Too often we get so caught up in where we are going that we forget to look back and see where we came from. When Glenn and Susie Howe first came to us in July 2012 they were tired of feeling broken and unable to do the activities that they once enjoyed. That is a tough place to be in when you live in the outdoor recreation capital of North America – Whistler. However, this is a story that many of you can really relate to. Glenn and Susie both had rehabilitative issues that they needed to overcome in order to get back to being active. For Glenn it was all about golf and hockey versus his knee/shoulders, and for Susie it was about her hip and running. The common denominator for them both was weight loss and improved fitness. What they may not have realized at that moment – they needed a lifestyle transformation not training.
If we had told them in the consultation “in a year from now Glenn, you will be down 40 lbs, and Susie you will be 20 lbs lighter”, they probably would have been skeptical. That is a big promise. Yet as I sit here writing this today that is exactly where they have arrived – one year later. In fact, just as a reminder we had them both in Fitness Town on the weekend trying on weighted vests just as a reminder of where this journey began – Glenn in a 40 lb vest and Susie in a 20 lb vest. Now that is an inspirational achievement. Still skeptical? You should see how many of their peers have come forward seeking what these two role models have achieved!
So the million dollar question – how did they do it? Well the answer is simple but the process is not easy.
Let us break it down for you in an easy to follow recipe
- Change – if you want a different result you have to do something different. You are going to have to change the way you eat and exercise, and the choices that you make. If you are not ready for this- do not read any further. Seeking professional help to change their lifestyle was the first step for Glenn and Susie – they started with 2 x week personal training sessions
- Challenge – this is the catalyst to keep the process going. It has to extend beyond inches and pounds, and it never ends. Every challenge that is overcome must be met by a new one. Weight loss is a 5 to 6 x week workout commitment, and it takes 24 hr nutrition vigilance. For Glenn and Susie the big kick off was our Nutrition Challenge in the fall of 2012. They quickly learned that 1 to 2 lbs per week off required – tight nutrition (80%), and much more than training 2 x week (20%). When a guy who loses 40 lbs tells you that he never used to eat breakfast and that now he has never eaten so much in his life- you should listen!
- Consistency – calories wait for no one. You are either consuming them or burning them. The trick is to consistently burn an extra 3500 cals + per week (where do you think the 5-6 workouts/week mantra came from?) in order to lose weight. Not to mention you need to tighten the reigns on just how many of those calories you are putting into your body. Even after the Nutrition Challenge both Glenn and Susie kept up with the 3 to 4 interval cardio workouts in their program – and they jumped up to 3 personal training sessions/week as well. There is a reason our nutrition challenge last 30 days – how long do you think it takes to establish new habits?
- The secret sauce – a destination experience. What is next? If the consistency is to continue we have to constantly renew and attach a higher sense of purpose to our training. This dynamic duo has tackled our Nordic ski camp, hockey and golf tournaments, the Spud Run, and the upcoming Adventure Challenge! They are just scratching the surface of the next tier of potential.
So there you have it 4 simple, but not so easy steps to the new you!
Susie, Glenn, we are proud of you! You set the bar high here and you are an inspiration to many. So happy to have you as part of the family – big things on the horizon this year!
Mark Coates
Facility Manager –IF Whistler
