"I've now lost 79 lbs.
I've gone from squeezing into a size 22 to comfortably wearing a 12 and even sometimes a 10!  The full length here is even from the spring so about 10 - 15lbs ago."



CLICK HERE TO READ THE TESTIMONY THAT
LEFT ME CRYING - THE BEGINNING OF
REBECCA'S  JOURNEY....

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” 

EAT CLEAN, BE LEAN FOR 2013!!! 
That's Strong in 1 motto for 2013! 
Most people got the  exercise down; we know if we don't move, we won't lose!  But to lose weight in a  healthy way, we must balance both exercise and diet and even more so, practice  sound, healthy DIET.  This is where most of us struggle.  Knowing what, when and  how much to eat can be confusing and in fact, nutrition is a science!  So to  help simplify, i've written down these simple, easy to do diet changes to help  you jump start:

 ~  DRINK AT LEAST 1/2 YOUR BODY WEIGHT IN OUNCES OF WATER
 ~  EAT A VARIETY OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, GO FRESH!
 ~  CONSUME MORE RAW SEEDS, NUTS AND WHOLE GRAINS
 ~  STAY AWAY FROM PACKAGED & PROCESSED FOODS
 ~  READ FOOD LABELS, IF YOU CAN'T PRONOUNCE THE INGREDIENTS, DON'T EAT IT!
 ~  AVOID FAST FOOD, CHOOSE PLACES WITH HEALTHY MEAL CHOICES
 ~  JUST  SAY “NO” TO SODAS
 ~  SIP IN THE BENEFITS OF GREEN TEA
In making these changes, in a little bit of time you will see and feel positive changes happenning to your body.  Once you got these down, take on additionally healthy changes.
Other ways to GET LEAN.....
WRITE DOWN YOUR GOAL(S) & LOOK AT IT EVERYDAY!
Did you get your STRONG in 1 bookmark and goal marker this year?  It looks like this.....(copy and print this if you like)

Keeping it where you can always see it helps you stay on track.  At the end of 2013, imagine how cool it would be to look at your bookmark and see how you have hit or passed your GOAL(S)!
Weigh and measure yourself, including Body Fat percentage and take a fitness test done as soon as possible, then write your stats down.  Every 6-12 weeks, re-measure and re-test.  Again, keeping on top of these will help you stay on track and add motivation to push forward for the next few weeks.  
GET PLENTY OF REST!!!
Our bodies are a strong machine, but part of being strong is getting rest.  Rest plays a very important role:  it helps revives achy bodies, repairs muscles and replenish fuel and energy.  An overworked body getting no rest  may result in lack of motivation,  a lower metabolism which may result in weight gain,  poor exercise performance and may even result in injuries while working out.  So, don't forget, rest your body and rest your mind.
LASTLY, BE HAPPY!!! 
Have a positive and happy outlook in life no matter what's going on.  If you are having a bad day, pouting and being negative won't make your day less gloomier, shake it off and SMILE, whether you feel like it or not, fake it till you make it and eventually  you will find a reason to SMILE and no longer have to force it. 
I hope these few pointers will help health seekers and beginner  exercisers jump start their 2013, I hope you have a WONDERFUL BREAKTHROUGH NEW YEAR TO A NEW YOU!!!!
***As with any new exercise or diet program, please consult your doctor and get his or her approval before starting one.  STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY......AND EAT LEAN & GET LEAN IN 2013!!!

A  Woman's Worth
A  woman's beauty is not only in the glow of her skin
But the depth of her eyes and the warmth of her heart
 
A  woman's strength is not only  in  the bow of her back
But the magnitude of her tears and the softness of her words
 
A  woman's wisdom is not only in  the value of her words
But the knowledge of when to hold them and the journey
she takes to learn them
 
A  woman's courage is not only  in  her determination to fight
But her willingness to walk away and confidence to say "No"
 
A  woman's grace is not only  in  the way she dances through her day
But in the love notes she leaves and the wonderful meals she prepares
 
A  woman's love is not only  in  the kisses she gives
But in the sacrifices she makes and the moments given to you alone
 
A  woman's worth is not only in  the things she does
But who she truly is and who she helps you become
 
 
 

Quick clip of the YMCA Olympics - Basketball championships.....Congrats Skyview....pure AWESOMENESS!!!

Last night on our Strong page on Facebook, I posted about someone somewhere is watching you, and that our actions and attitude can either motivate or de-motivate someone, so lets be good models, be someone's hero.

