Executive downsizing
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How do you keep fit? Visit our discussion board to share health tips, diet secrets and physical activities that help you stay in shape. |
By Paula Rath
Advertiser Staff Writer
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When Sharon Serene of Mo'ili'ili finally got up her nerve to call Gold's Gym and make an appointment with a personal trainer, she chickened out and stood him up. Guilt-ridden, she called him later that day with a creative excuse: Her cat had eaten a rubber band and she had to take her to the vet. Right.
After a long conversation regarding her fears — and her goals — Mike Sapp of Gold's Gym persuaded Serene to come in the following week and simply walk around the gym in street clothes, to face her intimidation issues.
"He introduced me to Mike Hann, who would be working with me. I trusted them," she said. "They seemed to have more faith in me than I had in myself, and I appreciated that."
That was Monday, March 7, 2005. The next day, the "before" photos seen above, showing Serene at 210 pounds, were taken by her staff, who have been a source of encouragement all along.
At 8 a.m. the following Wednesday, she had her first workout.
"Something in me knew that my life was about to change, and it was a scary-exciting feeling. I decided to go for it," Serene said.
INSPIRATION FROM OPRAH
"Everything 'they' tell you about incredible weight gain once you hit 50 is true, ladies," Serene said. "I have always had weight issues, but after 50 could no longer keep it under control, no matter what I tried. None of the current diets were working for me.
"I was sick of wearing mu'umu'u every day and frankly did not recognize the woman staring back at me from the mirror. I was very unhappy with myself. I had no energy and was starting to have trouble getting up and down from chairs, not to mention walking up a flight of stairs.
"One day, I bought an issue of People magazine and there was Oprah on the cover, looking amazing in a gold gown she had worn to the Oscars. She looked toned, fit and gorgeous. I realized that we were in the same age range and both of us had battled weight issues most of our lives. So what worked for her that I hadn't tried? I read the article and focused on the fact that she worked with a personal trainer. ...
"So on a whim I called Mike Sapp, who had just been voted Honolulu's Best Personal Trainer in the March issue of Honolulu magazine."
Just over two years later, Serene is closing in on her goals. She has lost 60 pounds and gained tremendous muscle mass, along with "a feeling of confidence and a quiet inner strength," she said.
On July 2, she entered Hawaii Business magazine's Fittest CEO Contest. Hann accompanied her. "He was probably afraid I wouldn't turn up," she quipped.
The evaluation involved cardio, agility, upper-body strength and core strength tests. Serene pedaled on the Life Cycle for five minutes, was charted for both speed and accuracy while hopping on a grid, and did an amazing 37 pushups.
In the plank-hold test of core strength, Serene broke the record by more than one minute, clocking in at 3 minutes, 10 seconds.
Results will be published in the October issue of Hawaii Business magazine.
"I've made peace with my body and am actually loving it, to the degree that I want to take care of it," Serene said. "It's a newfound respect for my physical self. It is a very amazing feeling."
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Serene’s workout regimen Workout habits: "Weight training with my personal trainer for an hour three times per week using free weights, machines and resistance bands. I have recently started adding boxing (the real kine!) once a week. Cardio three or four times per week for one hour, using a combination of an elliptical machine, treadmill, life cycle, stair master and the moving stairs (like going up the down escalator). Mixing up the cardio workouts keeps it interesting, and based on the calorie readings for each machine, I aim to burn a total of 550 to 600 calories during the hour."Favored foods: "I love brussels sprouts, broccoli and spinach. I also like blueberries and strawberries. As for protein, I like chicken and fish, and I love to make a great egg-white omelet with spinach, onions, mushrooms and fat-free feta cheese topped with some fresh salsa. I buy steel-cut oatmeal at Down to Earth and start every day with a bowl. No milk ... I use enough water to eat it without, and I sprinkle in some cinnamon and slivered almonds. I also eat a lot of hard-boiled eggs for snacks. I will eat one with the yolk per day, and after that just pop the yolk out and eat the white part." The hardest thing about getting in shape: "My own head. When it tries to tell me what I can and cannot do ... what I am and am not capable of. Age be damned! I just try to keep focused on my own goals, with no self imposed limitations." On my iPod: "A diverse mix! Everything from classical to techno and electronica to rap, and a great selection of chants from the Benedictine monks. ... For a good cardio kick in the butt, by favorite is 'Lavish Obsession,' a Deadbeats Remix from a CD out of France called "Hotel Costes 7." That gets me up to 200-plus strides per minute on the elliptical and keeps me there." My biggest motivator: "I would have to say my personal trainer, Mike Hann. There are days when I honestly don't know if I would have made it in there without knowing that he was there at 4 p.m. waiting for me. Life happens. ... People often tell me, 'Oh, you are so disciplined.' Well, some days I am. On those other days, there's Mike." Advice for those in the same boat: "Don't wait for tomorrow. Trust me, it never comes. It's like waiting for Prince Charming or the white knight in shining armor who is going to rush in and save the day. Just get that it's up to you and you are worth it, worth whatever it takes to get your health in order. Take that first step. Swallow your fears or any feelings of intimidation and all the other junk you might have bought in to. Nothing feels better than a really good sweat!"
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Reach Paula Rath at paularath@aol.com.
