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!

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

Trip to Boston

By Norah Judson / May 14, 2013

Before we went to Boston, I was excited to go. We had been planning the trip for a while. My dad was going to run the Boston Marathon. We were going to see the sites and I was anxious to see the Freedom Trail.

When we landed on Friday it was raining, but there were still things we could do. So we walked in the rain to the Boston Public Library. I liked it because it was old and big. Then we walked to the marathon expo. I liked it because I want to be a runner when I grow up.

We spent all day Saturday on the Freedom Trail. I liked Paul Revere’s house. The U.S.S Constitution was cool. I also liked Old North Church. I thought it was neat that we got to see where they ring the bells.

Sunday we got up early to watch Mom’s 5K. I liked watching the 5K because I thought it was cool that people in wheel chairs can still do races. A Canadian runner gave me a Canadian stuffed bear. Later we went on the swan boats. I like them because they have been run by the same family since 1877. In the afternoon we saw a Red Sox game. I thought it was neat because the stadium was so old. We also saw the green monster.

Monday morning, we got up to watch Dad run the Boston Marathon. I liked it because we saw so many runners from different states and countries. I had a good time.

Later we went back to our hotel room and turned on the TV. That’s when we heard about the bombing at the Boston Marathon. The second bomb was right where we had been standing. If Dad wasn’t as fast as he is, we would have still been standing there.

Even though I’m mad at the people who did this, I’m still going to run. I’m not afraid to run the William Irvin 5K in Duluth. No matter what, I’m always going to run.

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.

Lessons Learned From Fitness Competition

By Patricia Dunne / April 2, 2013

After having been pregnant twice, your body goes through some changes. I had worked out since I was 14, but my body seemed stagnant in my weight after having children. I was determined to get back into shape.

I starting training with a trainer at Life Time Fitness in Novi, Mich. My trainer, JJ Thomas, would work with me for an hour once a week and text me workouts for the other four days of training, for a total of five days of training for 60–80 minutes each day.

Each training session was approximately one hour. It consisted of a warm up of cardio (15–20 minutes) and 45 minutes of intense weights. I then cooled down afterwards for 15–20 minutes.

My diet consisted of protein and vegetables (two protein shakes and three meals a day) four days a week, then protein and vegetables(two protein shakes and three meals a day), and carbs (sweet potatoes, oatmeal, brown rice) the other three days a week

My entire regular diet contained no dairy or fruit, and one cheat meal once a week. the cheat meal was really heavy and fattening: steak, potatoes, dairy, fruit, dessert, alcoholic beverage — whatever I wanted. (No limitations whatsoever!)

After training for a few weeks, my trainer suggested that I enter a fitness competition. I looked into it and, given my lack of size, found that bikini fitness was the best fit for my body type.

Unfortunately, there is no master division in bikini fitness — I was competing with 19-year-old girls. Even though I was the oldest competitor, I came in third. I was happy to have checked the activity off my bucket list.

It was a great experience. I have learned from training for the competition that you really have to constantly challenge your body to produce any results. Exercise with the correct diet is really the determining factor in achieving your ultimate level of fitness.

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.

Recovering From a Decades-old Injury

By Heather Torok /

When I was 6, I fell off a tree and impaled myself on an iron fence shattering my pelvis. After a blood transfusion, several surgeries and last rites, I spent the remainder of first grade in the hospital recovering and learning to walk again. Despite a very successful recovery, as I grew and progressed into adolescence, my hip injury resurfaced.

In high-school, I curbed my running on the track team, opted for high jump and joined the swim team. Throughout my 20s I struggled with infection, chronic osteomyelitis and frequent pain. In my 30s, after a ski accident and needing to move progressively towards lower impact sports, I discovered spinning and yoga. I bought a bike and signed up for my first road race.

It has been joy ever since. My hip is healthy and my limp has improved with the strength garnered from both yoga and biking. I am stronger in my 40s than ever before. I spend my mornings at the gym (Life Time Fitness in Beachwood, Ohio, 6 a.m. classes) continuing to enjoy learning new ways to strengthen and push myself.

