift, and seventh overall, and missed the next world team by a hair), did a few stints at the squad camps at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, etc.

Weightlifting was a good sport for me, because while there was a huge risk of injury (e.g., dropping 200+ pounds upon my head, busting apart my knees, spontaneous breaking elbows), it felt safe for me.

Triathlon. Was. Not. Safe. For. Me. Triathlon. Scared. Me. To. Death.

So where did this idea for triathlon come from?

Well, after I had my youngest child three years ago, I was a puffy, sluggish and tired mess. I joined the athletic club and found my way to a Spinning class. I ran (a little). I did NOT get into a bathing suit. I continued to spin off and on for almost a year.

And then it hit me. I had been in this crazy rut for so long. And I liked to blame the rut on my commute or my kids, but really, it was my fault. I had let it all go.

I needed a new “for me” purpose. One that was separate from work and family. Something that was me. And for some crazy reason, I thought triathlon could be me.

I hired a triathlon coach. And I haven’t stopped since.

Since October 2010, I have competed in my first Sprint Distance tri, several other sprint tris, several 5ks, 10ks, a half marathon, my first Olympic distance race in May 2011 at St. Anthony’s, and another Olympic distance race.

My first half Ironman (70.3) finish was October 30, 2011. That was 1.2 miles of swimming, 56 miles of biking, and a half marathon. My second half Ironman finish was September 30, 2012 – and was almost 40 minutes FASTER than my first.

And in six weeks, I have my first IRONMAN (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile marathon).

The message? You. Can. Go. Go forward. Move. If you move, no matter how slowly, you are passing all the people who aren’t moving. Go take your dreams. They’re yours for the snagging.

My mantra is “Just Keep Moving Forward.” And so I do.

www.SwimBikeMom.com

Turning a Dream Into Reality

By Leonard Benedetto / April 15, 2013

Have you ever asked yourself, “Is now the time to make a change?” You’re not alone. Procrastination is the easy road. Leonard Benedetto’s health transformation journey could be your story. Real life challenges and his desire to create change cultivated extraordinary results — and can for you, too!

After dealing with his wife’s miscarriage, which led to their separation, divorce, foreclosure and his own major depression, Leonard struggled with shock, sadness and uncertainty about what the future held for him and his children. He wanted to change his life, but didn’t know where to start. He decided to join the gym on a day when there was no more room for excuses, waste, or procrastination. He signed up for a gym membership online and began solo workouts.

At the time, Leonard was 210 pounds (about 40 pounds overweight), eating fast food daily, spending all his downtime watching TV, no exercise and little activity with his children. Leonard’s first step involved getting to the gym.

Leonard stayed committed and motivated by his children, who were also going through a major life transition from the divorce. Learning he was a few heartbeats away from a heart attack after years of neglecting his health was a big wakeup call for Leonard — he needed to be healthy and strong for his kids. Leonard started his workouts with some cardio either by riding a stationary bike or jogging on a treadmill. After doing that a few times, he increased the amount of time on each and started to incorporate weights by using machines to help build muscle mass. Leonard had no degree, certification or a fitness expert to guide him through his goals — just will and determination.

Leonard believes the most important aspect of continuing a healthy lifestyle is to stay true to yourself. Eating healthy is a reflection of one’s commitment. No one can control your success but you. It is important to answer questions like, Why did you choose to create change? What is your motivation? and set realistic short and long term goals.

Leonard’s ideal fitness goal was to lose 50 pounds and have fewer than 12 percent body fat along with being toned and muscular. In order for Leonard to reach these goals, he had to burn over 15 percent body fat and gain muscle. These goals seemed incredibly challenging for someone that hadn’t exercised since high school. Leonard knew that he had to be realistic and take small steps. Each workout, his goals were basic: Run for 20 minutes on the treadmill, reach 20 miles on the stationary bike or use every upper body machine at least once. Along with trying new things, he added biking outdoors and hiking.

Like many people, Leonard hit some obstacles along the way through his transformation. One was portion control when it came to eating. Leonard loved pasta and would eat two full plates at a time. Recognizing this was important, and as Leonard learned to eat healthier options, eventually he began to shred the weight progressively: five pounds turned into 10, and then an astonishing 50 pounds!

Leonard eventually hit a plateau with his results. He lost body fat but was not gaining muscles mass or sculpting his body. He searched online for a personal trainer that would stick with him throughout the journey, and found Jolene Goring. After a few emails back and forth, Leonard decided to work with Jolene to help transform his body from ordinary to extraordinary. Leonard and Jolene worked out a 12-week plan to lose additional body fat, build muscle mass, develop his abs and have overall definition with his upper body. In order to accomplish this, Leonard knew he had to get outside of his comfort zone in the gym but also with his eating habits.

