SONKI FITNESS ALL-STAR (October 2009)

BACKGROUND:  When I joined Sonki Fitness a year ago, I primarily wanted some variation to my regular routine of lap swimming.  At my age, I was resigned to the thinking that the extra weight that I carried was just a part of being middle-aged.  I thought, at the very least, I’ll increase my strength by joining Sonki Fitness.  At the same time, I brought my family to meet with a nutritionist to help my kids make better choices about eating.  The nutritionist reminded me of the importance of portion control.  Did you know that 7 nuts is a serving?!

The 1-2 punch of Sonki Fitness and caloric intake awareness was just what I needed. Not only did I become stronger and have more energy, but I was surprised to drop 20 pounds in a year!  I went from 145 to 125!  I weigh less now than I did when I graduated from college and would bet that I’m in better shape as well.  I love feeling strong and energetic.  It is much easier to be active when you are not hauling around extra weight. 

What is your current exercise routine?  I attend Sonki Fitness three days a week and walk my dog daily.  And I try to swim whenever possible.

What is your motivation to stay in shape?  Being in shape makes me feel better, and that motivates me to stay in shape.

What is your greatest challenge to staying in shape?  Reaching a plateau and getting bored with my routine.  And that's why it is important to keep my exercise routine exciting and challenging.  Sonki’s class provides a perfect balance of consistency and variety.  Other challenges are scheduling conflicts that interfere with my routine and temptations to eat less healthy when traveling or hosting a social event.

What is your key to success?  Sonki Fitness!  For me it has all the right combinations:

--It is outside: I prefer the outdoors over a gym anytime!
--Friendly and supportive people: The trainers as well as my peers are positive and fun.
--Variation: The routines are always different and Sonki consistently pushes me, which prevents me from becoming lazy or bored.
--Assessments: The assessments help me measure how far I’ve come and Sonki works with me to create realistic goals in order for me to continue progressing.
--The Cost: It is affordable.  I cannot justify paying for a private trainer 3 days a week, but if I was working out on my own, it would be easy to miss a workout because there would be no money lost.  Sonki Fitness is the perfect balance of the two.

What do you like about Sonki Fitness Boot Camp and how has it affected your life?  Besides feeling great and having more energy, people compliment me by telling me how fit I look!  Sonki’s class has also helped alleviate my back pain.

What advice would you give to others about fitness?  Find an exercise routine that works for you and make it a habit for the rest of your life.  Also, remember that as you age, your metabolism slows.  The way to combat this is by building strong muscles and staying active.  This way, you can eat at the same rate and not gain weight.  If you don't build muscle you have to decrease your caloric intake every year in order to maintain. 

Also, make sure to have great training shoes and replace them with a new pair every 6-12 months.  I trained with an old pair which led to a food injury.  That foot injury contributed to the four pounds of weight that crept up over the summer!

Any other comments?  Be on top of your portion sizes!  Purchase smaller plates and bowls for home.  Also, pick up a food scale to keep your proportions accurate.  Stick to this and remember when dining out that many restaurants serve two to three servings on one plate!