Reiki Saved My Life

By Stephanie Colletti /

Ever since I was a little girl I suffered from anxiety. In retrospect, I can understand the root of many of my anxieties and while I had a great childhood and a loving family, a dark cloud hovered over me. By the time I was in college, my anxieties had become intolerable and depression began to loom. I began therapy as I had done in the past, lost and desperate to relieve the pain.

And so it goes, I was prescribed anti-anxiety medication to alleviate my symptoms even though I had anxiety about taking medication too. I’ve always been highly sensitive as to what I put in my body and can feel immediately when there is a chemical shift. Perhaps it was psychosomatic but from the moment I took that first pill I was never the same. I wanted the obsessive thoughts to go away, the constant dread and worry to subside but instead I became numb…numb to my feelings and numb to life.

Months of experimenting with various dosages and brand names had taken its toll and I turned into a shell of the person I once was, unable to be fully present and unwilling to engage in life. Happiness? That sounded nice but I just wanted to survive, to put on a presentable “happy face” for my family, friends and colleagues until I could return to the safety of my home and dwell in my misery behind closed doors.

My depression became suffocating and my life felt so hopeless that I had seriously considered suicide on at least two occasions. I was angry and felt sorry for myself spending hours determining the best way to take my life because after all I didn’t ask to be born. In my solitude, I would weigh out the options as to which method would be the least unpleasant for me and my family. I determined that an overdose of pills would be my exit strategy…no pain, no mess. I would just go to sleep and sleep was my escape.

So why didn’t I go through with it? Because even with all of the fogginess of my mind and riddled body, I knew deep within my soul that there was a light that still shined as bright as the sun just waiting to be acknowledged. It was there because I was destined to make a difference in the lives of others some way . . . somehow. The journey that would follow in the years to come were calculated steps orchestrated by a Higher Power that would rescue me from the darkness and deliver me into the light.

As fate would have it, one of my mom’s colleagues gave her a brochure for an “alternative” type of therapy. My mom took it and reviewed the information with an open mind eager to save her daughter. The brochure described a woman living in North Carolina who specialized in an alternative healing method known as energy healing or Reiki.

Reiki energy balances the chakras (energy centers within the body) thereby treating physical ailments, spiritual blockages, and even emotional traumas. We made an appointment and drove and hour and a half into the mountains for a one hour session. I had always been a spiritual person and dabbled in metaphysics so I was open to the experience. I connected with the doctor right away; perhaps subconsciously her abilities were familiar to me. For the next year I would visit her therapeutic Reiki sessions. Each session was emotionally draining as my body, mind and spirit processed the energetic shifts that were occurring within me.

The fog began to lift. After a few months of treatment, I decreased my medication and within a year I was drug-free. That was several years ago. To this day I have no need for medication.

Reiki has been very sacred to me even in times when I wasn’t quite ready to embrace it as a life changing calling. I truly believe our greatest lessons are those that cause us the most pain, otherwise how would these lessons get our attention? Reiki took a back seat for a year or two and I went through life fearful of the judgment I would receive from my peers and colleagues had they known my past struggles.

All of that changed in April 2011 as I struggled once again to find myself while drowning in an unhealthy, abusive relationship. I found myself gasping for air and at the end of my rope not knowing which way was up and struggling to make sense of it all. I sought the help of a marriage counselor on my own for relationship guidance but the fact was I had a psychology background, I knew this stuff and I needed help now!

Desperate, I contacted a local Reiki Master and EFT Practitioner. We spent most of our time using EFT to release the emotional trauma. She also gave me Reiki to balance and ground my energy to facilitate the healing process. Finally, I was able to get clarity in the midst of the chaos and was able to breathe. It was after this experience that I realized my purpose and exactly how I’m meant to help others.

So much has changed since that time. I ended the relationship, regained myself and I’ve become a Reiki practitioner myself, offering general and specialized services for people suffering from anxiety and depression. Reiki has been a tremendous gift in my life and I am grateful for the chance to share it with others. I have to laugh when I hear Reiki described as “alternative” or “New Age.” The truth is, energy healing has been in existence and used as a legitimate practice for thousands of years all over the world.

