Better than High School Figure by Cherie

I have been very blessed with great health throughout my 46 years, so my success story is more about weight loss & toning. In high school, I was voted as having the “best figure”. In my twenties, I remember thinking how lucky I was to not have to watch what I ate; exercising & weight training was not even part of my vocabulary. Then, after giving birth to my twin boys at age 31, my body started changing – and not for the better.

It didn’t hit me as to how much weight I had gained until I saw a picture of myself at my boys’ sporting event. “That is NOT me!” I said. I was shocked and depressed. I had to do something.

My husband was also gaining weight at this time and had some medical issues because of it. He decided to start taking walks around our little neighborhood in the dark mornings before work. I decided I could keep him company and so we started our “coffee walks” for about 30-45 minutes with a mug of coffee in our hands! It was a nice chance for us to talk without the kids and we found it was very refreshing. I then started doing a Beginning Pilates for Abs video after our walks which I really enjoyed, but couldn’t even finish the workout because it was too hard. But I mentally made it my goal to eventually be able to do everything the instructor could on this workout.

We then started jogging for just a couple of blocks at a time — no coffee anymore — and eventually I started running by myself in the mornings for about 1-2 miles. Then I was running 3 times a week for about 2 ½ to 3 miles each day. As a result, I started getting pain in my legs & hips after running and couldn’t even turn over in bed at night because of the pain. I had to find some other form of exercise.
My husband and I became members of the fitness club at the local high school and used the weight room and circuit room 3 days a week at 5 am. The other 2 days I continued to run outside. But we both hated getting up and driving to the high school that early.

I kept at the Pilates workout and was finally able to complete the whole workout! I moved up to Intermediate workouts. I was hooked on the workout DVD’s, but needed more of a challenge. We eventually quit the membership at the high school and built a workout room at home.
I somehow received the Collage Video catalog in the mail. I remember looking at all the DVD’s and viewing the Cathe video clips online thinking “I’ll never be able to exercise like her! Her videos are way too tough!” But, a day of shopping at a sporting goods store ended up with me purchasing a STEP bench that included a beginners Cathe video. I LOVED IT and was HOOKED!!

From then on, I kept challenging myself and ordering Cathe’s advanced workouts. At first I had a hard time finishing any of the workouts, but now I can, and I can also do the 72 drop-set pushups on Cathe’s Chest & Triceps video – this being something I only “dreamed” of doing! I’ve tried other advanced workouts, but I have yet to find any that I like besides Cathe’s! My Cathe DVD collection keeps growing – but I do NOT. The money I spend on the DVD’s is much less than the membership fees at the gym, not to mention the convenience of working out in my home!

Now I love how I feel and look. My arms, which were once flabby and round, are now defined and toned. My husband says the biggest change he sees is in my legs. My pant size dropped from an 11 to a 4, sometimes 2! I went from 150 lbs to 124 pounds. Now, I have a better figure than I did in high school! I also find it much easier to make healthy food choices during the day after working out.

If someone told me even 8 years ago that I would be hooked on exercising and look this good at age 46, I would have laughed at them! Because Cathe has physically & mentally changed me to what I am today, my next goal is to book a road trip with Cathe & her crew! Cannot wait!!! Thank you Cathe, Cedie, Jai, Brenda & Lorraine! You are all like family members greeting me every morning when I fire up that DVD!