Dear Faster Fitness:
On November 2, 1996, I walked down the aisle a 5’9 132
pound bride (just behind my two beautiful, thin bridesmaids) to marry my
incredibly handsome, athletic husband. It was a picture perfect day.
Four ˝ years later, the last weekend in March my two
bridesmaids came back into town to visit one weekend. Despite the fact that they both had babies over the past few
years, they looked the same, if not better than they did on my wedding day.
They both were wonderfully lean, tan and fit. I, on the other hand, had
gained 26 pounds and was horribly out of shape. It really hit home when we were
shopping at Saks and I was trying on a sleeveless coral sweater. My friend,
Terry, knocked on my dressing room door to see how the sweater looked. I was
embarrassed to open the door and mortified that my body had turned to mush: my
arms had turned into “my mother’s arms” with no shape or tone- just
jiggles and jowles.
Over lunch at Magnolia’s my two bridesmaids explained
how taxing it was to run after their babies, and that they had to work out to
relieve their stress, and to keep in shape. I knew that my diet was not the
issue: I have healthy eating habits. The definitive issue- we surmised was the
fact that I would sooner NOT EAT than to exercise. We were about to leave when a
high school friend whom I had not seen since graduation apprised me that we were
having our 20th high school reunion on July 28th. I
quickly did the math and realized that I had only 16 weeks to do something about
my sad shape. But what could I do?
Dr. Jones’s diet? Dr. Atkins
Diet? Power-walking? What was I
going to do that would affect a change?
Fortuitously, when I got home that Saturday afternoon,
there was a flyer from Faster Fitness in my mailbox. I went to the website,
and e-mailed Chris McNeil. The next Monday, April 3rd I went into
Faster Fitness and met with Andy to get a baseline assessment. It told me
what I already knew: I was modestly overweight and significantly out of shape.
Andy and I mapped out my plan. I committed in my own mind to train for the next
16 weeks until my 20th reunion. I told no one else of my personal
commitment. I waited to see if those close to me in my life noticed any
difference. My husband, a physical education teacher and a
high school women’s soccer coach is acutely aware of physical fitness.
He commented on my legs and calves only a few weeks into my training. He was
thrilled when I told him that I had joined Faster Fitness. He realized then
that this was not a fad- had become a deep personal commitment to myself and to
him to be healthy, fit and toned for the rest of my life.
At my 8-week assessment; the changes in my body were
evident: I had lost 6 pounds of fat while gaining a few pounds in muscle. My
waist and abdomen was down almost 3 inches, while my hips were down 2 ˝ inches,
my bust was down 1 inch and my thighs and calves were down an inch and ˝ inch
respectively. More importantly, my aerobic fitness had significantly increased
dropping 33 beats and my strength and flexibility had significantly improved.
While I am self-imposed past due for my 16-week assessment; I know the numbers
are moving very much in the right direction.
In fact, I really don’t care what the scale says
anymore. I care more about what the mirror says and how my clothes fit. I look
and feel strong and healthy. I am no longer focused on achieving the perfect
135-pound weight for my height. Rather, I am committed to become the most fit
and toned as I can be. Lee Lazurus, my trainer at Faster Fitness, holds us
both personally accountable for my success. He expects me to give every bit I
have to each and every workout. He is focused on my progress, form and safety
and is acutely aware of my tendency to become bored quickly. As such, he changes
my workouts to challenge me to move to the next level. Currently, I am at Level
5 Strength Training. His work ethic has strengthened mine.
My 20th reunion has come and gone- and I am
still with Faster Fitness as I am a better, stronger, healthier person
because of it. This letter began with my wedding day four ˝ years ago. I made a
commitment to my husband, in front of God and our witnesses that I would be the
best wife and partner for “better for worse, in sickness and in health.”
Thank you Faster Fitness and Lee Lazurus for getting
me focused on the journey- the lifestyle
changes- that I have embraced that facilitate my honoring my commitment to
myself and the people I hold dear in my world: a lifetime of good health.
It’s all about commitment. Faster Fitness has
solidified mine. I thank you.
Gratefully,
Jaynie McNeely