pro sports club my best 10 Erika Cravens age: 40 Photos: Arlene Chambers Photography 38 <strong>PRO</strong> PULSE MAY \\ JUNE 2013
The program reinvigorated my passion for health and fitness. My Best 10 exceeded my expectations. While I knew I’d be successful in losing the 10 pounds, what I didn’t expect was to LOVE my body for the first time in my life. The weight came off quickly and I’m the fittest I’ve ever been. I’m still shocked when I put on old clothes and find myself swimming in them. Also, I rarely have stomach upset. Having battled debilitating heartburn and digestive issues since my childhood, this is such a relief. The program reinvigorated my passion for health and fitness. While I’ve always been good at exercising three or four times a week and eating balanced meals, traveling between Seattle and Chicago every month for the past seven years, combined with a herniated disc and Achilles tendonitis, resulted in weight gain. All in all, I didn’t feel healthy even if everyone told me I looked good. My Best 10 was a perfect fit for what I wanted to achieve. Not only did the program focus on diet and exercise, but it also had a plan to care for my skin and hair. I just needed that extra push and guidance to get back to a healthy place in my life. It was my 40th birthday present. In my spare time, I love to try out new recipes and entertain small groups. I’d always thought of myself as a bit of a nutrition expert. How wrong I was! I learned more about various foods and the right and wrong things to eat than I could have imagined. I also learned that the quality of the products you put in your body, on your face, and in your hair make a huge difference. I’ve received so many compliments since I’ve started taking better care of myself. Having a trainer three days a week was ideal for me. He does a great job of challenging me and changing the routine to ensure that I get the best results. Due to my training, my core and overall body strength has allowed me to run again. Having moved back to Seattle a year ago, I’m excited to get back to hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, tennis, and playing golf with friends. There are so many more things I could list, but the absolute best thing about My Best 10 is all the people I worked with along the way. They are all truly wonderful, caring people who made me feel valued and important. Their positive attitude throughout and all the special thoughts, quick notes to check in, and little touches made it a wonderful experience. There are three things that have helped me to not only maintain, but also improve my results. I track my food every day, I’ve stuck to personal training twice a week, and, most importantly, my trainers (Conner Gavin and Emily Bissett) and I have worked together to find a new goal that requires accountability to achieve success. I recently competed in a body building swimsuit competition, the 2013 Tanji Johnson Classic Vancouver Natural Bodybuilding and Physique Championship. While it was out of my usual comfort zone, it was really exciting, especially when I WON the Over 40 category! proclub.com 39