Every two weeks he met with Jolene to review his measurements: body fat percentage, body mass index and muscle weight by arms, legs and trunk. With each set of measuremenst, it was revealed Leonard decreased body fat percentage, increased muscle mass and gained weight. By week eight, Leonard had already reached his body-fat percentage goal to be under 12 percent by coming in at 11.6 percent. This was a huge accomplishment for Leonard after weeks of staying committed to Jolene’s fitness and diet plans.

Here are a few examples of Leonard intense workouts that proved to burn fat and increase muscle mass. (Always consult your physician before starting your own new diet or workout plan.)

Day 1 – Chest & Back

No rest between exercises and sets. Keep your tempo going throughout the whole workout. Complete 3 sets of each below except for the pushups and 20 minutes cardio.
5-10 Minute Cardio Warm-up
Dumbell Chest Press X 8 reps
Dumbell Chest Fly X 8 reps
15 Box Jump
Bent Over Row X 8 reps
Basic Crunch 30 reps
Lateral Pull Down (Bar to chest) x 8 reps
Finish with pushups till failure
20mins of stead cardio (Bike, Treadmill or Rowing Machine)

Day 2 Legs

No rest between exercises and sets. Complete 3 sets of each below.
5-10 Minute Cardio Warm-up
Sumo Squats X 15 reps
Deadlifts X 15 reps
Lunches X 10 per leg
Abs – Crunch on ball with feet on wall X 15 reps
Abs – Tuck on ball X 15 reps
Finish with 5 minute cardio cool down.

Day 3 – Bi/Tri

No rest between exercises and sets. Complete 3 sets of each below except for the pushups and 20 minutes cardio.
5-10 Minute Cardio Warm-up
Bicep Curl 7’s (7 full, 7 lower half, 7 lower half, 7 full)
Tricep dips on bench X 15 reps
15 Box Jumps
Bicep curls X 8
Tricep Pulldown with machine X 8 reps
Basic crunch X 30 reps
Finish with Abs Rope Pulldown until failure
20mins of stead cardio (Bike, Treadmill or Rowing Machine)

Day 4 – Shoulders/ABS

No rest between exercises and sets. Complete 3 sets of each below.
5-10 Minute Cardio Warm-up
Should Press X 8 reps
Abs – Crunch on ball with feet on wall X 15 reps
Kettlebell swings X 1 minute
Abs – Tuck on ball X 15 reps
One arm side raise X 8 reps
15 Box Jumps
Finish with Abs Rope Pulldown until failure
Finish with 5 minute cardio cool down.

Day 5 – Rest Day

Day 6 – HIIT

Complete a HIIT (High-intensity interval training) for 20 minutes. Then have a cheat meal right after you finish your HIIT but keep it under 2000 calories.

Leonard’s diet plan was basic and straight forward. He removed excessive plates of pasta, fast food, junk food with high protein meals which included a lot of chicken, protein shakes, protein bars, fruits and veggies.

An example of what Leonard’s meal plan looked like for one day is below:

6:30 AM – 30 g protein (Egg Whites), 25 g carb (1/2 Dry oatmeal), 1 TBSP peanut butter
8:30 AM – 30 g protein (Whey Protein shake)
11 AM – 30 g protein, 25 g carb (Chicken and ½ cup rice) & (½ cup green veggies)
2 PM – 30 g protein, 25 g carb (Chicken and ½ sweet potato), 1 TBSP peanut butter
4 PM – 30 g protein (½ cup green veggies)
7 PM – 30 g protein (½ cup green veggies)
9 PM – 30 g protein

Leonard’s results were phenomenal and inspiring to others. All of the hard work had finally paid off: He felt the best he had ever felt in his entire life, and had a six pack to show off!

Leonard is a new person and enjoying life with his children. He now has the energy to do things with his kids all the time and not just when he has the energy. He enjoys taking his kids hiking, long bike rides and anything out doors where he can enjoy the beautiful Arizona weather. He’s a very active father and even volunteered his time to coach both his children’s soccer teams this Spring.

Leonard wants to share his success story with others who may be experiencing similar challenges in life — to inspire them to never give up. The key is to surround yourself with positive supportive friends and family that will help you through your transformation. Get that healthy start now. Yesterday you said you would start tomorrow. Make now the time you say, “I’ll start today.” You won’t regret it.