All too often in the West we’re given toxic pills for every aliment. These pills do not get to the root of the problem, they only mask them and cause side effects. And, hey, there’s a pill for the side effects, too. Instead of treating the symptom, get to the core issue using energy healing.

Reiki is beneficial in the treatment of a wide variety of concerns and can be used alone or as a compliment to traditional medicine. It is not necessarily a quick fix, in fact the healing process is often compared to “peeling an onion.” Once one layer is healed another layer may surface to be released. The benefit: a balanced body, mind and soul. Holistic balance means less chance for disease to manifest as well as overall well-being and a healthy outlook on life. Best of all, with Reiki there are no side effects . . . just peace.

I owe my life to Reiki. I am living a happy, healthy and fulfilled life now and it is all because of this beautiful journey and the love and support of my friends and family. My purpose is to spread my message and have faith that it will be received by those who need it most.

Love & Light,
Stephanie Colletti

How I healed my Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Am Helping Others Do the Same

By Angela Privin / December 5, 2012

Being diagnosed with an “incurable” health condition when I was 28 years old, was a low point in my life. I had constipation-dominant irritable bowel syndrom (IBS) and my doctors had nothing but bad news for me. Because most doctors say IBS is incurable, it discourages people from finding natural solutions. But I’m very rebellious, so I set out alone on a journey to cure myself.

It took me years, but I finally succeeded in eradicating all my IBS symptoms and reversing my food intolerances. Now I help others do the same at www.diyhealthblog.com.

When I was diagnosed, I lived in New York City and worked as a financial journalist. Healing became the new focus of my life, and I moved to San Francisco to access a calmer environment and lots of alternative medicine. After moving, I spent years trying different diets and treatments to end my bloating, heartburn, gas, gut pain, fatigue and constipation.

I did multi-week digestive cleanses that I found online (thanks to Dr. Google). I worked with a naturopath for many months, but he turned out to be inept. I educated myself on nutrition and dabbled in Eastern medicine such as Ayurveda (from India) and traditional Chinese medicine. I took herbs, did Ayurvedic treatments and had regular acupuncture treatments. I studied the benefits of an alkaline, raw food diet, and did that for a while. I tried colonics, energy healers and bodywork, but nothing seemed to work.

When I was just about to give up, I met a nutritionist at a meditation workshop. After talking to her, I had a feeling that this time it was going to be different.

I worked with this nutritionist for a year and healed my gut with a low-carb, high-protein diet, some supplements and plenty of rest. It took discipline but it wasn’t rocket science and, most importantly, it worked — miraculously!

My symptoms subsided in the first two weeks and after a year I didn’t recognize my own body. I was at a healthy weight, my depression was gone, I had lots of energy and I could eat and drink whatever I wanted (lattes and grilled cheese sandwiches) without any symptoms. I went to the bathroom regularly without any drama or discomfort. Also, my immune system developed superhero powers: My seasonal allergies were gone, and I no longer caught the all flu or colds that went around.

I’ve been IBS-free for eight years and have proved that not only is the disease not incurable, just a bit tough to figure out. My message to others suffering with IBS is that you can do it too, and without any pharmaceuticals!

The body is designed to heal and rebalance itself, as long as we stop throwing wrenches into the process by eating the wrong foods or never slowing down. With support, the digestive system can heal itself and become better than new.

Support means removing irritating foods for six months to a year, and adding in healing foods, supplements and restful habits. Also, dealing with toxic emotions can help speed up the healing process and will generally improve your life. But you can still have an anxious personality type and a healthy gut. I’m living proof.

After my year of boot camp healing, my body was now balanced and here’s how I kept it that way for the next 8 years without being on any kind of restricted diet:

Cooking at home: Home cooking is a million times healthier than eating out. Restaurants use cheap, low quality ingredients and add extra fat, sugar and salt to hide it. You can eat out occasionally but cooking at home will keep you healthier. If you are not experienced with cooking, don’t worry, it gets easier with experience. Check out www.diyhealthblog.com for some cooking help and recipe ideas.

Probiotics plus: Probiotics are getting more popular for digestive healing, but popping a daily probiotic supplement is not the full answer. Choosing a high quality supplement is important but adding probiotic food and drinks such as kombucha, kefir, plain yogurt, sauer kraut, or miso is very helpful. And you can increase the effect of probiotics by reducing or cutting out sugar.

