Nica's Introspection's

[nicafrusti-blog]

How simple weight loss can be...

Everyone keeps asking, “How are things going with your weight loss program”? It’s great but it doesn't start until April 6th! However, because they knew we would all be biting at the bit to get started, kind of like a new year’s resolution; they got us in the gym a week after the announcement in February for a few training sessions and a nutrition seminar.  

Just getting to the gym for the first time knowing that at some point I would really know what I was supposed to be doing was exciting.

I always thought that Fit For You gym was the skinny girl gym and I was shocked to find a gym full of people just like me, the staff was there to help; not take my membership and leave me to my own failures.

As a new Jane I was able to attend a personal training session and nutrition seminar. I had no idea that two simple one hour classes would set in motion the foundation of my physical transformation.  

Our first personal training session began with a 20 minute nutrition seminar followed by a great instruction session on how to truly use circuit equipment. A little hint, it’s not something that you do in a circle. It is about building small muscle mass which eats the fat that we all so loath. You work on a specific group of muscles in repetition and you build muscle mass (the fat eating monster) through repetition of that exercise until you reach your maximum.  You don’t do this same exercise every day. You allow time for your muscles to heal while you work on a different group of muscles. This is when muscle mass is built. For example, do your chest and back one day then your legs and abs the next. No you won’t look like a body builder, but you will have lean muscle that will help you lose weight. Look at this as the fat eating monster! Disclaimer, I am not a fitness instructor but I know a few that would be happy to help.

Okay, now for the easy stuff. Diet… In about 40 minutes I learned the secret to healthy weight loss. No it’s not the newest lose weight  multi-level marketing campaign or some crazy cleanse. It is straight up eating right!  A few simple things, watch your portions, don’t eat after 7:00 p.m. or at least allow 12 hours between eating your next meal. This allows your body to heal itself while you sleep. Avoid processed food, watch sugar, salt, and simple carbs. That’s it! Sounds like it could be rocket science, but its not. If you really want to change your life it is as simple as self-awareness.

I was told to eat at least 5 times a day, WHAT! I only ate once or twice a day and got fat now you’re telling me to eat 5 times a day! Yes, you have to feed your metabolism.

I sit behind my desk all day and then go home, cook dinner for the family, take care of a few chores and then sit some more before bed. Not to mention i consumed  a huge dinner because I didn't each much all day, my rational was that could eat what I want because I didn't eat all day, Opps.......Wrong!

It is now 8 days before the program officially begins and I have lost 12 pounds and a full pant size. I think the biggest reality has been portion control. I have never really paid a whole lot of attention to portion size, its one of the reasons why I am in the situation I am in. Duh. What a huge reality check.

It only takes a few seconds to pull out the measuring cup or a small scale; it can’t change your life.

Now let’s rock this wellness program!

[nicafrusti-blog]

See "Jane" Lose.....

I walked into the Health and Wellness fair this last fall to find out about my benefits, not knowing that I would spark a fire that would change my life. Not really interested in most of the booths that were there trying to sell me something, I went to Sarah, our new Wellness Coordinator, wanting to know what it is that she really does for the college. Looking at the testing kit on the table, I asked what it was and she said she was testing cholesterol. Heck, why not. A quick prick and we continued our conversation about the vision she had for NMC. I was excited to hear what she had to say but, in my head, I was full of my own personal doubt that it would ever affect me. I felt that I was so unhealthy and deeply saddened by my weight. Out popped my cholesterol and what do you know, it was high. Sarah said to get a full cholesterol panel from my doctor and send it to her so she could help me get on a good diet and exercise plan. I was so grateful for her offer but I thought "yeah right, I don’t have time, I don’t have the motivation and I don’t see how I could do it". So I avoided the doctor for about two months before I submitted to a full cholesterol test. What do you know; the doctor came up with the same results and was very adamant that I get on a diet plan as soon as possible because of heart disease risks and my family history. Feeling defeated, I didn't send Sarah the results and filed them away. But in the back of my head I was worried and still feeling alone with my health concerns. Lying in bed one night after a full bowl of pasta- the joy of my life- I was scanning my Facebook and up popped a post from the Grand Traverse Women’s Magazine about the See Jane Lose 2013 program. I clicked on the link and saw hope for the first time. Knowing my personality and my competitive nature, I thought I could actually do this (not to mention the fact that the night before while doing a presentation to a group I was out of breath just from talking really blew my mind.)! How could I be there for my four teen-age daughters if I was so unhealthy at 37 years old? I sat up in bed, and began the application for See Jane Lose. The next day, I pulled it up again and asked my husband to help me refine some of my answers and then I hit send. I couldn't believe what I had just done.  I don’t ever really win anything so I wasn't worried too much, but deep down I really wanted to win, because I felt like this was my only hope! A month later I got a phone call from Fit for You Gym asking for me to come in for an interview for the See Jane Lose program.  It was too funny and fitting because I was home for the week because I blew out my 4th and 5th disk in my back, just because I did a quick take-down move with my oldest daughter who is only about 110 pounds. I was in so much pain I couldn't believe it. How could I have done something like to my back because I was playing! Not wanting to miss this opportunity, I took my pain meds and asked my husband to take me to Fit for You for my interview. I met with Michelle, and she was amazing! After hearing about the program, I felt for the first time that there was hope for me and that I just might be able to do this. But, would they choose me? A few days later, I got a call from Michelle who told me that I was a finalist for See Jane Lose and was invited to attend the Grand Traverse Women’s Magazine luncheon. I was excited about what lay ahead, but questioning if I would really get this amazing opportunity? Nerves, shaking, anxiety filled my body as I “networked” at the luncheon. Everyone was ushered to their tables for the formal program of the afternoon to begin; the nerves were even higher now. I was at the Fit For You table and there was only one other woman at the table with me that was not a Fit For You staff member. Did that mean I won??? Within minutes they were announcing the winners….I heard another woman’s name and she was across the room. Fear filled my body as I figured that there were women all over the place that could be the next Jane. The next name was called and Joy who was sitting at my table got up! Oh no, was I going to be a Jane? “Our last and final Jane for 2013…Nicholeen Frusti!" Standing to my feet shaking with tears filling my eyes I realized that I was “saved”!  Did I just commit to losing 52 pounds publicly??? If I can do this anyone can!

Let the journey begin!