Inspirational Success Story

Last summer, I met Jacquie, one of our gym members, when she was helping put together a health fair at the company where she works. I’d previously seen her working hard in the gym in the wee hours of the morning  and when she won 2 personal training sessions at that health fair she decided to work with me. I’m giving you the back ground so you know how little I had to do with her success. She needs to be given serious credit.

For reference: This is a 70 pound fish. Holy Mackerel!

I saw Jacquie again last week. She was positively glowing. It wasn’t hard to figure out why when she stopped me and said, “Guess what?! I’ve lost 70 pounds!!!”

“Oh my god, that’s awesome!” I told her.

“60 was amazing but seeing 70 pounds gone made me cry. I’ve got about 60 pounds to go but I’m so happy!”

I hadn’t really been following her progress so I asked her how long she’d been working on the weight loss.

“14 months. Slow and steady, about 5 pounds a month. And I really had to do both the food and the exercise. It doesn’t work any other way.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Way to go Jacquie!

The Corn People Found Me!

I just got the following comment on my High Fructose Corn Syrup post, straight from the Corn Refiner’s Association:

“I wanted to share this third party article about the misperceptions about High Fructose Corn Syrup. New York Times: Sweetener with a Bad Rap
Thank you for your consideration.
Liz – on behalf of the Corn Refiner’s Association”

I don’t exactly know whether to be flattered or frightened. I bet I’m on some sort of watch list now.

Knowing is half the battle

New York City passed a law requiring restaurants to post the calories of their menu items. New Yorkers, and visitors, have been getting a bit of sticker shock as a result.

A client of mine visited NYC last week and shared her experience with calories being up front and center -

Let me tell you how this law has impacted my day:

Breakfast arrives: it looks like 1 serving of quiche.  Menu says the quiche is 770 calories.  Now it’s two servings of quiche because I cut it in half immediately.  I ate half for breakfast and half for lunch.

Then I bounced into Starbucks for a Chai tea latte and a pastry.  I walked out with only a latte because I didn’t see the calorie count of the latte until AFTER I ordered it. Needless to say, I skipped the pastry.  Good thing is, I did get a LOT of walking in today.

Taking the fun out of eating.  No telling what’s for dinner. Probably a salad. C’est la vie.

Earlier this week, I mysteriously found a McDonald’s chocolate shake in my hand (I am not exactly the spokesperson for good choices). Interestingly, I didn’t even really want it, I just happened to be passing a McDonald’s. And a bank. See, I’ve made it a rule not to pay for fast food with a debit card which generally works well as a diet tool since I never have cash. Therefore, in order to get this shake that I didn’t even want, I had to go to the drive through ATM where I was reminded that my driver’s side window doesn’t work and had to open the door to complete my transaction. Did this then stop me from driving through the McDonald’s and having to explain to the drive thru people that my window was broken? No! Something deep in my brain was determined to get this shake regardless of any inconvenience or embarrassment to my person.

Would having that one last reminder that the shake was 440 calories have stopped me? Maybe not that time. But quite possibly the next. If I’d hestitated for even a second while thinking about those calories and just driven past the turn into the bank I would have been spared not only the calories but also the subsequent guilt. Perhaps it does take some of the fun out of eating out, but if it helps me make better choices and feel less guilty in the long run then I’m all for it.

Personal Training Demo Day at RVC

I wanted to make you aware of an opportunity you may want to take part in or share with friends and family members (or enemies if you’d like them to get a little beat up on by a trainer.)

What is it? Personal Training DEMO DAY @ RVC!

When: Thurs. April 30th, All Day (depending on the trainer)

What: Free personal training demos with any trainer who offers up their time. There will be a sign up posted in the club and anyone (RVC members and non-members) can sign up for free personal training demos. If you have friends who have been waffling on starting at the gym this may be the perfect opportunity to tip them over into joining you on the path to health and fitness. Misery loves company after all. (Just kidding…sort of.)

If you, or some you know, are interested we can schedule sessions before the poster goes up. I intend to do demos at 1, 3 and 4pm that day. I can also do buddy training. First come first served! And feel free to sign up with other trainers if my availability doesn’t work*. This may become a monthly event (on the last day or weekday of the month) so I’ll keep you posted!

* I am actually available for demos (for members or potential members) on regular old non-demo days so feel free to talk to me if you know someone who would like the opportunity to learn how to use the facilities and equipment.

Interesting Thought

“If you’re not successful, it’s because you’re not willing to do something.”

What’s your something?