Client Success Story: Sheila S.
Sheila S.
Laurinburg, NC
MBM Individual Meal Plan
“Exercise has always been a part of my life. I have always had the discipline to workout or get to the gym at least 3 to 4 days a week, but I have not had the discipline to eat healthy all the time. I thought as long as I work out or get to the gym, I can eat what I want. So, I most often did, sometimes even coming home from the gym I would have Taco Bell waiting for me. Over the past year I had been feeling discouraged about where I was at weight wise, and for my age and for the amount I exercise weekly. I weighed more than I ever have in my life. Most everyone tried to make me feel better by saying muscle weighs more than fat.
A few other members at the gym started working with Madison and I noticed the results they were achieving both in the gym and their physical appearance. I became curious and started asking questions. These other athletes were very positive and excited about the program they were doing with Madison. I reached out to Madison and she responded to me very quickly. She explained the program to me thoroughly and did not pressure me one way or the other. I started the program on June 25, 2019. I just finished 3 months, 3 of the best months that I can remember in a long time. I have more energy, I’m more on a schedule than I was before, my performance in the gym has increased and YES, I have lost inches (at least 9 inches across all areas of my body) and weight (12 pounds). I now understand how important nutrition is and how to properly fuel your body for your day. Through the entire process, Madison corresponded with me very quickly so if I made an error during the day, it was easy to fix. She always responded in a positive manner and provided recommendations for better pairing of foods. Her continuous input has made making the life changes very easy. Its not all at once, its changing one habit one day at a time. I used to be the one that ran for the cookie jar every night after dinner to satisfy my sweet tooth. With her recommendations and my will power, I have been able to make healthier decisions. Madison has given me a new outlook on nutrition as a whole and now I plan everyday based on how best to fuel my body regardless if it’s a gym day or a rest day.” -Sheila
Upon first reading Sheila’s testimony, I found myself growing increasingly giddy as she reported achieving two of the most important aims of my work: a) healthy LIFESTYLE changes b) learning how to best fuel our bodies each and every day!!! This, right here, is what it’s about. When the focus is long-term, it allows for greater emphasis on internal motivators and daily benefits of these healthy habits, such as the increased energy Sheila mentioned observing in herself! With a weight loss goal in mind, it is often difficult to set your sights on other, non-weight related outcomes and to accept that the recommended rate of sustainable weight loss is just 1-2 pounds per week. With Sheila’s patience, diligence, and willingness to trust me throughout the process, the healthy habits she established not only provided numerous wellness benefits (personal records in the gym, among others), but also led her to achieve her goal weight. For all my math people out there, Sheila’s 12-pound weight loss over a 12-week time period kept her perfectly on track with the recommend rate of sustainable weight loss!
One of my greatest pleasures in working with Sheila was her eagerness to learn/ask questions and her willingness to disclose any struggles she was facing along the way. I talk about these traits quite often in my success story blogs, as it truly is these intangibles that yield the best results. Sheila – thank you for trusting me! Sheila also did a super job of celebrating non-scale victories, such as the aforementioned personal records she achieved at CrossFit. Acknowledging these successes along the way is vital for maintaining motivation not just in the short-term, but in the long-term as well. Once a weight loss goal is achieved, it can be difficult to stay motivated since that “box is checked”. When we come to the realization that healthy eating is about far more than just weight loss, that one of the most exciting benefits of fueling your body properly is the improvements seen in athletic performance – benefits that are ongoing, rather than a “check the box” type of deal, we are able to stay enthused about solid nutrition for LIFE. Sheila did a super job of adopting this perspective, and it paid off as she achieved all defined goals…and then some. Kudos to all the hard work she put in day in and day out, including her willingness to accept my approval of her occasional “splurges” – y’all outta know by now that I consider these essential. 😊 Keep up the great work, Sheila. I so look forward to the continued growth you experience in the weeks, months and years to come!