How She Lost 13 Pounds in One Month
Hey, Heroes!
Today, I want to share with you a Q&A from one of our most recent success stories, Melanie. At 60 years old, she previously believed that it was too late for her to lose weight. She's not alone in feeling that way, but she gave us the opportunity to do what we do best.
Now, she's 13 pounds lighter, and told us that her biggest challenge was eating all of the food on our plan. Who knew that eating more would be the biggest challenge for weight loss? The remainder of this post will be in Q&A form. If you want to start your journey, hit the chat button and we will get back to you.
Q: Let’s go back to Day 1. You saw 199.6 on the scale. What was your honest reaction?
A: sweet mother of God! this cannot be happening again. A couple years ago I weighed 227 and dropped to 190...I knew I had put some weight on but nope...I need to nip this in the bud and focus on me!
Q: What made you decide to take on the Heroes Fitness10-pound weight loss challenge?
A: I entered a new decade in life and decided to make this the best one yet...I need to focus on spiritual, mental and physical health. Honestly the physical health has been most challenging. Getting rid of poor habits and creating lasting new habits. I want to be able to be active with my grandchildren and feel comfortable in my own skin. I need to achieve the best physical health I can which in turn will keep me active, prevent chronic diseases and enjoy activities without being too tired.
Q: You've been working out with Zach as your trainer; tell us what that's been like.
A: I absolutely love working out with Zach. Getting up early in the morning and getting my workout in helps me to be motivated. He meets me where I am, some days good and some days my attitude could be improved. He makes me laugh, motivates me and provides positive reinforcement when needed. He has helped me believe in myself. I also love the accountability that my sessions provide. When I was out of town for a week, I was actually motivated to work out so I would not lose what I had gained in strength. Both Connor and Zach keep me honest and provide the needed support, motivation and positive reinforcement that I need.
Q: What did your weekly routine look like during the challenge, including your gym sessions, walks, meal prep etc.?
A: Breakfast and lunch are simple and often on repeat. Dinner is more challenging as it is not just me to take into consideration. We eat "the rainbow" and have healthy choices, just a few tweaks to make healthier. Using spices instead of salt to ramp up flavors, we have fish 2-3 times a week. Focus on proteins has been key! Walks on off gym days has been a bit of a challenge especially with my inconsistent/crazy hours of work schedule. We have purchased a walking pad for my home office which has assisted in keeping me moving and play/walk with the dog. I love going to the pool or beach and use that as my "reward" if I can attain my goals. I am also a believer in affirmations and read them daily.
Q: How did the meal plan impact your day-to-day routine?
A: To be honest...it makes it easier as I know what to expect and not waiting until hungry and then deciding. We use leftovers which in turn helps with saving money. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. I do try to embrace that.
Q: When you stepped on the scale and saw 187.6, what was that moment like?
A: WOOWHOO! I did it. My first thought was can I do it again? While it might take longer than a month to drop the next 10lbs...I do know I can do it and will do it.
Q: A lot of women your age feel like it's “too late” to lose weight, or that their body won't cooperate anymore. Did you feel that way at all?
A:Not anymore! I was worried when I started at Heroes Fitness due to my age and de-conditioning. I have not only dropped numbers on the scale, I have improved my strength and endurance. Zach and Conner met me where I was and have tailored workouts to my individual needs. While I may feel sluggish walking in there and I am always proud of myself when finished a workout. Several years ago, my Dexa Scan showed osteopenia in l-spine, hips and femurs. Just had one repeated and it has improved to osteopenia in right hip only! One of my goals was to prevent osteoporosis and I am well on my way to that! It is never too late! If I can do it, anyone can. While some exercises are harder than others, it does get easier with practice and strength building! I am proof of that.
Q: What would you say to someone who feels nervous or unsure about joining a gym like this?
A:Just try it! I get that there may be some reservation due to not felling/being where you want to be but everyone that is there is there for their own personal journey and you only need to show up and try your best for 40 min. I did see some people doing much higher weights than me and thought wow I am weak but you know what? I am not weak as I show up and try my best. Consistency is key and I ALWAYS feel better walking out of there knowing I did my best and am getting stronger. Everyone is so supportive. I have worked out with Jennifer a few times and she is great too. The other clients are supportive and provide encouragement as well.
Q: What’s next for you? Any new goals on the horizon?
A: When I started, I was focused to getting to a specific number on the scale by the time my daughter gets married in September. I think I might make that number but that is not as important to me anymore. My goal is to be healthy and strong (and drop more fat). I want to be able to challenge my body to grow and maintain health. We all have opportunities for improvement and it is baby steps...two steps forward and one back is still forward progress. It took quite a few years to get where I was and reversal of bad habits will not show changes overnight but it IS one step closer to being as healthy as I can be.
If Melanie can do it... so can you. We are blessed to take in hard working clients everyday. If you'd like to know more about our programs, please click the chat, make sure to leave your phone number, and our Customer Relations Specialist will be reaching out to you!