This morning, I ask the Lord to use me once again to touch someone else and to make me a vessel of His Love to my students.  Sure enough right after my morning Zumba Gold class, this sweet lady came up to me and told me she took my class just once months ago somewhere else, then I stopped teaching there.  Ever since she has been looking for me,  determined to find me, she ended up in my Gold class today, she's not even a YMCA member, yet anyway.   Note that I noticed this lovely lady's smile while we were "wobbling" and its not like just any random smile, it had something else behind that smile (yes, we do the Wobble at my Gold class, we are GROOVY like that!  LOL)  She went on to say that she loved my spirit the first and only time she took my class; she can feel it when I teach.  At this time she had me tearing..... I took the time to talk to her and found out she was a breast cancer survivor, lymphoma cancer survivor and she is currently battling a brain tumor.  Oh my!  What a tough lady! I told her, "God must think you are really strong!"  She just had this sweet smile, like nothing can keep her down.

See what I mean about someone watching you and being inspired by you?  I didn't know she was looking for me, someone might be looking for YOU too!  You can share Love at your work, at school, in the mall, the gym, wherever it might be.  Give LIFE to someone, it starts with a smile and a sincere heart.  And you know what?  Yes, she received from me, she's very happy she found me, but I am the blessed one, I received more from her, I too, am happy and thankful she didn't give up looking for me.

My heart leaps when I hear things like this, but my head never swells, because I know its NOT about me, its about the hearts we touch daily and most importantly, its about the Love of God.  I am only doing my job as His servant.  "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men," Colossians 3:23 ESV    

I prayed to be a vessel of His Love this morning.... we ended our conversation with an invite to our church and she will be coming this Sunday.  The Lord is good, He answers prayers quickly when you pray according to HIS will.  Thank you Jesus!

Have you ever cleansed or detoxed your system?   Can a car go for years without an oil change? a tune up? some kind of maintenance?  Your body is an engine working 24/7 and our organs can get overwhelmed by the impurities in the body; during a cleanse your organs get to "rest" and toxins are pushed out from the body allowing it to function optimatlly. 

Different cultures practice cleansing or detoxification in various ways and for various reasons.   There are spiritual reasons to cleanse and also health reasons.  Back in the bible days, prayer and fasting were practiced regularly, until today, spiritual fasting has its purpose.   Here are some health related reasons to cleanse:  Increase energy, eliminate cravings, strengthen immune systerm, cleans our your liver, better skin and hair and the list goes on and on including weight loss.....

When you cleanse, weight loss becomes a reality and maintaning weight loss becomes manageable.  Being skinny or if  you are at your healthy weight doesn't mean your don't need to cleanse.   An unhealthy body will crave unhealthy foods.  Consuming "junk" regularly will get you to the point where you can't hear your body screaming at you to STOP ALREADY and the signs your body is giving you go unrecognized.

A body, once cleansed, would not crave the same foods you used to crave before the cleansed and a body cleansed will tell you when you have consumed something that is not good for you. 

There are different ways to cleanse.  However you choose to do it, consult your doctor first!!! 

KATz 21 Day Belly Blast program targets the waist line. 
It's a program that shares knowledgde and teaches
you how to eat lean, clean and  healthy.  
A one-time investment that you can use for LIFE!!!
Many of our Belly Blast Challengers lose anywhere from 5 to 24 pounds
in 21 days!  To Learn more, please click here.

In my opinion, Fitness and Spirituality go together hand in hand; I want  to share this Facebook post from Pastor Jim of Valley Bible Fellowship.....this is a great message for what our family is currently going through, but it also reminded me of my clients, campers and students and their fight to be fit and healthy or their lack thereof ....

Who is not looking for a breakthrough in our  life?  Are we so content with our life that we settle?  Don't we want  MORE?  More meaning in our life, more purpose in our life, more love, more health?  How about more Christ in our life?  With Christ all things are possible, with Christ the breakthrough you need for your health is possible.....What is the obstruction or restriction that is holding you back?  Don't throw in the towel, don't give up instead take it to the altar and trust in God.
You are gonna go thru bad days, but you have to keep going....."You cannot experience a breakthrough in your life  if you continue to quit....."  Stand still, stay in the fight! 
If you weren't at VBF this Sunday, no worries, click on this link,  listen, believe and get your "Breakthrough".   Download it on your iphone and ipad, ipod, because you would want to listen to it over and over again, share it!
Thank you Pastor Jim for this powerful timely message.  It was real then in Job's days, it is real today and so applicable, we can all relate at different levels.  God bless you and your calling.  May this message be a blessing to other people in my circle.  If this message has blessed you, please let me know....
Valley Bible Fellowship website www.VBFlv.org