If you’re looking for inspiration during your own journey, you can visit Leonard’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com.

Setting and Making Triathlon Goals in Commerce, Mich.

By Roman Krzyzanowski / January 2, 2013

Life Time Fitness in Commerce, Mich., has a triathlon team that works out together on a regular basis. The roster consists of 65 members of various ages and abilities. Workouts are early in the morning throughout the week, starting on Mondays with swimming, Tuesdays with biking, Thursdays with running and the weekend with long bike rides and runs.

Not all members have the same goal, but this year was special because many people accomplished their goal of completing an ironman distance race for the first time. Members completed in Texas, Kentucky, Quebec, and Florida to accomplish their goals. Throughout the training process, many members have lost weight and gained valuable lessons on leading a healthy lifestyle. One of our team members even lost over 100 pounds in the process of training for his first ironman distance event.

For 2013, the team has some ambitious goals for its teammates. Many have succeeded in qualifying for nationals at the Olympic distance triathlon and will try their luck at qualifying for Worlds and represent U.S.A. in their respective age group.

Two members will be representing Michigan in the best of the U.S. Challenge in June. Others are going to challenge themselves and complete another ironman distance race and look to improve on their time. There are some members that have taken the leap of faith and will try to complete their first ironman distance race.

The Life Time Fitness Triathlon Team puts in many training hours together and has fun doing it. We welcome new members that are willing to take on triathlons and enjoy the dynamics of being part of team. Check us out at many of the triathlons held in the Detroit Suburban area of Michigan! Attached is a photograph of our members who completed the ironman distance race in Panama City, Florida and their supporters.

Being Up for the Challenge

By Kevin Benjamin / December 5, 2012

It started in my Life Time! It was April 2011, and I was at the Warrenville Life Time Fitness, closest to my home in Naperville, Il;. I had just finished playing racquetball and was drenched in perspiration when I looked at the message board and saw a sign for the upcoming 90-day weight loss challenge. I had known for some time that I had to do “something,” and though maybe this is just what I needed to get going. I was morbidly obese, hypertensive, diabetic and on five different medications to manage it all. Some of the medications were even prescribed to protect me from the others. This was not good.

First, a little background
I’ve been overweight most of my life with sporadic periods of temporarily losing weight successfully. I’ve low cal’ed and low carbed and thought all diets work if you stick to them. The problem was I would always go back to my old gluttonous ways — always! On a low-cal diet I was always hungry. On a low carb diet I was pretty sure I was going to keel over from cardiovascular disease.

So the pattern repeated. In 1985 I was over 300 pounds and went on a calorie-restricted diet. I lost 100 pounds as a result and increased my exercise to regular tennis, biking (along the Chicago lakefront) and even jogging. With my own version of a triathlon, I was finally able to get to 200 pounds and a size-36 waist.

Unfortunately this did not last very long. I bought a tuxedo during this time and was only able to wear it once. If I recall correctly, it was snug then but I was certainly going to lose more weight. Over the next 22 years, I steadily regained much of the weight I had lost. In 2005 I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. With both maternal and paternal grandmothers being diabetic, the question in my mind wasn’t if I would get diabetes, but when.

After being diagnosed T2D (we even have a fancy, cool code for it) I was a “non-compliant” diabetic. I did not test my blood sugar regularly, or at all, for that matter. I would eat whatever I wanted, but I would take my prescribed medications. Each visit to my doctor brought new drugs to try to get my blood sugar under control. Most people I knew were unaware of my diabetes. After all, why risk disapproving looks of astonishment as I ordered dessert.

It begins: April 11, 2011
I stepped on the scale at Life Time Fitness and registered in at 278 pounds. At 5′ 10 1/2″, this was not exactly optimal. Pictures were taken and I paid the entrance fee of $25. I joked that at least I had locked in a sure loss — that being my $25!

It turned out to be the best use of $25 in my lifetime! I had decided the most effective diet in the past for me was low carb. I personally knew Dr. Atkins and had always been aware of the diet and the ensuing controversy. I knew I could lose weight, never be hungry, and, after all, this was a contest! Cardiovascular heart disease be damned!

I went strict with the Atkins Induction, which is less than 20 carbs per day. I ate bacon, eggs, meats, non starchy veggies and plenty of cheese, nuts and berries. If I was hungry I ate, if not, I would try not to eat. Looking back, it seems like it was a easy thing to do, but I struggled daily in the beginning. As time went on it became easier and easier. It turns out that it wasn’t willpower, after all, but biochemistry: Consuming all the meat, fat and non starchy vegetables while eliminating the sugar and grains allowed me to eat only when I was hungry and go hours and hours without eating at all.

