FROM RICHES TO
RAGS AND BACK - This is My Story - Gema Chavez
08/07/2013
Gema is on her second KATz Weight Loss Boot Camp session. After finishing the first 4 week session, she emailed me this. I was floored...... THANK YOU FOR YOUR STORY GEMA, I can definitely relate.....
My weight loss story really began in earnest about two years after the birth of my youngest daughter. Conceiving was difficult so I had given myself permission to enjoy my pregnancies, triumphs, failures and basically my life, without the suffocation of having to worry about my weight. But I always said that when my husband and I decided we were done trying, I’d go back to my pre-baby weight of 135 pounds.
So when that happened I put all my energy and enthusiasm into getting healthy again. By this time I was 33 years young, 5’5” and 169 pounds. I had been a gym regular in my 20’s so I knew where to start. I began keeping a food journal and stayed active. After about four months I’d dropped to 147 pounds but more importantly my waist had shrunk to 29 inches and my body fat was an amazingly lean 22%.
Then my weight loss plateaued. I had experienced this before but coincidently when this struck, I was also struck with temptation. A weight loss clinic had just opened close by and a huge advertising banner hung right by where I drove nearly every day. With only 12 pounds left to reach my goal it didn’t take long before I stopped in and made an appointment, something I regret to this day.
After my initial consultation I was skeptical of their promise that I’d lose 10 pounds in the first week. Seeing that I was doubtful they sent me home with a few days’ worth of medication, at no charge, and told me to return if it worked. I lost two pounds in two days so I immediately went back. Unfortunately for me the remaining 10 pounds became more and more difficult to lose and the harder it became the more they increased my dose and duration. I was experiencing side effects that included insomnia, constipation, hallucinations and too many more to list. This felt and looked nothing like an energizing work out or healthy diet. In fact I hated how I felt but I stubbornly persisted.
I also began to notice at each weekly weigh-in that my body fat percentage increased with every pound I lost and that the skin on my arms, legs and bottom had begun to sag. When I finally reached 135 I’d gone from a lean 22% to 29%; that’s like going in as a lean piece of meat and coming out an 80/20. I looked and felt terrible. Needless to say my victory was bitter sweet and I wasn’t able to maintain the weight loss for very long. I was left to clean up the terrible mess I’d made of my metabolism, and body.
That was three years ago and I had been reluctant to trust any program since, however, after watching how much joy people get from Kat and Jerry’s fitness classes I felt curious. It still took a year before I allowed myself to try Katz boot camp but I’m glad I did. I completed my first session this month and I feel stronger than I have in a very long time. Better yet the camaraderie I feel at each session has helped me heal from my past experience. Hearing and reading the journeys of the other campers has made it easier to share my own. Boot camp helped me to remember why I loved the gym so much. It wasn’t just that I looked good, but I felt good too. Before boot camp I was working out alone in my garage but now I only do that when I can’t get to the Y.
Kat is compassionate yet firm, she has helped me to challenge my beliefs about my ability to ever again get to my goal weight. I started at 158, with no expectations and fearful for my health, but now I’m beginning next session’s boot camp more hopeful and determined than ever to start fresh.
Kat recently shared this on the Strong in 1 Facebook page, and it reminded me that I was in the right place:
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength. Proverbs 17:22 NLT”
08/07/2013
Gema is on her second KATz Weight Loss Boot Camp session. After finishing the first 4 week session, she emailed me this. I was floored...... THANK YOU FOR YOUR STORY GEMA, I can definitely relate.....
My weight loss story really began in earnest about two years after the birth of my youngest daughter. Conceiving was difficult so I had given myself permission to enjoy my pregnancies, triumphs, failures and basically my life, without the suffocation of having to worry about my weight. But I always said that when my husband and I decided we were done trying, I’d go back to my pre-baby weight of 135 pounds.
So when that happened I put all my energy and enthusiasm into getting healthy again. By this time I was 33 years young, 5’5” and 169 pounds. I had been a gym regular in my 20’s so I knew where to start. I began keeping a food journal and stayed active. After about four months I’d dropped to 147 pounds but more importantly my waist had shrunk to 29 inches and my body fat was an amazingly lean 22%.
Then my weight loss plateaued. I had experienced this before but coincidently when this struck, I was also struck with temptation. A weight loss clinic had just opened close by and a huge advertising banner hung right by where I drove nearly every day. With only 12 pounds left to reach my goal it didn’t take long before I stopped in and made an appointment, something I regret to this day.
After my initial consultation I was skeptical of their promise that I’d lose 10 pounds in the first week. Seeing that I was doubtful they sent me home with a few days’ worth of medication, at no charge, and told me to return if it worked. I lost two pounds in two days so I immediately went back. Unfortunately for me the remaining 10 pounds became more and more difficult to lose and the harder it became the more they increased my dose and duration. I was experiencing side effects that included insomnia, constipation, hallucinations and too many more to list. This felt and looked nothing like an energizing work out or healthy diet. In fact I hated how I felt but I stubbornly persisted.
I also began to notice at each weekly weigh-in that my body fat percentage increased with every pound I lost and that the skin on my arms, legs and bottom had begun to sag. When I finally reached 135 I’d gone from a lean 22% to 29%; that’s like going in as a lean piece of meat and coming out an 80/20. I looked and felt terrible. Needless to say my victory was bitter sweet and I wasn’t able to maintain the weight loss for very long. I was left to clean up the terrible mess I’d made of my metabolism, and body.
That was three years ago and I had been reluctant to trust any program since, however, after watching how much joy people get from Kat and Jerry’s fitness classes I felt curious. It still took a year before I allowed myself to try Katz boot camp but I’m glad I did. I completed my first session this month and I feel stronger than I have in a very long time. Better yet the camaraderie I feel at each session has helped me heal from my past experience. Hearing and reading the journeys of the other campers has made it easier to share my own. Boot camp helped me to remember why I loved the gym so much. It wasn’t just that I looked good, but I felt good too. Before boot camp I was working out alone in my garage but now I only do that when I can’t get to the Y.
Kat is compassionate yet firm, she has helped me to challenge my beliefs about my ability to ever again get to my goal weight. I started at 158, with no expectations and fearful for my health, but now I’m beginning next session’s boot camp more hopeful and determined than ever to start fresh.
Kat recently shared this on the Strong in 1 Facebook page, and it reminded me that I was in the right place:
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength. Proverbs 17:22 NLT”
