Lisa – 6 Week Transformer

My name is Lisa Gay, I am married with 4 kids. As I am nearing 50 I have found it more and more difficult to keep the weight off. I have always been a fairly active person and have always worked out in some way for many years. However, over the past couple of years I have put on weight despite my working out and fairly healthy eating habits. I joined this challenge to put me into high gear to lose the weight once and for all and learn how to keep it off moving forward. That’s the key here is keeping it off.

I really enjoyed my morning workouts with my group. I found Elaine, Lyn and our trainer Carole Anne to be a great source of support, inspiration and sounding board to complaints about the early morning time (which I actually prefer) or lack of a certain food (usually wine which I consider a food group). We had fun while working hard for our common goal and kept learning new things which kept it interesting. I’m surprised at the progress in the short period of time and while I’m not at my personal weight goal yet, I have been given the tools I feel that will help me achieve it.

I feel stronger than I have ever been and while I still can’t do more than 6 or 7 military style pushups, I am confident that as I continue on this new path I will achieve the 20 that was my personal goal.

Following the food plan wasn’t too difficult, in fact I found I was eating too much food! I did miss some things. Wine as I already mentioned but also things like avocado and a nice big glass of milk! I’ve discovered I actually enjoy and prefer just balsamic vinegar and lemon over any salad dressing and can’t see me changing back to anything else.

My job has me sitting at a desk all day so I know the importance of making sure to keep moving. I found the work outs we did kept me energized throughout the day which is why I preferred the early morning workouts. I didn’t get tired anymore at 3pm. I felt energized right until I got home and although I was ready for bed by 9pm I feel I got more accomplished throughout the day.

Thanks to Andy for putting together this program and allowing me the opportunity to be a part of it. Thanks to Carole Anne for being a great trainer and motivator and last but not least, thanks to Lyn and Elaine for being my partners in crime working together to achieve our goals. I look forward to seeing everyone around the gym.

With Warm regards and a Cheers!

Michelle – 6 Week Transformer

I started this program the same way I start every weight-loss/exercise program – feeling uncomfortable in my own skin and desperately looking for a change. I finished the program exceeding my goal and comfortable with myself. Something that I have never obtained in such a short period of time.

Losing the weight was one thing but as I continued on in the program I felt myself getting stronger and stronger every week. Having Christina, my trainer, pushing me every week had me using heavier weights and seeing results faster than I ever have. I also made new gym friends to workout with on non-trainer days. That made working out more enjoyable and something to look forward to.

The diet was a big adjustment in the beginning but soon became second nature. I quickly got used to pre-planning and preparing my meals and it actually made life easier. There were times when I would want to eat what everyone else was having but I wasn’t going to blow all my hard work and time in the gym.

Being a wife and mother of two taking time for myself to prepare separate meals and to get my 5 workouts in each week wasn’t always easy. I had to make myself a priority and I made sure I didn’t miss a single workout or meal. In the end my family is happy for me. I believe I have taught my children that it is important to eat well, exercise and take care of your self.

I am so pleased with my results – the plan works if you stick to it! I look forward to participating in the next challenge and seeing my body transform even more 🙂

A big thanks to all the staff at Body Fit for offering such a great program and for cheering us all on along the way! To Christina, my trainer, you showed me just how strong I really am. To my teammates, I  proud of all of you and I thank you for making the last 6 weeks so much fun. And lastly, my family, your support and encouragement kept me “in the game” and I couldn’t have done it without you in my corner.

Maria – 6 Week Transformer

6 weeks ago I decided that I needed a change.  I needed to get out of a rut I had created for myself that included lots of junk food after recently having my new baby boy.  Being a mommy to a 5 year old and a 5 month old is the best thing that has ever happened to me…. but I lost myself in it.  Enter 6 week Christmas Crunch! I will admit I was scared and I didn’t know what to expect.  I knew it would be hard but I didn’t realize just how hard.  Was I ready?  Was I willing to commit at least 5 days a week to exercise?  Yes and yes!  Was I ready to give up all kinds of foods that I loved and was addicted to?  NO. I.  WAS. NOT!  But I was going to do it anyway. My journey started off as I would assume everyone else’s did.  The workouts were tough and I was sore, I was tired, I was hungry and I was craving carbs like crazy.  I would automatically reach for chocolate after a meal and then remember I couldn’t have it.  I was mad!  My husband is my best friend and the most supportive person in my life and I don’t think I could have made it without him.  I have thanked him a million times for putting up with me during my carb and sugar withdrawal tantrums- of which there were many in the beginning.  But a magical thing happened after a week… The cravings started to subside.

The diet slowly got easier but eating tofu twice a day was making me very irritated.  I had my ups and downs with this because the only protein I was able to eat was tofu.  Have you had tofu?  It’s not too bad covered in sauce or fried but sauce and oil are not on the diet.  I struggled with that.  With that said,  I have learned to think about what I was eating and the effect it will have on my body.  Too often I would think “oh, it’s just a little cookie” and 5 cookies later I was still going.  Now I understand that treats are fine to have on occasion and in moderation but they should not be an every day occurrence.  I have also come to appreciate portion sizes and what my body needs for energy.  Food is something to be enjoyed but not for over indulgence.  I am at a point now where I do not want to sabotage all the hard work I have put in the last 6 weeks. Eventually I started to look forward to the workouts.  I actually had fun with my group (who were all lovely people by the way) and there were many laughs.  Each week was something new and the circuits kept the hour interesting and sometimes very entertaining.  The workouts we did on our own were also different and made me feel like jelly after (not to eat but how my muscles felt).  Christina always took into account the limitations my back pain would put on me and would give me options on how to complete the exercises.   When I was in pain I would carry on with either lighter weights or use an exercise ball to support my back.   As my core got stronger I was able to eliminate the exercise ball and use heavier weights more often. I was asking my husband every day if he saw a difference in me and of course there wouldn’t be after a couple of weeks.  I kept at it.  As tired as I was, my body started to want the workouts and I wasn’t as sore after them.  I felt a huge sense of accomplishment after each training session.  I felt like I was doing something for myself after every workout, and I liked it.  The first three weeks were so difficult but the last 3 have just flown by and the second someone said to me “wow, you can really see a difference” was the second I realized that I only want to keep going, to keep getting stronger and to keep taking care of myself so that I can be the best mom to my boys. Thank you to everyone who has supported, encouraged and listened to me vent when needed.