Ninety days had passed and it was time to return to Life Time to get my weight recorded again. I stepped on the scale but I knew in advance what it was going to say: I had dropped 25 pounds in the previous 90 days. I did not win any prizes, but I wasn’t in it for that. My mindset at that point was that 25 pounds was a good start! At 253 pounds, I was still morbidly obese, but because this way of eating was so easy, I was prepared to just continue on! I received my weekly Life Time electronic magazine, Flourish, and I eagerly read all of the articles about weight loss. What I found as I read article after article was that many of them actually supported the high-fat, low-carb lifestyle I was living. This became a great support system for me and confirmed everything that I was doing.

After losing 10 more pounds, something happened that I did not expect: While performing a Google search for low-carb cough drops, I stumbled upon a movie called “Fathead.” Cruise ship comic Tom Naughton, was in search of a project to jump start his career, sees the movie Supersize Me, and takes issue with blaming the obesity epidemic on McDonalds. Naughton decides that his project would be to eat at McDonald’s for 30 days and prove that you could lose weight.

Well, Naughton does lose weight, but then the totally unexpected happened: While doing research for the film, he discovers that the lipid hypothesis (that says is if you eat a high-fat diet you’ll get high cholesterol and therefore develop heart disease) not only hasn’t been proven, but is totally not true. Say what? Are you kidding me?

I did my own research and found the evidence to be clear and abundant. Tom Nikkola, head of Life Time Fitness weight loss and nutrition was not only aware of the movie and research, but pointed out to me Naughton’s blog, which I then used in conjunction with material from Life Time to stay motivated.

Although weight loss was my initial goal, after six months I went to my doctor for a follow-up blood test. Here’s the best part: My triglycerides, which had been in the triple digits, were cut in half. All of my biomarkers were improved dramatically, and I was well on my way to being much healthier. My doctor was amazed! He endorsed the reduction of some medications and the elimination of others. I determined this way of eating would no longer be my “diet,” but just the way I eat. With the specter of cardiovascular disease removed, I could eat this way forever.

Earlier in November 2012 I reached my 18th month of eating this way. I had yet another follow-up blood test, and the numbers keep getting better and better. I am no longer on any medication, and the diagnosis of diabetes has been removed from my chart. I have lost 67 pounds and I continue to lose more. The tuxedo still doesn’t fit — not yet, but it will. It may take me three months or three years — it doesn’t matter any more. This journey started as weight loss and turned into regaining my health, a much much loftier and worthwhile goal.

It all started in my Life Time, but I’m pretty sure it will play a big role in extending my life!

You Want to Compete in WHAT?

By Meredith Butulis / November 12, 2012

When the topic of health and fitness transformations comes up, my clients come to me wanting to lose weight yesterday. They often seek the fastest possible track to get there. My transformation is different — I have never thought about weight loss (although I did lose 40 lbs on my journey). To me fitness is the medium by which I experienced transformation not only physically, but also mentally, socially, emotionally and spiritually.

I grew up as a workaholic, who ate 3 square meals of fast food a day as a teenager. Those habits continued through college, grad school and my first few “what am I going to do with my life” jobs after grad school. As far as activity, I tried fitness class after fitness class and nothing seemed to stick. I did not enjoy working out in the gym, and I didn’t enjoy working out outside of the gym either.

One day, a personal trainer came up to me and told me he was starting a new body-building show in town. He wanted me to try it. I honestly thought he was crazy. The next week, I saw a fitness competition on ESPN and thought, I would like to do that! I went back and hired the trainer to teach me how to apply nutrition and program design to my goals, and six weeks later competed in my first fitness competition. That was the beginning of committing to regular workouts, changing my nutrition habits and embarking on a mental, social and spiritual journey I would never have imagined.

Today, seven years later, I perform a fitness routine that currently ranks top 10 in the world. I’m often asked why I compete. That answer lies in the journey of transformation, and that journey is infinite and fulfilling.

Physically, photos show there is obvious transformation, but when asked what I weigh or what my body composition is, I honestly rarely know. When I first met with a choreographer, she told me to show her what I could do. Then she gave me skills that were one to two levels higher than my ability. She continues to do this with me every year, and I do the best I can to step up to the challenge.

