What inspired you to begin your lifestyle transformation?
My weight has always been an issue for me and I became the classic yo-yo dieter. I tried every kind of diet out there and every pill I could take to try to lose weight. I would lose, but then gain back twice as much. By the time I turned 55, I had high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and my knees were starting to cause me a lot of pain. I realized at 250 pounds I would probably not be able to live long enough to enjoy my grandchildren and see them grow up. So in 2007 on the advice from my doctor, I had lapband surgery. Over the next year I was able to lose 100 pounds. After the surgery I tried to maintain my weight, but I started back on some of my old eating habits and before I knew it I had gained back 30 pounds! I knew people were looking at me like she’s going to gain all that weight back! Obviously I still did not “get” the nutrition component of losing and maintaining even after the surgery. I tried and tried to lose just 10 pounds and at that point it never happened. I decided it must be because once you reach a certain age, in this case 60, you just can’t lose weight anymore. Then my daughter showed me a picture of her childhood friend, Kristy Dumpert, and I saw how much weight she had lost and she said she was going to a place called Inspire. I looked at the website and saw I could do a free week at boot camp. I really thought I would never actually join a place like that, but I would give it a try. Wow was I wrong!! Cathie and Brian made me feel so comfortable and were so knowledgeable about helping me do the workouts the correct way. Even though I couldn’t walk after the first workout, I continued to go faithfully each week. That was August of 2013. Since then I have lost almost 20 pounds and now at age 63 I know that it’s only a myth that people my age can’t lose weight. They just have to get “inspired”!
How did Inspirational Life help you achieve your goal and how have the results affected your life?
I’ll never forget when I signed up at Inspire how I told Cathie that I had been working out with DVD’s and that for my age I was in pretty good shape. Boy was I wrong!! I was working out, but I certainly was not using the correct form and I wasn’t pushing myself because if I didn’t want to workout I would just slack off or stop completely. Of course that never happens at Inspire. Someone is always there “encouraging” you to get lower in your squats or to add more weight and that is exactly what I need. I couldn’t believe I had been trying to lose 10 pounds for over a year and then with a few small lifestyle changes I was able to lose 10 pounds within about 8 weeks. At age 63 I am able to get to the 5:15 am class three times a week and come home and take care of my four grandchildren all under the age of four. Now that I have lost close to 20 pounds, it has really made a big difference in how I feel. I feel stronger and healthier now than I did in my 30’s and 40’s thanks to Brian and Cathie. As you get older building muscle is so important and fortunately no matter how old you get muscle is the one thing in your body you can still have control over and improve upon. Brian and Cathie inspired me so much that I was able to get my husband and two daughters to join the Inspire family as well-for the Aitken family it truly is a “family affair”.
My life now is so much better. I am happier, have more energy and I am willing to try things I’ve never tried before. This summer I plan on going horseback riding, jet skiing, and even do a zipline. These are all things I never would have attempted before because I would not have felt strong enough and my weight would have held me back. I am making better lifestyle choices and will continue to do so. I feel like I am finally on the right track and that each day I will be a little bit better. Thank you Cathie and Brian!
Describe Inspirational Life In One Word.
Lifechanging
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