pro sports club 20/20 Lifestyles Keep Showing Up By Jami Wetmore Photos: Aaron Dixon Photograph 44 <strong>PRO</strong> PULSE MAY \\ JUNE 2013
I’ve struggled with an ongoing love-hate relationship with food, weight, and body image my whole life. Emotional eating, stress eating, and reward eating, coupled with inactivity, caused me to gain weight. I’d get to my “panic weight,” start a new diet and lose weight, but then the old habits would start creep back in. After gaining 25 pounds in three months during a project at work, I knew something had to give. However, my fear of failure was huge. Losing and gaining weight for as long as I have makes you afraid to try yet another program. 20/20 LifeStyles was my key to success. The support system included in the program was invaluable. I just committed myself to showing up and following the rules. In order to be successful, I made this program a top priority in my life. I wouldn’t compromise my preset appointments, even for a work conflict. Some of the videos in the program were made just for me. One message that really “clicked” was learning about blood sugar spikes and how to achieve satiety when choosing foods. I now know how to pair carbs with protein and how to monitor and track my food. The welcome environment of the club was another motivating factor to “keep showing up” (my mantra for success). I never felt like I didn’t belong here as I’ve felt in other places. Since completing the program, I’ve taken a few vacations, two of which were cruises. On both trips, I ate more and exercise less than I should have. However, each time I quickly lost any weight I gained, usually within a few days or a week at most. The secret? After each vacation and weekend indulgence, I’d get back to the basics, track my food, and stick to my workout plan. Each time I was amazed by how easy it was to lose the weight again. This taught me that I can manage the small ups and downs, as long as I get back on track. I also have an amazing personal trainer, Ame Coyle, who keeps me honest. Besides my “keep showing up” mantra and continuing to work out with my trainer, I also continue to see my group counselor every few weeks. This helps keep things in perspective and aids in my transition to being a thinner person. I never could have imagined that I’d be called “skinny” or “thin,” but it has happened. I also continue to visit my doctor every 10 weeks and my nutritionist a couple of times a year, just to check in. Creating this extension of the program for myself has helped me continue on the path of losing the weight and being healthy. Given my history of losing and regaining weight, I’ll always be mindful of where I’ve been and how I got here. I’ll continue to stay connected to the tools I learned and plan to “keep showing up.” Now when I take trips, I plan one activity that I wouldn’t or couldn’t do prior to my weight loss. I’ve been white water rafting on the Denali River in Alaska and run through the streets of Cozumel in The Amazing Cozumel Race (and running was never in my vocabulary!). I try to stay at hotels that have fitness centers. I still have to pinch myself that I’ve even accomplished this because it’s something I never thought possible. Anyone can do this. I think there are a lot of misconceptions about what it takes to make a change like this. Not once was I pushed beyond my comfort level with the exercise. I literally started on the treadmill, just walking. There was no need for “Biggest Loser” scare tactics or strenuous workouts. The trainers are skilled and know exactly what each person needs to be successful. I couldn’t be happier with my success and have loved working with each person I met along the way. I started last year wearing a size 24 jean, and I started this year in a size 6. Crazy! Weight lost: 97 lbs Inches lost: Body fat: 46.25” -14.8% proclub.com 45
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