Fat to Fit – A Real Fight

Drew Manning: one year ago, 6 months, now

I have recently been seeing and reading a lot about a man who purposefully gained weight only to lose it again.  He is Drew Manning, a personal trainer who decided to go about this in an effort to better understand and sympathize with his clients who were trying to lose weight.  He calls it “Fit 2 Fat 2 Fit”.  He gained 70 pounds by not going to the gym and eating very unhealthy foods.  He then applied what he already knew to lose the 70 pounds in only six months.  While I appreciate his effort and respect the fact that he actually accomplished it, I don’t think he can fully sympathize with his overweight clients.  Most overweight or obese people are unwillingly, or at least not purposefully, overweight and unhealthy.  They’ve never been at a healthy weight and don’t know how good it can feel and what higher quality life they are missing out on.  That is why it is typically very hard for most people to lose weight and get healthy. 

I, on the other hand, was never fit before I was fat.  I know exactly what it feels like to hate, or at least dislike, what you see in the mirror but not know what to do or how to go about changing it.  I had to struggle for years with my weight and my health before I finally figured it out.  I did not have the foresight of Manning, I had to learn how to read labels, how to fit exercise into my schedule, and how to love my body for what it could do and not what it looked like.  The path to getting there was tough and at times ugly, but it was well worth it.  Here is my story – the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful.

As a child I was very active in sports, so I did not spend much time in front of the TV.  But, I did spend a lot of time in the car and on-the-go.  We rarely had sit-down meals during the week – instead opting for French fries from the drive-thru or stopping at a chain restaurant between games and jobs in the evening.  I can remember eating lots of PopTarts, frozen cheese sticks, and pasta and rice from a box.  I would make a box of pasta and eat the entire thing while I was home alone.  I had no idea that my personal serving actually consisted of four servings.  I had no clue the amount of sugar and saturated fats I was putting in my body.  I did not know what it meant to read a nutrition label. 

As I reached my teen years, I began to feel uncomfortable with my body.  I had stretch marks on my inner thighs and I outweighed my friends by at least 30 pounds.  As I said, I was athletic, so I was never obese, but I was overweight.  I can remember trying to strategically tuck my shirt in a way that would hide my belly.  In 8^th grade, my class took a trip to Biloxi, MS.  For months before the trip, I dreaded the one day on the itinerary that would be spent on an island.  I hated shopping for that bathing suit – I knew no matter what I got I couldn’t hide from teenage boys and the petite cheerleaders that would look so much cuter than I.  I can also remember going to Opryland (back when it was a theme park and not a mall).  In high school, we would go as a group and we would have the opportunity to sit in the lap of the boy we liked on some of the rides.  I can remember feeling devastated on one trip when I was actually bigger than the boy I liked and felt ashamed to have to actually sit in his lap.  I remember one Christmas season when we made Chex party mix (you poured butter over cereal, pretzels, and nuts and baked it) for the holiday.  My mother had gone out for the evening and I decided to snack on some of the party mix.  I couldn’t stop myself and ended up eating way too much and felt sick.  I laid down for bed but I felt awful – full of shame, regret, and disgust.  I got up and tried to make myself throw up.  Luckily I couldn’t do it, but I tried so hard to gag myself, I woke up the next morning with broken blood vessels around my eyes. 

Me in my teens and me now

Being overweight and unhealthy is a very lonely, unhappy, miserable place to be.  You are disgusted with yourself, but too ashamed to ask for help.  Luckily in college I matured and gained respect for myself – my body, my future, and my inner and outer beauty.  I learned how to read nutrition labels.  I researched how foods and beverages affect the body.  I personally went from being able to jog no more than a quarter mile to running 20-30 miles a week.  I discovered that lifting weights isn’t just for buff athletes – it’s essential for everyone.  It may have taken me years to get here, but I am now in the best shape of my life.  I don’t workout to impress anyone or to improve my outer beauty.  I workout because I love the feeling of empowerment afterward.  And I eat healthfully because I know its fuel for my body and mind – nothing tastes better than that.  I love knowing I am adding to the quality and quantity of my life. 

I may not have been able to lose 70 pounds in six months like Manning did, but I did lose 50 pounds over several years and I gained my life.  My path wasn’t as clean cut as his, but I feel I fought much harder.  And my fight has equipped me with the tools, the resources, and the sympathy to now help others fight the same fight and win.  If you’ve ever felt disgusted, ashamed, or embarrassed about your weight or health, now is the time to fight.  I’ve been where you are and together we will gain your life.  Go to http://www.coachdconsulting.com/Services.html to see all the ways I can help you and those you love.  Obesity is 100% preventable and soon you will be able to tell your story – the good, the bad, and definitely the beautiful!

