Our winner, Kristen!
We would like to congratulate Kristen on taking home the $400 grand prize for PHC’s Fall 2016 Challenge! Her hard work and commitment lead her to overcoming one of the most difficult factors in terms of a healthy weight loss; the mind. Yes, she has dropped over 17 inches and 24lbs, but her entire outlook on a healthy body has transformed from a numbers-oriented mindset to one of strength, stamina and the overall feeling obtained from a balanced way of living. She has realized her strength and self worth are not determined by the number on the scale, but what she has overcome mentally and physically. Not even her chronic migraines can put a stop to her determination. Way to go Kristen, I look forward to seeing what you will accomplish in the Spring 2017 Challenge!
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Although Kristen was the lucky winner of the $400 prize, I can’t help but send a huge shout out to the other 40 plus participants of the Fall 2016 Challenge. With every challenge comes another chance to work with a whole new group of individuals walking into this gym with their minds made up that they are going to change their lives, yet perhaps without having answered the “but how?” I want to congratulate you all; for the commitment to show up and push, for the drive to go on even when days are tough, and for the patience you demonstrated as you grew a little bit stronger from one week to the next. What a hard working bunch! Keep pushing my friends, you got this!
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Testimonial
"I have chronic migraines! A year ago, I could not even go for a walk without triggering a migraine. I had to stop most forms of exercise just to try and reduce the intensity and frequency of the migraines. Migraines also trigger the body to crave starchy carbohydrates and sugar to try and raise the serotonin levels in the brain and reduce the pain. My doctor advised me to stop working and try to come up with a solution to reduce my migraine attacks. My life definitely was not where I wanted it to be. But, because my kids liked to go to a Power Parent class at the Rec Center I continued to go, and was able to watch the incredible transformation a participant in the Spring Challenge went through. I watched as her strength increased, as she pushed herself harder during class, and how she gained more and more confidence in how she was looking. Her clothes started to get baggier and then she started to come to class with a whole new wardrobe, as she wasn’t able to fit any of her old stuff. I wanted that! I wanted to get off the CRAZY fad diets I had been doing my whole life, and start a transformation that would take me into a healthier path to the rest of my life. With her and my Moms encouragement I decided to take the plunge and join the Fall Challenge.
Joining the Challenge was something out of my comfort range. I didn’t know what to expect or how I would be able to handle things with my headaches/migraines. I stepped into the first consultation knowing that this was going to be a lifetime transformation when I did the ultimate embarrassment for myself and allowed someone else to see me in just my bra and panties. This was it; this was me; this was the point a lifetime of “dieting”, having kids, and migraines had done. This was the last time I was ever going to look at this image of myself because I knew that at that moment this transformation was not just a 12 week “diet”, but the start of a lifelong exercise program and way of eating.
Over the course of the next 12 weeks, I have done things I never thought my body could do. If you would have asked me in September if I could have squatted with a weighted barbell on my back or shoulder press 20 pound weights I would have laughed. Watching the strength, I have gained over the past 12 weeks has amazed me. The way we are pushed to our max during class forces our minds to realize that our bodies are strong and capable of much more than we thought they are. It shows that as long as you are willing to step up and accept a challenge you may be afraid of you will probably see some form of success.
The thing I have, and will probably continue to struggle with for a long time, is realizing that the numbers on the scale do not matter as much as how your body is feeling and how you are succeeding in increasing your strength in the gym. It was difficult to put in the work, and see no movement on the scale, but the difference this time was that I did not allow it to derail me. I did not go on a binge and say forget this, but instead would e-mail my stats in, and wait for my words of encouragement to keep me focused that this process is working, and that it just doesn’t happen over night. Having someone, who wasn’t family, to vent to helped enormously for me. Family is usually always in your corner, but a trainer is there to tell you how it is; to be real, and has the training to know when its time to leave things alone or shake things up. It also gives you some accountability for your actions, whether they were positive or negative for the week. I was always honest in my weekly stat check in’s because if I wasn’t the only person I was really cheating was myself. And now, 12 weeks in, it almost bothers me more when there is no change to my measurements than on the scale. This is how I know my mental transformation is happening, but I know I still have a long way to go in trying to get my body to look as strong and fit as I feel that it is. But I feel that I have made huge progress, and can now honestly say that I can look at myself in the mirror and see how far I have come from day one and not only focus on how much more work I have to do. I am proud of myself for what I have accomplished in the past 12 weeks, and those words do not often come out of my mouth!
