“My Journey with Bodies of Empowerment:
I was fortunate to retire from corporate America when I was 55. I had read about the negative health impact of retirement and about what you needed to do to stay healthy and active while you age. However, after about 4 years of retirement, I realized that my efforts were not getting the results I wanted and that I needed to change. I also realized that spending $10/month for a gym membership was not the change that I needed as I wasn’t consistent using the equipment I had at home!
My wife also wanted to make a change to be physically healthier, so in January 2019 we joined Bodies of Empowerment. As an engineer, I am rather analytical and a bit skeptical until I can see and analyze the data myself. I also don’t really trust the data if it is provided by a person or company that stands to benefit from it. My program with Bodies of Empowerment (BOE) was three prongs. Strength training, High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and of course a food plan.
I will admit that the strength training at the gym has been the easiest part as the other two parts require me to do it on my own. However, I also know from other health coaches that your food plan accounts for the vast majority of your results in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. It takes about 3 hours of a very good cardio workout to work off one slice of an average Cheesecake Factory cheesecake! Steve and I had many discussions about the right balance of macros in your diet. I was already eating fairly healthy when I joined but my macros were way off (by macros I mean the balance between protein, carbs and fat).
As the year progressed, the number of articles that I read (either to validate or refute what Steve was telling me) all pointed to my need to make some changes. Remember, I said that I was skeptical and needed my own validation. In the end, Steve’s assessment was correct and my own body’s response was validating the diet changes. To let you in on the results, I target a diet that is balanced around 40% protein, 30% carbohydrates and 30% fat. Steve also pointed out in our monthly check-in that my body responded with faster fat loss in the months where I was more consistent with my cardio training that was of the HIIT type versus what is called the “Fat Burn” zone. So that will be an area of focus for me in 2020.
As I said, the strength training in the gym was the easiest. I think there are three reasons for this. One is that by showing up you get encouragement and two, excellent coaching. I remember coming back from a week-long construction project and my lower back was extremely sore. Steve totally changed my routine that morning and gave me a couple of exercises to do at home. After three days, my lower back was back to normal, maybe even better! The third reason is the great community at BOE. I cannot stress how great the community is at the gym. After just a few times there, you get to know a few people, and everyone is there for the same reason. We all battle staying fit so we all try to encourage each other.
In closing, I will just say that BOE exceeded my expectations and helped me achieve my goals of being healthier, having more energy and reducing my body fat. I’m not where I want to be yet, but I am much closer thanks to BOE, and the great atmosphere they maintain!”
Your fellow battler,
David