Challenge

TESTIMONIAL – GLENDA HARRIS

My Health and Wellbeing Journey

Kia ora everyone.

On Monday, the 11th of April 2022, I had my first gym session with my personal trainer, David West – who is just the best!

At my consultation with him the week before, over a coffee, I said to David I want to be in the best health I can be by the time I turn 65 at the end of this year, whatever that will look like.

I shared with him that I’d been talking to myself for about 6 months ( I know, the first sign of madness 😊) about needing to get a grip on my declining health. The telltale signs were seriously high blood pressure, high cholesterol and borderline diabetes. I had reluctantly been on medication for all 3 for about 2 years.

A catalyst in my decision to do something about it was a conversation I had with Amber on a hiking trip I’d gone on with her Raglan Women’s tramping group. I was curious about their weight loss challenge program at the gym. It was the push I needed to realise I was ready to challenge myself.

6 ½ months later, I am 21 kgs lighter; my blood tests are all back to normal, normal BP, low-end cholesterol, and sugar counts are ka pai.

My eating plan consisted of chicken, fish, kumara, oats and blueberries, salads and veggies and protein powder drinks. Also, almonds, almond butter and almond oil… veggies were so expensive  I resorted to frozen veggies on occasion. I learnt frozen blueberries were way cheaper than fresh and just as good.

I used to love steak, at least 3 times a week, but I worked out the protein powder cost just the same as I was spending on steak.

I have achieved way beyond expectations, AND six weeks before D-day, my birthday 😊.

I could not have done this without having a personal trainer … oh that’s right, I forgot… I’ve also given up smoking! So, I invested my money on cigarettes in a personal trainer. David tailored my eating plan and training programme to perfection. He seemed to know exactly what I needed and when I needed it. He would always check in with me to see how my body was feeling, how’s the eating going, and any niggles we needed to be mindful of … and there were a few! I put it down to this old body getting the shock of its life… but he would always change the training regime up or down to ensure any niggles or injuries were not aggravated and mended.

He reckons I have been inspirational to him but it truly has been a team effort.

I am so happy, feel the best I’ve felt ever and feel there’s more to come, although these last few weeks have been the hardest, trying to lose just another 3kgs and I would have gone from 106.6kgs down to 82kgs, a total loss of just under 25kgs.

So now I’m thinking what next. I want this to be a sustainable, long term commitment to myself. It will be sad to let David go one day soon but I need to prove to myself I can make it on my own… I could live another 20 years!

A huge shout out to David and Amber and the Raglan Gym. Thank you for your support and encouragement, it has been a real buzz of a journey.

I also acknowledge Russel from Nikau Osteo, recommended to me by David. I had a knee injury (not from training) and a few other niggles. His skill in understanding exactly what part/s of my body needed working on and his magic manipulations and massage have done wonders.

As 2022 winds down, I say bring on 2023!!

Ngā mihi

Glenda