As this Challenge is coming to an end, I reflect back on all that has occurred in the last 12 weeks, and can honestly look at myself and see the physical and mental changed that have occurred. I would never have thought that 12 weeks could change my life, but they have. Did I reach the number on the scale that I was hoping to; no, but I am well on my way and will reach it in the near future. Did I get the measurements loss that I was hoping for; yes and no. I lost inches in places that far exceeded by expectations and in others, of course, I wish I would have lost a little bit more. Did I transform my mind in the ways I hoped for; yes! This is honestly the first time in my life that I am not beating myself up for not reaching my unrealistic weight loss goals. I am cutting myself the slack needed for the times when I am in a crazy migraine cycle (like right now), and cannot go more than two days without have an attack. And although I am frustrated that at the end of the Challenge I have injured my shoulder, I am not letting it get me down, and still doing lower body and the cardio that I am able to do. I came into this Challenge wanting to be competitive and “win” my money back, but in the end I know that the changes I have made in my body and mind is the ultimate prize, and no amount of winning can make up for that : )
Thank you to all that have helped me get to this point, and all that will continue to support me as I continue this journey onward. It has made a world of difference!"
- Kristen Trueman
Joining the Challenge was something out of my comfort range. I didn’t know what to expect or how I would be able to handle things with my headaches/migraines. I stepped into the first consultation knowing that this was going to be a lifetime transformation when I did the ultimate embarrassment for myself and allowed someone else to see me in just my bra and panties. This was it; this was me; this was the point a lifetime of “dieting”, having kids, and migraines had done. This was the last time I was ever going to look at this image of myself because I knew that at that moment this transformation was not just a 12 week “diet”, but the start of a lifelong exercise program and way of eating.
Over the course of the next 12 weeks, I have done things I never thought my body could do. If you would have asked me in September if I could have squatted with a weighted barbell on my back or shoulder press 20 pound weights I would have laughed. Watching the strength, I have gained over the past 12 weeks has amazed me. The way we are pushed to our max during class forces our minds to realize that our bodies are strong and capable of much more than we thought they are. It shows that as long as you are willing to step up and accept a challenge you may be afraid of you will probably see some form of success.
The thing I have, and will probably continue to struggle with for a long time, is realizing that the numbers on the scale do not matter as much as how your body is feeling and how you are succeeding in increasing your strength in the gym. It was difficult to put in the work, and see no movement on the scale, but the difference this time was that I did not allow it to derail me. I did not go on a binge and say forget this, but instead would e-mail my stats in, and wait for my words of encouragement to keep me focused that this process is working, and that it just doesn’t happen over night. Having someone, who wasn’t family, to vent to helped enormously for me. Family is usually always in your corner, but a trainer is there to tell you how it is; to be real, and has the training to know when its time to leave things alone or shake things up. It also gives you some accountability for your actions, whether they were positive or negative for the week. I was always honest in my weekly stat check in’s because if I wasn’t the only person I was really cheating was myself. And now, 12 weeks in, it almost bothers me more when there is no change to my measurements than on the scale. This is how I know my mental transformation is happening, but I know I still have a long way to go in trying to get my body to look as strong and fit as I feel that it is. But I feel that I have made huge progress, and can now honestly say that I can look at myself in the mirror and see how far I have come from day one and not only focus on how much more work I have to do. I am proud of myself for what I have accomplished in the past 12 weeks, and those words do not often come out of my mouth!
As this Challenge is coming to an end, I reflect back on all that has occurred in the last 12 weeks, and can honestly look at myself and see the physical and mental changed that have occurred. I would never have thought that 12 weeks could change my life, but they have. Did I reach the number on the scale that I was hoping to; no, but I am well on my way and will reach it in the near future. Did I get the measurements loss that I was hoping for; yes and no. I lost inches in places that far exceeded by expectations and in others, of course, I wish I would have lost a little bit more. Did I transform my mind in the ways I hoped for; yes! This is honestly the first time in my life that I am not beating myself up for not reaching my unrealistic weight loss goals. I am cutting myself the slack needed for the times when I am in a crazy migraine cycle (like right now), and cannot go more than two days without have an attack. And although I am frustrated that at the end of the Challenge I have injured my shoulder, I am not letting it get me down, and still doing lower body and the cardio that I am able to do. I came into this Challenge wanting to be competitive and “win” my money back, but in the end I know that the changes I have made in my body and mind is the ultimate prize, and no amount of winning can make up for that : )
Thank you to all that have helped me get to this point, and all that will continue to support me as I continue this journey onward. It has made a world of difference!"
- Kristen Trueman
