So here I am – coming to the end of an incredible
experience working with Nikki. It has been a privilege getting to know her on both
a personal and professional level. We’ve
set and achieved goals that Nikki “thought” were unattainable and out of her
reach such as walking a 5K (and even jogging parts!), and limiting her eating
on the run. We’ve also battled her
lifestyle, identifying negative behavioral patterns and creating healthy habits
along the way. We’ve laughed and even
cried (or at least she has, lol).
Having said that, I am happy to report Nikki’s weight
loss results to date:
·
Weight Lost – 45 lbs
·
Inches Lost – 22.5 total inches
·
Nikki passed the treadmill cardiovascular
test
·
Nikki participated in a 5k (reaching her
goal of less than an hour at 55:11)
·
Improved strength, endurance and
flexibility
One of my goals during this journey with Nikki was to
prove the point that diet and exercise is the most healthy and effective
way to lose weight. Yes, it can be a
slow process compared to quick fix, gimmicky diets…but it’s what really works
to give you lasting weight loss results and to create a healthier you – no
magic pill can do that. It’s the
choices we make every day that either support us for better health and weight
management – or don’t. Remember, “slow
and steady wins the race”.
I told Nikki recently that I believe she has what it
takes to really transform herself. Due
to her motivation & dedication, the Y has decided to support her efforts by
allowing us to continue to work together for an additional 6 months focusing on
“Lifestyle Change”. We will meet every
other week and provide a follow-up blog at the end of the year – hopefully
detailing an amazing testimonial. I
often like to refer clients to a quote I live by, “Life is a journey, not a
destination.” I think Nikki and I are
still in our journey together and looking forward to the future – it’s looking
bright!
Nikki’s
Thoughts
When I was selected for this six month Lifestyle Change
program, I was so excited and hopeful. I knew I was ready to address my
lifelong weight problem but I didn’t know how to do it right, so it was
sustainable. I needed personal guidance to walk me through integrating healthy
eating habits and feeling capable in a gym setting. I remember Jodi telling me
that she would give me the tools – but you have to be the one to do the
work! I suppose I thought she was going to perform a miracle and my life would
be changed overnight but now, six months later, I’ve realized this personal,
life transformation has really only begun.
We spent the first few weeks getting to know each other
and going through the initial testing. It was so difficult for me to face the
reality of my health outlook. My entire adult life I’ve ignored these issues
and tried to prove that I could be happy/beautiful/likeable/successful despite
my weight. So as Jodi and I addressed my starting weight as morbidly obese, my
off-the-charts BMI and body measurements, and my failed fitness tests – ugh, I
just wanted to run and hide! I knew I had to understand the severity of my
situation before we could make any progress, but it was a humbling feat.
Once we knew what we were up against, I felt encouraged
to know Jodi was on my team – I didn’t have to do this alone! She slowly
introduced me to the gym machines and gave me doable goals to achieve. Jodi
helped me stay challenged with varied workouts while gradually gaining
confidence in my own abilities. She taught me a different nutrition topic each
week and stressed the importance of meal planning. She kept me focused on the
big picture of a “healthy lifestyle”. As we built up trust, Jodi was able to
push me on my “hot button issues” like eating out too frequently, being
sleep-deprived, overscheduled, always running late, and being a people-pleaser
at my own expense. I was starting to see just how complex this journey was for
me – this was not just about losing weight but getting healthy, and really
taking good care of myself. I had to carve out time to exercise (something I
had never done regularly, let alone 5-6 times per week), plan family meals
using new ingredients, keep a daily food log, write a weekly public blog, and
find ways to deal with the many emotional issues we were stirring up – through
journaling, talking with loved ones, and establishing new boundaries. It’s been
a ton of work, but absolutely worth it!
I am proud to report so many positive changes I’ve
experienced thus far. I have lost weight and inches and am fitting into smaller
clothes! I am much stronger and have more endurance than I have had in years. I
am having conversations about healthy eating with my children and introducing
them to new foods regularly (we even planted our first garden!). I am getting
more rest and drinking much more water (and much less pop!). Overall, I am so
much more aware – of the quality of my food choices (pairing
carbs/proteins/vegetables and eating more whole grains), the timing of my meals
(eating earlier in the morning and eating every 3-4 hours), and the portion
size of what I’m consuming. I have a better attitude about exercise – it’s not
the dreaded chore I used to view it as because I know what I’m doing and it
feels good to be active. Most importantly, I’m believing in my own abilities
and am trying to achieve goals I’ve never dreamed I’d accomplish. I am truly excited
about the possibilities of me (and my children’s) future.
We’ve made such great strides toward success, but I still
have a long way to go. This program has ignited a fire within me and I fully
intend to press onward with this journey. I’m so grateful for Jodi’s continued assistance!
She and I are in a good groove – and she is ramping up my workouts now more
than ever. I need her pushing me to view myself as that “fitness gal” she
claims I’ve become. As my trainer and friend, she is a vital source of
accountability and support. Thank you Whitley YMCA for caring about my story –
I’m happy to be one small piece of the positive impact the Y has on our
community!
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