At the end of the last summer, I was in the worst condition of my life.  My weight was at an all time high and my activity level was at an all time low.  Even simple activities were a challenge; I dreaded tying my shoes in the morning.  I had tried so many diet and exercise programs, but could not make any of them stick.  I knew that I needed something different; I needed some help.

I decided to join the Body Challenge competition at Grafton Anytime Fitness, hoping that the program would give me the jump start that I needed.  My goals were simple, lose some weight and get a little healthier.  Little did I know, this experience would change my life!

I had the good fortune of meeting Michelle O’Toole, the head trainer and the leader of the Sunday Body Challenge team.  Over the next 19 weeks working with Michelle, I lost 84 pounds!  I did that by eating an amazingly healthy diet and working out consistently.  No supplements, no gimmicks, just a solid program that I could enthusiastically embrace.

In the first week we met, Michelle encouraged me to attend her class.  At my size, I was hesitant, but I gave it a try.  Michelle could not have been more accommodating.  She offered me alternatives to any exercises I could not do, and in some cases alternatives to the alternatives.  I can still hear her words, “Everyone can so something, just do what you can”.  In my physical condition, that was music to my ears.

I made it through that first class and it changed my whole perspective on working out.  I had always gone to the gym.  I was that guy who walked on the treadmill, lifted a few weights, but never showed any great improvement.  I left Michelle’s class thinking, “Mike, you have to work harder, you need to step up your game”.

And I proceeded to do just that.  My workouts got better and better, my weight continued to drop, and my energy level skyrocketed. Michelle encouraged me every step of the way, made me believe I could go further than I thought.  This helped me go way outside my comfort zone, completing my first road race ever, a 15 mile duathlon, then two 5K races.  Now I am signed up for a triathlon.  And something funny happened along the way, I went from having modest goals of just losing some weight, to a goal of really wanting to get fit!

I’ve also learned along the way that working out is only part of formula.  Michelle taught me the Diet Doc program and it has been the key to my success, providing me a great nutrition plan as the solid foundation to achieving good fitness.  The Diet Doc program taught me the right amounts of food to eat, the right combinations of food, and the best times to eat them.  The program could not be easier; I feel that I eat like a king, not deprived of anything.

It’s not often that you cross paths with someone that really makes a difference in your life.  I am proud to say that Michelle has been a person who made a difference in mine, and helped me change my life for the better.  Michelle has such great knowledge of health and fitness which she uses to teach, encourage, and keep you motivated. But beyond the nuts and bolts, she really cares about your success. I can’t imagine a better trainer for health and fitness.  Michelle is the best!

There are so many people to thank for helping me towards my goal of getting fit.  Obviously thanks to Michelle O’Toole, for everything.  To my wife Deb, for all her support, making me the most fantastic, healthy meals every day, having faith in me, and for waiting for me to come around – love you babe!  Thanks to Megan Rogozenski for coaching me in the duathlon and holding my hand through it, teaching me to spin, and for inviting me into her racing world.  Joe Vitiello for teaching me strength conditioning.  And last but not least, Grafton Anytime Fitness and all of the great people there.

This has been an amazing journey for me.  I feel like I’m getting my life back through hard work and good healthy choices.  I’m not done yet, and in some ways I’m just getting started.  There are more goals to hit, but they are different goals now.  They are not so much numbers on a scale, but a new lifestyle, with no limits, where I am active and fit and enjoying life!

~ Mike

I’m sure if you’re reading this, you’ve been in my position at least once before. Before I started this journey, every day was a struggle for me. I was addicted to food and I didn’t even know it. I would “start my diets” on Sundays and come Monday, I’d already have fallen off the wagon. Well, after countless Sunday’s and countless tearful scale readings, I made the conscious and best decision of my life.

So, last year I graduated from Assumption College at my heaviest weight yet. It took a long time to realize it, but one day I looked in the mirror and I was horrified. I had let myself eat myself. I was constantly feeling sick, lacking confidence, and just overly sad about my life. And being 21 didn’t help. I went out with friends; I drank, ate, and unfortunately allowed myself to poison my body for way too long.

So when the fall Body Challenge came around, Michelle and my family forced me to face the scale and take charge of my life. Since the beginning of the last Body Challenge (which was in October) I have lost 30 pounds and gained a substantial amount of muscle. I ran/biked my first Duathlon (14 miles) and am currently training for my first half marathon. When I say that this experience has changed my life, I’m not kidding. I am filled with love for myself, my views on life are as high as they’ve ever been, and I feel like I can do anything.

Side note: this diet is like nothing you’ll ever do or have tried, I promise. I always used the excuse that I “hate diets” and that “they never work for me.” The problem was never the diets, it was my attitude towards them. This diet allows me to eat what I want, but in moderation. And almost all of my bad habits are gone because I have found healthy alternatives that I love!

So, if you’re reading this, you’re sitting exactly where I was sitting 19 weeks ago. And if you can relate to anything I’ve said, I ask that you join this program. Not for me, but for you. I promise that if you work hard and eat right, you will never go back to the old you and you will find the person you’ve always wanted to be.

Good luck on your journeys, wherever they take you…

Kate