This is also the time to prevent our children from having to fight obesity.  On June 18^th, I will be hosting a nutrition & wellness camp for kids.  Kids of all ages will learn about eating well & getting plenty of exercise.  They will learn how to read nutrition labels and even how to shop at a real grocery store.  They will also get a tour of the brand new Athletic & Wellness Center at BGA.  This is an opportunity not to be missed.  Go to https://www.camperregsecure.com/bga/programdetails.php?programid=CR23 to register. 

Today is Your Day

I am not sure whether I am thankful or sad to actually have the time to sit down and write this.  Since my last blog entry over two months ago, it has been non-stop softball and this will be my first week without BGA softball practice or games since early February.  Our season came to an emotional end last week in the first round of the regional play-offs.  We ended the season with a 1-15 record; however, that in no way colors our season which was full of incredible accomplishments.  This team has shown determination, raw talent, and great potential. 

I knew we’d face challenges this year – our team consisted of 13 girls, seven of which were 8^th graders.  We only had two seniors, one sophomore, and three freshmen.  Several of the younger girls didn’t even know how to throw a softball or swing a bat.  Our equipment and uniforms had not even been touched in nearly two years, and our locker room was a yoga studio.  However, the joy I have experienced watching these girls grow individually and as a team has far outweighed any difficulties we’ve faced. 

One of the things I enjoyed most was watching these girls look fear in the face and run towards it rather than away from it.  It is very scary to play against much more mature teams who have been playing together for years.  I know it was frustrating to my seniors to lose most every game, but they stuck it out and gave it their best.  It would have been easy for these two girls to enjoy their senior year without playing softball, but they stepped up and led the team with dignity.  I also know it was hard for the younger girls to face opponents much stronger and knowledgeable in the game, but they never gave up.  It would have been easy for the 8^th graders to play middle school and enjoy the game without as much pressure (BGA’s middle school team went 8-3 with only 6^th & 7^th graders).  This team did not let fear stop them and they are better for it. 

I am so thankful for the opportunity to teach these girls about the game of softball and hopefully a little about life as well.  We had many talks about respect and sportsmanship.  One lesson came when several of our opponents used fists rather than an open hand when we shook hands at the end of a game.  The girls and I talked about how we will always respect our opponent – whether we lose 20-0 or we win 20-0.  We also had another lesson when the seniors became quite emotional after a 19-0 loss.  They said things out of anger, which we have all done.  I had to recognize that these were frustrated 18-year-old kids and they simply wanted better.  This has been a very tough and challenging year for all of us in many ways.  I did not blame any girls for having feelings and emotions – teenage girls are going to be emotional.  But I did ask that they respect each other – and that was required by each and every member of this team. 

While we have learned about softball and life, my hope is that they have also come to love the game of softball and gained confidence in life.  Playing a sport fosters self-awareness, self-assurance, and self-belief.  I had many talks with the girls this year about school, tests, boys, girlfriends, family, homework, and beauty.  It was awesome to see that as their confidence on the field grew, so did their confidence off the field.  If you can step into a batter’s box and face a pitcher that has been playing for nearly as long as you’ve been alive, walking up to a lunch table and asking to sit down is no sweat.  When you stand on the field waiting for a ball to be hit at you at 70 mph with nothing but a piece of leather on your hand, taking a biology final is a piece of cake.  When a group of shy, fragile, meek, young girls come together to form relationships and create a strong team, they become less boy-crazy and realize that they complete themselves. 

We can all learn something from this group of girls.  They faced their fears head-on and came out stronger and more confident.  I gave the girls the words to Shania Twain’s song Today is Your Day.  Not only does it reflect our season, but you can use it in your own life. 

You got what it takes you can win
Today is your day to begin
Don't give up here, don't you quit
The moment is now, this is it
Know that you can then you will
Get to the top of the hill
Part of the fun is the climb
You just gotta make up your mind

Whether you want to learn the game of softball or get back in shape and gain confidence, today is your day!  Don’t let fear stand in your way – take that first step – whether it’s onto the field or simply off the couch.  And if you need a coach or a friend to help you do it, go to http://www.coachdconsulting.com and contact me today.   

Pride Lasts Forever

Six months ago I agreed to take on a new role as the head coach of Battle Ground Academy’s varsity softball team.  When I quit my job as an engineer two years ago, this was not necessarily the new role I had envisioned.  My plan was to coach individuals and families on health & weight loss and to start my own budding small business.  I am a planner – I prefer to have a specific plan, goals, expectations, and the future mapped out so that I know what to expect.  However, my role as a softball coach has been one of the most rewarding and enjoyable unexpected events in my life so far. 

