Physically Focused - Kim's Story

'I now enjoy eating healthy foods and Jackie has given me many ideas on how to eat "clean" but also to savor the food. Instead of watching six hours of straight TV, I am reading books on healthy eating and ways to stay fit. My triglycerides and cholesterol levels have dropped into the healthy range and my liver is getting back on track'.

Kim Burson: A Story of Success!

I was 100 pounds overweight and my life was spinning out of control. Lunch and sometimes dinner often consisted of two hot dogs, a large French fries, soda and chili beans. For dessert I would have a whopping 5 cups of ice cream sprinkled with a healthy dose of strawberries. I deluded myself into thinking that this was acceptable or perhaps that I did not care anymore because I loved the food I was eating. I was only 35 years old but my body was acting as though I was twice my age. I could barely get up a flight of stairs without sweating and becoming winded. I would come home exhausted after a non-laborious day’s work and become one with my couch. I could barely stay awake till 10 pm and I was tired when I woke at 8 am. My triglycerides and cholesterol levels were too high for my age. Being overweight was impacting even my liver.

It was time to gain control. I had tried almost all the common diets. I did not want to join a gym, as my old habits would be to pay the money and never go. In addition, I had all the equipment at home and did not want to endure the embarrassment of being the "fat girl" in a room full of svelte, dapper young models. I also needed someone to keep me motivated to stay on track and to push me to realize making the right decisions were not so hard. So many times I had started a diet, lost track, then got so frustrated that I reverted to the same bad habits and my eating became even worse than before.

I made the choice to get back my life and had done some research and heard about Physically Focused. I decided to call for a free consultation. This is when I had the pleasure of meeting Jackie Ballinger on April 21, 2003 and learned more about how she could help me out.

Jackie came to the house and was so warm and friendly that I felt an immediate bond of trust. I was trying not to cry as I was telling her about my losing control and the weight gain of 100 pounds in a mere 3 years. We talked for almost 2 hours. I immediately liked her and felt she really cared. During our conversation it became apparent that I was not only looking for a trainer but also someone to help me with my nutritional choices. Physically Focused was the only operation that met all of my criteria.

Since the day Jackie stepped into my door and into my life, I have not been the same. Within 30 minutes after our consultation I took my notes and went shopping for the foods she suggested. Jackie wanted to find me a fitness trainer within Physically Focused that would match my personality, fitness and health goals and could come to my house in the evenings after work. I started logging my food and my emotions every day. I decided that I would like daily email and phone correspondence, twice a month nutritional guidance and twice a month fitness training.

Jackie put me in the hands of one of her trainers, Lisa, who has been great in helping me reach goals. Lisa gave me exercises to do while I am out of town and also reviews my food log when she comes over. She gave me weight-training activities to do in the basement as well as teach me some boxing moves. Some weeks we walk and chat about what happened in our lives over the last few weeks. Who thought exercising and getting fresh air could be so fun?

Not every step has been easy in the process but both Jackie and Lisa are always there for me. I went on vacation for a week and lost control and when I got back my choices were reflected on the scale. In the past it would have resulted in an event to stop my diet and revert completely to my old ways. I met with Jackie and Lisa and discussed strategies for the next trip and how to calm my inner demons. I lost 2 pounds on my next trip! That was a major accomplishment.

I have taken back control. I have energy and I love to exercise. I do stair training and what I call X-Training. I bought a pedometer and a heart rate monitor rather than a gallon of ice cream. I go to bed at 11:30 to Midnight and get up at 7 am refreshed. I participate in an aqua aerobics class three times a week and I am not too embarrassed to be seen in public in a swimsuit. Jackie took me on a shopping trip to both Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. I now enjoy eating healthy foods and Jackie has given me many ideas on how to eat "clean" but also to savor the food. Instead of watching six hours of straight TV, I am reading books on healthy eating and ways to stay fit. My triglycerides and cholesterol levels have dropped into the healthy range and my liver is getting back on track.

I have lost 50 pounds and 25 inches of fat. Who would have thought when I opened the door to Jackie and Physically Focused four months ago, that I would open the door to a whole new me?

— Kim

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