Mentally, the transformation has been profound. Joint injury has taught me to work smarter by learning visualization instead of just practicing more. Illness has taught me that there is a fine balance between recovery and perseverance. Not only that, but I’m also constantly learning the science behind recovery and modifying it each day in order to have a productive day at work, training and in life outside of these activities.

Knowing my goal in the face of obstacles has lead me to be much smarter. When I see a task or obstacle, instead of saying “I can tackle that!” or “I can’t do that,” I now ask “Under what conditions can I make that work?” That is a lesson I’ve learned to apply not only in stage performance, but also in life. It has lead to great creativity that I would have never otherwise discovered.

Socially, I have realized that there are many people that will tell me that I can’t do something. The process of finding like-minded people to encourage me to try has lead to more friends and peers than I could have ever imagined. Even though I have multiple degrees and certifications in Allied Health and Fitness fields, I still reach out to other colleagues and professionals on a regular basis to learn, apply and change.

Emotionally, one of my teammates summed it up best. When she was asked what makes her win, she told the team that she gets out of her head. She asked us all to place our hands over our hearts and just breathe and be in the moment. The process of breathing, feeling, and being fully present in the moment is one that has not only lead me to be a high level competitor, but also one that has lead me to find and share my passion in everything I do. It is one of the most important lessons I’ve learned on my journey of transformation.

Spiritually, I have learned to stop and experience the process and the moments throughout this journey of transformation. I am thankful to share my passions with others, continue the infinite process of learning, and for every moment that I get to experience the joy of being active.

Most of my clients come to me seeking physical change. My journey and transformation in becoming a world level fitness competitor has lead me to have an open door and open mind to share as my clients realize that the change that goes with any physical transformation usually becomes a holistic journey.

Aspiring Triathlete

By Anne H. Carter / September 19, 2012

NOTE: The content below is from my blog at gpannie50fit.com. I am a member of LifeTime Fitness in Columbus, OH (Easton location) and the fitness magazine I reference is Experience Life!

On Saturday, July 28, 2012, I competed in my first triathlon. Well, actually, it was a mini-sprint triathlon: 250 yards swimming, seven miles biking and two miles running. The sponsors promoted it as an ideal first-time event, and that proved to be the case for me. I demonstrated to myself that I can do it. For at least 48 hours after the event, I randomly declared, “I did it!” The experience helped me believe in myself! I soon began to wonder how much I could do — with a (slightly) more disciplined approach to training. My blog will help me hold myself accountable and, I hope, will invite feedback from my readers.

Just what was it that inspired a 49-year-woman to get involved in a triathlon? Mind you, a woman who loves to swim, but rarely exercised; had not so much as sat on a bike in nearly 20 years; and considered running and jogging to be cruel and unusual punishment for the knees and various other body parts.

It all started after I read an article nearly a year earlier in a fitness magazine. The story was about a 40-something-year-old woman who decided to use training for a triathlon to get in shape. For whatever reason, the idea stuck with me and by the end of 2011, I decided I would complete a sprint tri in 2013 for my 50th birthday.

Let’s just say my timetable was rather lax. (Some might call it laughable.) Mentally, I mapped out a total of 18 months: six months to “think about” my plan, six months for “moderate” training and six months for “serious” training. When I got back in the pool in March, I was already a couple months off track. It had been several years since I had made an effort to swim with any regularity. I was frustrated that I struggled to get out of the pool and dreamed of effortlessly popping up from the water to the deck. (BTW: I am pretty darn close to “effortlessly” now!) About a week later, a sign appeared on the locker room door: Masters’ Swimming Class. The timing could not have been better.

After a trial run of twice a week, the gym settled on three weekly sessions from 6–7:30 a.m. The class was just what I needed. Our teacher was outstanding, with a remarkable ability to provide feedback on individual performances while keeping track of our staggered send-offs, splits and overall times. She was mindful of our goals and inspired me to stretch beyond my comfort zone — sometimes beyond what I thought was possible, or reasonable. It also became increasingly easy for me to gauge my pace and my confidence grew.

By mid-April, I realized I was gradually, but consistently, dropping pounds. Over a 3-month period, I ended up losing 17 lbs. As the classes continued, doing a warm-up event this year started to sound like a good idea. I discovered one in a nearby state park. There were two particular aspects that helped ease my ambivalence: First, the sponsors promoted the event as a good first-time triathlon, with the notion that anyone who had run or walked a 5K would be successful. Second, it was female-only, and that definitely appealed to me.

