LifeStories

Ever since turning 30, I have been avid about working out and trying to be healthy. My workout consisted of a 3 - 5 mile run daily...that's it. But I was still young enough that I was able to eat pretty much what I wanted. Then I turned 40... so I bumped up my runs to 5 to 8 miles a day. I tried incorporating weights on my own but that didn't seem to get me anywhere - then came the 45 year mark where I was putting on weight and would continue to put on weight over the next 5 years - to the tune of 50+ extra lbs. And because of all the running I had been doing, my knees were shot - Cartilage was little to nothing in both knees. It seemed that it didn't matter what I did, I couldn't lose the weight. I was so depressed and unmotivated that I wasn't doing my daily workouts which increased the weight gain. Well...Just under 3 years ago Club Samsung opened here at the office and I signed up for personal training sessions immediately. I first met with my personal trainer for Body Metrics (which was awful for me to see where I was) and to set up a workout schedule. Personal training consisted of 3 days a week (M-W-F) for 1/2 hour. On T-Th I would workout on my own for 30-45 minutes walking. I was also aware of my eating habits. Oatmeal for breakfast, small snack at about 10 am, lunch consisted of a good sized salad with protein, small snack at about 3, and dinner had more veggies on my plate than anything else. By June of the following year I was down 51 lbs. and more leaner and muscular than I had ever been in my life. Fast forward to today - I am 55 years old - I continue with my workout schedule and with my personal trainer. My abdomen alone went down over 9 inches, 6.5 inches in my thighs, and Body Fat went from 28.9% to 17.2%. These numbers still astound me! I just love the new me! Thank You to Cara Simpson my LifeStart Coach and Fitness Enthusiast!

In Sept. 2016 I decided it was time to make a change. I was nearly 50 lbs. overweight and in the worst physical shape of my life, so I made a commitment to eat healthy and workout 5x a week. When I joined LifeStart in Jan. 2016, Jamie Regan, the Fitness Center GM, walked me through MyStart assessment, as well as created a strength training workout routine for me. Unfortunately, I didn't take action until Sept., but she was kind enough to guide me through a refresher session on what we had gone over 7 months earlier! I hit the ground running (literally!) and went to the Fitness Center faithfully 4-5 days a week during lunch. Even with a few set-backs along the way (I worked a little too hard and tore my meniscus and needed to undergo arthroscopic surgery, so I could not work out for 2-months!), I've lost 45 lbs. in the last 8-months!! At 45 years old, I'm in the best shape of my life! Jamie has been so helpful with creating new routines for me that keep me challenged and motivated.
I can honestly say I could not have accomplished this without LifeStart Fitness and the encouragement and support of Jamie Regan! The path to better health and fitness has only just begun and I'm excited to see what the future holds!

My journey began on January 12, 2015. I knew I had to do something about my weight and decided to simply start counting calories. After 3 weeks or so, I'd lost 12 pounds and that inspired me to add in exercise. I started slow with just walking outdoors, then started working out in the gym in my homeowners association clubhouse. I had some success & lost about 60 pounds, but the game changer was joining Lisle's Central Park LifeStart facility in July 2015. I got a free month's membership at a health fair but LifeStart proved to be so handy that I joined after my freebie expired. They were located in the building adjoining where I work, so it was easy to run over there for a workout before, during, or after work. I really enjoyed some of the group exercise classes and all of the trainers were so supportive and encouraging. I never felt like anyone looked down on me for letting myself get so heavy. I was able to work out 6-7 days a week and on December 15, 2016, I hit my weight goal. I was down almost 180 pounds from where I started. Since then I have lost another 8 or so pounds and I continue to work out at LifeStart 6 days a week. Abby & Michelle provide constant encouragement and also work with me to set new goals now that I have lost the weight. My focus now is on weight training to become leaner and stronger. LifeStart is a wonderful facility for people of all ages and fitness levels. Both the staff and members make going to the gym more of a pleasure than a chore. I know that LifeStart can support my goal of maintaining a healthy active lifestyle to keep the weight off.

11 months ago I went on a hiking, camping, rafting trip with my son. One of the rafting outfitters had a sale on nice rain gear. I found a jacket I liked, but the largest size available was a size or two too small. I bought it anyway, determined to one day fit into it.

I joined the gym at Laitram and have been working closely with Kristin, our nutritionist, who kept assuring me that I was making progress despite very little change in my weight. I have also been enjoying the classes that our gym offers.

Every few months I'd put the jacket on and be encouraged by the two sides of the zipper coming closer and closer to each other. This morning I zipped it up to my chin with ease. The scale may only show a loss of a few pounds, but the changes in my body mass are much greater.

In 2016 I underwent surgery and treatment for breast cancer. After this diagnosis I realized that I needed to take control of my health and treat my body better. I joined Lifestart in March 2017 with the goal of getting muscle strength back lost from chemotherapy treatments and to lose some weight. I was not familiar with any of the weights and machines in the gym, so to help get familiar and also get into some sort of exercise routine, I began training sessions with Hailey in April 2017. At first I was hesitant since this was WAY out of my comfort zone but Hailey, knowing my history, started me off slow, while pushing me at the same time. Sometimes I would look at her with a “are you crazy face” when she told me to do deadlifts or burpees, but I always ended the sessions feeling energized (and sore the next day). Now six months later, I feel better, have more energy and am getting more confident using the equipment every day. I have Hailey to thank for this, for pushing me and telling me I can do it, and to help me realize that yes, I can do it and will continue to get stronger every day.

After years of putting on the pounds I decided to join a shared 50 mile ultra marathon August 2016. I started using The Shwellness Center because the race was in October 2016. I am a spouse and lucky enough to use the facility. Once my race was done I continued to run at the Shwellness Center.

Every December there is a Milez challenge and my wife encouraged me to participate with her. I didn't even think that I would hit the 50 miles mark by the end of month. However, I finished with 101 miles at the end of the challenge. I remember joking with Leah and Breana (health coaches at the gym) that I wouldn't be able to hit the 50 mile mark by the end of the month. I look forward to more challenges like this in the future to help motivate and push myself.

When I started all this back in August 2016 I weighed 330 pounds. This past year I have been running 3 to 4 times a week. Also, this past summer I started meeting with a personal trainer 2 days week at the Shwellness Center. I really enjoy adding this to my routine instead of just running all the time. The workouts make you use muscles that you haven't used in awhile (I am sore after them but a good sore).

I am now down to 277 pounds. I still have 27 pounds to hit my goal. With all the help and support from the gym I am sure I will hit this goal in no time!

When I was younger, I used to always think of myself as someone who was in good shape. As I got older and got married and started a family, I noticed that I was struggling with my weight. I would try to exercise and diet, but with no success.

Over the years, my weight would go up and down. Two years ago, I had ballooned to the highest weight since I had my youngest child 18 years ago.

That all changed when we moved to our new building in August 2015 with its on-site fitness center. I began working with a personal trainer, Cara. She has challenged me every time I workout to push myself to the limits and beyond. Changing my workouts so that my body responded and changed along with them.

The changes to my physical (and mental) wellbeing have been incredible to say the least. I'm in the best physical shape I have ever been -- much stronger, more muscular, and much happier. I now know that with the proper tools and knowledge you can achieve anything. I have lost a total of 30 pounds and am down to 16.7% body fat.

Thanks to Cara and the entire LifeStart fitness center for helping me make this happen.