Shortly after accepting the coach’s position at BGA, I met with all high school girls interested in playing softball this spring.  I was disheartened when only five girls showed up.  I spent several months trying to drum up interest in varsity softball.  I began conditioning with the girls over the winter and we were able to add a few girls and lost a couple along the way.  However, due to the low numbers of high school girls, we made the decision to pull up all the 8^th grade girls so that we would be able to have a varsity team.  Of my 14 varsity players, eight of them are 8^th graders. 

BGA did not have a varsity team last year, so there were many tasks to complete in addition to adding girls to the team.  In the weeks leading up to our first scheduled practice, I set out to get our locker room (which was being used as a yoga studio and, while beautiful, more closely resembled an Austin Powers movie than a locker room), storage room, equipment, and uniforms ready for the season.  I came home many nights with cobwebs in my hair and dirt up my nose.  I washed uniform pants that were stiff as a board, cleared out water-logged balls, and even dumped out a few bags that were still filled with sunflower seeds.  We also had two weekends where the girls and their families came to clean, organize, and decorate.  All this hard work was worth every second to see the final result. 

We held our first official softball practice on February 13^th.  To be honest, I had many sleepless nights leading up to this day.  I knew several of my girls had never played softball before.  Many did not have gloves or cleats.  And many of us had to learn how to throw (which foot to step with) and how to swing a bat (where and how to hold the bat).  I was honestly worried about my own ability to coach this team.  I had a fear of letting this young BGA team down.  However, I was pleasantly surprised by these amazing young girls.  They are extremely coachable, tremendously determined, and very gracious.  After the first few days of practice, I was already seeing glimmers of hope and great potential. 

I have watched girls learn how to hold a bat, swing at a ball on a tee, and eventually hit a ball off a pitching machine.  To see the look of pride on their faces is worth more than any personal achievement I could imagine.  The ultimate achievement came this past weekend during or first games of the season.  We played in a play day against teams with girls 4-5 years our senior and with years of playing together as a team – we’d only had three weeks of practice as a team.  The weather was very cold (my car said 39 degrees when we left the park at 9:30pm) so I wasn’t sure if our teeth were chattering from fear or chill.  But, after the first game, the “deer in the headlights” look began to fade and we started to bond as a team.  In one of the games, a 13-year-old girl who had never played a day of softball in her life was up to bat and hit a looping line drive to the first baseman.  It was caught and she was out; however, she went right back to the plate and picked up her bat to hit again.  I realized this was my fault – that is how we hit batting practice – I allow them a few hits before we rotate.  It broke my heart to have to tell her she was out.  However, that heartache disappeared during her next at-bat.  The bases were loaded and she was up.  I simply told her to breathe and to smile.  She stood up there and knocked the ball into the outfield – earning a 3-run RBI.  I have received lots of personal awards in my life – both for my softball career and my engineering career – and I have been extremely appreciative of each one.  However, the joy I felt after this hit doesn’t even come close to those.  My heart leapt as I jumped along the third base line!  And my heart melted during our huddle at the end of the night when one of my seniors said, “I am most proud of you” referring to this young 8^th grader.  We lost all three games we played, but I could not have been more proud – we gave it our best and we held our heads high. 

Softball runs in my veins – I even slept with my glove as a kid – the smell of leather, sweat, and dirt brought me comfort.  Softball is second nature to me.  However, the experience as a coach is a new, amazing, confusing, and awesome view of the sport.  The pay is low, the expectations are high, the hours are long, the pain is deep, and the joy is immense.  For my girls, I am a mother, a sister, a friend, a teacher, a therapist, a disciplinarian, a chauffeur, a maid, a cheerleader, an encourager – I am a coach.  It is a role that is priceless to me.  I have come to realize through the game of softball that youth matures, pain fades, and fear subsides, but pride lasts forever. 

http://www.coachdconsulting.com/Services.html

In Poor Health and In Poor Taste

As a devoted viewer of the Food Network, I perked up last week when I heard the news that Paula Deen was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.  While I do not and would not cook many of the dishes I see on the Food Network, I do enjoy watching the cooking shows for ideas, inspiration, and ingredients that I could use to make my own healthful meals and dishes.  I have enjoyed Paula Deen’s shows over the years, admittedly mostly as entertainment.  If you don’t know of Paula Deen, she is most well known for her overuse of butter and does not shy away from sugar or fat.  She is a southern cook who goes the extra mile in ruining the reputation of southern cooking, and appears to enjoy doing it.  She has become famous for her butter-loving ways and has earned a fortune from her shows, cookbooks, restaurants, and appearances. 