Now you have the beginning of my story. Next time I’ll talk about the day of the mini tri. In the weeks and months to come, I will chronicle my experiences as I train for 2013. Who knows . . . maybe I will do a half-tri rather than a sprint.

Anne
@GPannie50fit

A Personal Journey to Fitness and Health

By Ron Gold / June 8, 2012

I shared my journey on the How I Did It blog a few months ago, but wanted to submit my story and update my journey. I have had weight and health issues most of my life and have probably lost over 1100 pounds through the years, yo-yo dieting, I think they call it?

Well, let me take a moment to go back to 2006, a year that changed my life. I was a very successful and powerful businessman married to my job and wrapped up in me. In 2006, that all changed. I was forced out of that job and my life as I knew it was in turmoil.

The first thing that happened was a spiritual journey that goes on to this day. I had never even had time for God and, looking back, He was changing that, and just in time. So that started a long and continuing search for God that has enriched my life in so many ways.

Then in 2011, it happened again: My life was turned upside down, I hit physical bottom, and something had to change. In June I was told I had diabetes, I already had high blood pressure and cholesterol, and I hit 365 pounds, too — I was in trouble!

Later in June, I decided to make a change for the better, checked out a few gyms, and became a work out and health “nut.” I knew what to do and had been encouraged by so many, but until I made the decision to make a change, it never worked.

I joined Lifetime Fitness on July 1, 2011, and my life changed very fast. As I said, I knew what to do but had simply never made the commitment to do it. Well, I did it in July. Slowly at first, but building up to three-hour workouts on my own at 4 or 4:30 in the morning.

I also knew what to eat and changed my unhealthy eating for textbook healthy food and the proper amounts. The weight came off very fast and by December 1, I had lost over 95 pounds, just in time for a needed surgery — one that was suppose to be simple?

Well, the surgery had several complications, and looking back now, I wonder if I would have even made it through had I not lost the weight and changed my life. I know who to thank for that! Well, we are getting close to end of the story just a couple of updates:

In January, while recovering from surgery, I fell and had to go back to the hospital. It was pretty bad, but after I got out I returned to my doctor. We found out the reason for my fall was that I had lost 130 pounds by that time, and the medications? Well, the doctor said I did not need any of them! No more blood pressure medication, no more cholesterol meds, no diabetes meds either! Everything had changed, and I was the new poster child for my doctor. He has told me over and over it is amazing.

My doctor said that he and other doctors always advise people to eat right and exercise, but very few ever do it, and he has never had anyone do as well or as fast. All I could think was I have been very blessed to be able to do this, to have the will and the place I need.

The will part may be easy for me, my wife says I am very very stubborn and she knew when I decided to it I would. The place, well, that is where Life Time Fitness comes in — open 24 hours a day and with everything I needed: cardio, weights, and the pool, not to mention the people!

The staff is great, but the other members were, and continue to be, so encouraging. All I can say is thank you to Life Time, all the people that have encouraged me and, of course, I pray a lot and thank God for the journeys he put me on in 2006 and 2011.

You can change your life but not until you decide to do it! You have to want to do it and with two grandsons, nine and ten, and a wife that I love, I had all the motivation I needed and need today! I feel better than I did 20 years ago and I am not finished changing!

My workouts continue to evolve, my health continues to improve, and I am still on my spiritual journey, too. The other change is that I share my journeys with others, and seeing the huge change in me, people stop and listen, and many have changed their lives, too!

My wife has lost weight, and many of my coworkers and friends have started eating healthier and working out. People that see me stop me and ask, how? After they hear the story, they thank me, and many of them are encouraged and ready to start their own journeys.

Maybe I will see you at Lifetime at 4 a.m.? You can bet I will be there – six days a week – on a bike or elliptical, lifting weights and, oh yes, in the pool, swimming10000–12000 meters a week. The pool is another story for another time and I was never a swimmer, but I am now!

Finding Support and Inspiration in Unexpected Place

By Melissa McCarthy / April 25, 2012

My name is Melissa McCarthy, and I want to share my weight-loss journey.

Me, before

It may not seem like a boss could be your biggest support system, but with my boss, it’s different. Her name is Susan Sipich, and she has given me a new life. I can honestly say I’m happy — and I owe a lot of my success to Susan. She has become my mentor, my coach and my best friend.

It all started in January 2010. I was working at a fast food hamburger restaurant. I hated everything about my life, and I didn’t know how to change it. Then one day, my sister decided to leave the company she had been working for. She asked me if I was interested in her job, and I said yes.

