Six years ago I was at a physical peak; I’d completed a marathon, shortly followed by a half marathon and began training for second full marathon. I loved running, my life revolved around my running schedule and I’d made some great friends while training. But then I woke up one morning in terrible pain. I had sciatica.
It took more than a year to get proper treatment; physiotherapy and a bit of chiropractic voodoo. By the time I was feeling close to normal my fitness was lost. I tried on and off to get back to the gym and regain my strength but it wasn’t working very well. The next 5 years saw me put on between 11-14 lbs. I couldn’t seem to get back on track on my own. Those extra pounds were eating away at my self confidence and attracting the wrong kind of attention because a lot of the weight I had gained went to my bust. I had gone up three cup sizes and was busting out of an E. I was having a very hard time finding clothes that fit properly and hid my rather large assets. My back and neck were irritated frequently because clothes pulled on my neck, some days causing near migraine style headaches. I felt that surgery should be a last resort. I knew what my body looked and felt like 10 lbs lighter. I knew it was possible to get back to that weight, just not on my own.
I met Suzanne Zilkowsky, from Urban Evolution Personal Training about a year ago through some friends. They all raved about her. I had never invested in a personal training or myself in that sort of way before but I knew what I was doing on my own just wasn’t cutting it. Too many factors were interfering with my commitment to myself, my own weakened will power and annoying recurring shoulder pain for example. I needed someone who was truly in my corner. Last September I finally bit the bullet and asked if Suzanne would take me on. Writing the first cheque was hard but I told myself it was a personal investment and very quickly found that I was no more than $2 – $8 less in my pocket per week. Suzanne reviewed my food journal and put an end to my bought breakfast and lunches which saved me approximately the same amount per week that I was spending on my training.
Suzanne asked me to take care of the problem with my shoulder by seeing a physiotherapist, a real hardship, going to see my favorite health care professional who quickly sorted me out. In the first week of new eating habits and training I lost half of my initial weight loss goal, 5 of 10lbs! After that I had to work harder for the weight loss but met and beat my goal in the first 10 weeks of sessions with Suzanne. I was strong and ready to get on with things. It was time for a new bra fitting but this time the letter was getting smaller. (Woo hoo!) My confidence was so improved I was able to take other big steps to improve my life and increase my happiness. One of those steps was to train for the 2010 Vancouver half marathon which I successfully completed and the next was backpacking solo in Scotland and Ireland. I have more goals I’m working towards and truly feel that my physical strength and regular endorphin highs bolster my mental and emotional strength and confidence. In September I will have been training with Suzanne for a year and it has helped me get through some very big challenges in my life.
If you would like to be featured on Fitness Goop, please send your answer to the question, “how being healthy and fit has changed my life?” along with a recent photo of yourself to… getgooped@fitnessgoop.com.