Rest: Avoiding stress is almost impossible but learning to balance the negative effects of stress is much easier. Getting enough sleep and taking at least 15 or 20 minutes out of your day to quiet and restore your body can balance the effects of stress.
Note: Watching TV does not count as rest. Restorative rest means unplugging from the world (as in doing nothing productive).

I rest by lying down on the floor with my feet elevated, an eye pillow over my eyes (optional) and a blanket for warmth. Just 15 minutes of this can rebalance the nervous system. You might feel antsy or like you’re wasting time as you do this, but you’re actually rebuilding your nervous system and increasing your tolerance to stress. Rest is crucial for healing digestion.

I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all cures for IBS, but there’s one thing that can help everyone: Reducing or eliminating simple carbohydrates like sugar, white bread, pasta, fruit juice, dried fruit and alcohol. (Fresh fruit is OK in moderation). Sugar and high glycemic carbs tend to ferment in the gut when the digestive system is out of balance, which can lead to bloating and gas (that painful uncomfortable feeling you complain about).

If you want more support and inspiration for healing IBS naturally, visit www.diyhealthblog.com for more free tips.

Being Up for the Challenge

By Kevin Benjamin /

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!

Getting Health and Fit With a Healthy Way of Life

By Preslie Hirsch / November 20, 2012

I’ve been working at Life Time Fitness since the month I turned 16 (almost 2 1/2 years!), and, in short, Life Time has completely changed my life.

I had been playing competitive volleyball for seven years when it came to an abrupt stop. I always struggled with stomach aches but suffered through practice anyway, until one night it got really bad. Severely sick, I went to the emergency room. I was told my stomach was internally bleeding and went to a nearby hospital via ambulance.

I spent a week in the hospital and within about a month after my first endoscopy, the doctor confirmed I had intestinal metaplasia: pre-cancerous legions in the stomach. My diet needed to dramatically change, and the amount of medicine I started taking was overwhelming. The health condition forced me to quit volleyball and alter my lifestyle.

Seeking some form of exercise, I took my parents down to Life Time Fitness for a tour. We signed up that day, and I slowly began working out, never having used a gym before, only the volleyball court for my exercise. I wasn’t very overweight or anything, but I had plenty of room to tone up.

I was unsure of what I was doing, but many trainers jumped to my aid. One trainer, Max Reynoso, stuck out. He convinced me to do the 90-day weight-loss challenge, and to give it my all. He pushed me through it through training sessions provided by LT Bucks or encouraging text messages. By coincidence, my senior prom was the same day the challenge ended, so I was extra motivated.

I took the challenge seriously, to say the least, and the gym population took notice. I made friends with so many gym goers, inspired many of my peers at school, built an excellent relationship with most of the trainers, and lost over 3 percent body fat. I had a six-pack for the first time in my life!

The results of hard work and continued support from my Life Time family!

I learned about incorporating protein into every meal, when to eat certain ingredients, different ways to train my body, interval cardio training and more. And the best part, I was able to do this without breaking the bank — it was all through advice of caring members and trainers wanting to see me succeed.

To this day, I love working at Life Time, and still workout every single day. I’m thankful for such a supportive community. And, I’m proud to say that my last endoscopy (in June) showed dramatic improvement. There is no cure to what I have, just the hope for progress through sticking to a healthy diet, a constant medicine regimen, keeping low stress levels and frequent exercise — many of which encompass the healthy way of life!

Page 1 of 312 3 »

How I Did It

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

Trackbacks

Trip to Boston

Trackbacks

Turning a Dream Into Reality

Trackbacks

Lessons Learned From Fitness Competition

Trackbacks

Setting and Making Triathlon Goals in Commerce, Mich.

Trackbacks

Recovering From a Decades-old Injury

Trackbacks

Reiki Saved My Life

Trackbacks

How I healed my Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Am Helping Others Do the Same

Trackbacks

Being Up for the Challenge

Trackbacks

Getting Health and Fit With a Healthy Way of Life

Trackbacks

Recent Reader Submissions

Archives

Recent Comments