That would be the best decision in my life. I started work on Jan. 21. I enjoyed the job, but still wasn’t happy. I didn’t know what the problem was. I started talking to Susan more and more, and I really enjoyed our talks.

Then in October 2010, she approached me and asked if I wanted help with my weight. I said yes, since weight has been something I have struggled with my whole life. She showed me a Web site, www.sparkpeople.com, to track my progress. She showed me how to restrict my calorie intake and increase my exercise.

We set up goals, and she said that for every 20 pounds I lost, she would buy me a present to help me keep going. I tried it and it began to work. She even made a meal plan for me and started walking with me on my lunch break.

I had my first meltdown in December. Things seemed really hard, but Susan didn’t give up on me. We kept going.

As time went by, we have become really close. She has saved my life, and not a day goes by that I don’t thank God for giving me Susan. Without her I don’t know where I would be today. With her help and support I have lost a total of 135 pounds.

Me, after, with Susan

Susan has really gone out of her way to help me in every way possible; she is a great support system. We continue to eat right and exercise together. I couldn’t have asked for a better boss or friend. I also recently began to run. I ran in the Chicago Triathlon and the Chicago Marathon!

Never In My Wildest Dreams

By Evelyn Flaharty / April 16, 2012

I moved to Texas from the east coast and wondered what would I do with my free time, as I did not know anyone in town. I visited the Life Time Fitness center in Garland, Texas. My first impression was, My goodness, this place looks like a country club. I decided right then and there to become a member. My goal was to get in shape, so I started by taking a yoga class. You know, work myself up to the other stuff, like the treadmill and bike. I was never big into working out. For me, sweating was not something I could see myself doing, let alone enjoying. The only time I wanted to sweat was when I was lying on the beach and could cool myself off by taking a dip in the ocean.

While in a yoga class I met the most amazing woman. I took one look at her and thought, Wow, I wish I could look like that. Her name is Toni Smith Snow. Little did I know that this woman would change my life forever. She introduced herself and explained that she was a personal trainer. I had lots of free time, so I decided to train with her. It wasn’t easy at first. I had never lifted weights or even thought of strength training. I couldn’t lift dumb bells weighing 5 lbs— that’s a bag of sugar for crying out loud! Yep, I was officially a wimp. There I was at the gym struggling with weighs and barbells, sweating like I was in a sauna. Gross, so I thought.

There was no way I could envision myself getting excited about lifting. This was particularly true when Toni would schedule me for leg workouts. On days when she would workout my legs I thought to myself, Why am I doing this? Is it supposed to hurt this much? Do I really want to pay to be tortured? So I trained on and off for a while. I wasn’t seeing the progress I thought I would see but then again I wasn’t fully committed to the training. I also continued to eat like I always did as I considered myself to be a healthy eater.

Like most women I was obsessed with my weight. Toni suggested I meet with the on-site nutritionist. That’s when I realized that while I was eating healthy for the most part, I was not eating a well-balanced diet (not enough protein too many carbs). I also learned that I did not eat enough. Come on, you know you are all guilty of this. How many times during the week do you skip breakfast, then hit the salad bar for lunch? You would think that eating would actually make you gain weight. At least that’s what I thought. It actually turns out I was not eating enough protein. She wanted me to eat more! Are you kidding me! I’m trying to lose weight here. Turns out they were right. Once again my trainer and the nutritionist knew best.

This January Toni asked me again what my goal was. I recited my usually line: lose weight and get in shape, but now I also wanted some muscle. Toni looked right at me and said, “Evy, everybody wants to lose weigh and get in shape. You said that last year.” She wanted me to train for a bigger purpose, a goal to become an athlete. She told me that she would help me reach my goals but I needed to be more serious about my training. I had to take an active role in my own development. Hum, where had I heard that before? I knew in my heart that it was up to me, that in the end only I can make it happen.

So in June, right after my birthday I decided to get serious about weight training. I wasn’t getting any younger and I really wanted to do something different in my life. It was time for me to step out of my comfort zone and tackle a new challenge. By the end of the summer, I was amazed at how much progress I had made and decided to step it up another notch. My trainer is an avid figure fitness competitor. I could not help but wonder what it must feel like to compete. Toni and I agreed that we would train me to compete in a bodybuilding competition. I know, that’s what I thought as well. Me bodybuilding? Really? Yes, really.

