I started coming to Lakeside Fit Body Boot Camp in response to a 6 week promotional offer trial membership. Before coming to Lesa, I was in a “slump” with my fitness and overall health.
We were a few months into what would be a VERY long Wisconsin Winter and I was noticing that most of my wardrobe was getting tight and many of my pants were not zipping up. I really didn't want to go out and buy bigger clothes, so instead I invested in some physical fitness!
I was nervous at first to come, wondering if I'd be intimidated or if I could even do it. Prior to joining I had done some “P90X” videos and the people in the videos seemed a bit “super human;” I felt like I couldn't do half of the exercises and I felt really out of shape trying to keep up. So, I quickly became discouraged and stopped.
I was a bit worried that boot camp would be similar. But from the first day I came, I realized I didn't have to feel intimidated and that the atmosphere was refreshingly different! It was just a gym filled with “regular” people from the community who, like me, needed some motivation to get in shape!
Once I started coming to Lakeside Fitness, I re-ignited my excitement and enjoyment for exercise again. I actually looked forward to coming to workout at 5:30 in the morning! After each workout I always felt so good; like my time was well spent.
I felt like I did something for me, to take care of myself. As a busy Mom of three young children, I often put taking care of myself on the back burner, but I realized it was time that I needed to take care of me so I could be a better, healthier woman and Mom.
But time is precious! That's why I love the fact that I can leave my home, come get a full workout in, and get back home all in a little over an hour! In the past, my main form of exercising was running outside or on my treadmill.
Two years prior I had developed an over-use injury in my knee and plantar fasciitis in my foot from running. I always thought of running as the “ultimate” calorie burner and the best way to stay in shape.
Maybe I thought because my body hurt so badly while running that it must be doing some good fat burning too! But I found that the type of training at Boot Camp was a “good” hurt, benefiting all of my muscles and not compromising my joints, tendons, or ligaments. I know that I accomplish so much more physically at Boot Camp than taking that same amount of time, pounding away on a treadmill! And the workouts are not dreadful; they're actually enjoyable! I can push myself really hard, without having knee or foot pain.
I came to the end of my 6 week trial and while I definitely had more energy, felt healthier, and felt more “fit,” I wasn't seeing the results I had hoped for. Then I heard about the Transformation Contest. This was the start of new motivation, accountability, and lifestyle changes.
I realized once I started logging my diet that I did a lot of “mindless eating.” I quickly learned that it is impossible to try to out-train a bad diet! Once I started making some dietary changes and being more mindful of what I put in my mouth, I quickly began to see changes!
I discovered that “you crave what you eat.” I truly began to crave healthy food, snacking on veggies and fruits instead of “nutritionless” crackers and pretzels. I learned that healthy, clean eating meant feeling good!
I also realized that my chronic illness Ulcerative Colitis is much better controlled when I am eating healthy and taking care of my body! My gut just feels good and I know I'm honoring God by taking care of the body He gave me.
As a “person of faith,” this “transformation process” was a spiritual one too. I found my strength from God, who I knew could help me when I felt weak. I prayed when I was tempted to eat unhealthy foods and I pushed hard during workouts, praying for strength to keep going. A verse that was key to my motivation and perspective was: “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” (I Cor 6:19-20)
For me, I realized I wasn't only making these healthy choices for me, but I was making them out of gratitude to the One who made me, to take care of this “temple” that He has given me!
Thank you to Lesa for all of your positive motivation and encouragement and for taking the time to push me to the next level!
Overall, I feel so much stronger, have so much more energy, and I really feel like my metabolism is where it should be. My body “likes” the interval training at Boot Camp; I have finally found my fitness “niche!” And by the way, I'm really hoping to win some contest money so that I can buy some new clothes...but a smaller size this time!
Sincerely,
Dionne