I remember putting on my posing outfit (which by the way is smaller than my bikini) and six-inch high heels. As I stared at myself in the mirror I thought, Is this really me? Who is this woman staring back at me? I couldn’t recognize myself. Not only did I look different, I felt different. So there I was, a figure fitness competitor at the Texas State Natural Bodybuilding Competition. As I stood up on the stage many thoughts raced thru my head including, Wow, this is a long cry from yoga. Talk about stepping out of the box! No turning back now, you’re on stage, so go for it. Never even my wildest dreams would I have thought that I, Evy, who did not even like to workout, would be competing. Just goes to show that you never know what you are capable of if you don’t try.

I am very proud to let everyone know that this past November not only did I compete in the Texas State Natural Bodybuilding Competition, but I won. Yes, I won. I have not stopped feeling a total sense accomplishment and unbelievable joy. A part of me still does not believe what happened. For the next two months I occasionally caught myself wondering if I could do it again. So as part of my New Year’s resolution, I decided that I would enter into another competition. Like they say in the lottery, “you never know.”

My goal was to compete in the Ronnie Coleman Classic on March 31, 2012. This is the largest competition in the state of Texas with over 400 competitors. I knew the competition would be tough and that I would have to train harder than ever. To stay motivated I posted photos of myself from the last competition everywhere, including in the food pantry and on the refrigerator door. I did everything my trainer asked. I also enlisted my husband to run track with me and asked him to push me everyday. I’ll be honest with you: There were days when I just did not want to get up but my husband would roll over and say, “The others girls who are competing against you are at the gym training.” That would bring a smile to my face and get me up.

When I arrived at the event and looked around at the other competitors, it gave me such a rush of adrenaline. There were so many figure fitness competitors that we were lined up on stage, two rows deep. When the announcer began to call out the names of the top five competitors I held my breath, and then it happened. My name was called out as one of the top five. The smile on my face said it all. I won third place. I had proven to myself that I am now an athlete, a figure fitness competitor.

Just goes to prove that if you work hard at what you want, you can achieve your goal. I set the goal, believed I could achieve it, monitored my progress and diligently applied myself everyday. I will never be able to thank my trainer for her support and constant encouragement. The best way I can thank her is to continue to train hard as I believe that my success is also a reflection of her commitment to me.

My trainer had inspired me and now I want to pay it forward by inspiring others. Not to become a figure fitness competitor, but to show by example that you should never give up on your dreams, whatever they may be. Whether you want to lose weight, go back to school, start a business, anything. Just go back to that place in your mind when you were a child and had dreams. Dreams you put away because life got too busy and you thought it was too late now. It’s never too late. Don’t live your life with should haves and could haves. Live your life with no regret. You’ll never know if you could have achieved your dream if you never tried.

So do I now enjoy working out? Absolutely! No rocking chair for this old lady, only a rock hard body!

Kidney Stone Catastropy Turns Into One of Life’s Biggest Blessings

By Anne Gourley / March 9, 2012

Anne with her daughter, Jill

Last summer my husband and I went on a trip to eastern Oregon over the Fourth of July holiday. We looked forward to this very much and were having a wonderful time. The morning after we arrived in Enterprise (our most eastern destination), I awoke to the most painful sideache I have ever had. The nausea hit and I couldn’t do anything but roll in a ball. My husband went to the hotel manager and we were able to go to the hospital in Enterprise. They diagnosed me with kidney stones, gave me some pain medication, and sent me home. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out, so we were back in a few hours. They admitted me and during admittance weighed me. Ouch — that was as bad news as the stones. I weighed way too much.

Fast forward to 2 emergency room trips later, then 3 days after the 4th of July to my urologist appointment. He said I looked healthy. I stated yes, but I am obese. He told me nothing could change that until I made myself a priority — and number 3 or 4 doesn’t count. It hit me like a brick. I talked to my husband, and he agreed (happily) to support a change in our diets, and to let me take the time after work to exercise and start moving more.

That was July 7, 2011. Now it is March 6, 2012. In this time, I have started practicing and loving yoga. I practice nearly everyday: sometimes gentle, sometimes power and sometimes basics. Sometimes even twice a day. This has changed not only my weight, but my outlook on life, my marriage and my ability to cope with difficult challenges.

Through yoga, I have come to have patience with myself. I have learned that I am an important person, and by having a good feeling about myself, I can express that by supporting others. I am going to yoga teacher training this summer. My intention is to work with people with differing abilities so that they may come to know the good feeling of strength and hope that having a yoga practice provides for a person.

My husband and I agree that my kidney stone was a blessing in disguise and that now I am healthier than I have been for years. Yoga has helped me realize my potential and that the best intentions are to be good to yourself so you can share goodness with others.

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