When I heard the news of her type 2 diabetes diagnosis, I was not at all surprised.  This is a woman who is a self-confessed “fat girl” who admits to not exercising and had a bust of herself made of butter.  But I must say that the way she handled the public announcement was a huge disappointment to me.  She same out on the Today Show and made successive appearances on numerous talk shows throughout the week last week.  As it turns out, she was diagnosed three years ago and kept it a secret.  She made the announcement last week which just happens to coincide with her new endorsement deal with Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company that makes an injectable diabetes medication that she began promoting.  She and her sons Jamie and Bobby (neither have diabetes) are all now paid spokespersons.  This week of announcements and appearances also coincides with the launch of her sons’ new television shows.

As I watched Paula and her sons’ appearances last week, she said that she does not blame herself for her type 2 diabetes.  She does not plan to change her lifestyle or cooking style, other than limiting her sweet tea.  She said that she, like all other baby boomers, must face the reality of developing diabetes, heart disease, and high cholesterol.  Since when did these health conditions become inevitable for baby boomers?  I have personally helped baby boomers, as well as younger and older generations, eliminate their medications for all three of those health conditions simply through healthy eating and exercising.  The fact that she is capitalizing on fattening and sugary recipes and now simultaneously capitalizing on a drug that combats a disease caused by them is simply distasteful.  To me, it is similar to making money on tanning beds as well as skin cancer treatments, or cigarettes and nicotine gum.  Moreover, she is advocating a medication as the way to alleviate type 2 diabetes symptoms.  However, the American Diabetes Association states that the main treatment for type 2 diabetes is exercise and diet.  Many people can control their type 2 diabetes without medication. 

I also heard Paula say several times that a diabetes diagnosis is not a death sentence.  While it may not be a direct sentence, adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about 2-4 times higher than adults without diabetes.  And the risk for stroke is 2-4 times higher among people with diabetes. 

The important thing to remember is that Paula Deen is a celebrity – a public figure that should be enjoyed for entertainment and not consulted for nutrition.  We are in control of our own cooking & eating and we decide how much to exercise.  Paula Deen may be in poor health and in poor taste, but that is not your fate!  Take control of your health – I will help you find your good health and do it in good taste!  I’ve got delicious recipes as well as personal catering that will do your taste buds and your body good!  Go to http://www.coachdconsulting.com/Services.html to see all the ways I can help you and those you love.  Obesity is 100% preventable – let’s tastefully eliminate it! 

New Year, Better You

As we head into the New Year, I keep hearing the phrase “New Year, New You.”  I’ve seen it on TV news shows, run across it online, and read it in every magazine.  It is a great concept – start a new year and create a new you in the process.  However, unless you’re Madonna or Sylvester Stallone, most of us can’t successfully reinvent ourselves each year.  Typically, we are who we are, and it will take more than a simple statement for us to change our lives.  Some of the top resolutions each year are life changing – lose weight, get in shape and/or eat healthy.  But, only about 50% of people keep their New Year’s resolutions for three months, and even less keep them for six months.  So many times we don’t stick to our resolutions, especially when it comes to weight loss or exercise because we either put unrealistic limits or expectations on ourselves.  Besides, who can honestly follow through if they resolve to quit sugar or workout every day of the week?   This year, instead of making a New Year’s resolution that sets you up for failure, make one that will ensure you succeed. 

Take small steps each week or month towards doing something that will make you feel better.  This approach takes away limitations and restrictions and focuses on adding exercise, healthy eating, and yes, even rest!  For example, instead of telling yourself that you can’t have dessert, just add at least one vegetable serving each day.  Rather than resolving to lose 20 pounds, make a promise to yourself that you will increase your workouts each month.  And if you are already lifting weights, add a few minutes of cardio to your routine.  Or, if you are doing cardio, add a couple of weight lifting exercises to your routine.  Also, try to get an extra 10-15 minutes of sleep each night for a week.  Just don’t overload yourself – that’s when we feel overwhelmed and are more likely to give up.  Concentrate on what you can do, not what you can’t do; and focus on what you can have rather than what you can’t have. 

And don’t think January 1^st is the only day you can make a change.  You can decide while it’s still 2011, or February 2012, that you will make an improvement and strive for a better you.  And don’t think of slip-ups as reasons to give-up.  Just because you miss a day at the gym or you eat more than one brownie, pledge to make a better choice tomorrow.  You don’t have to become a new person in the New Year to be successful, you can simply become a better you.  You will live better, look better, and feel better. 

It’s a New Year!  You don’t have to reinvent a new you – just uncover a better you!  I will help you find the better you in 2012.  I promise to help you find ways to live better, look better, and feel better.   I will make sure you haven’t given up before Valentine’s Day rolls around!  You’ll continue to see a better you all year long, and I guarantee the better you will be ringing in 2013!  Go to http://www.coachdconsulting.com/Services.html to see all the ways I can help you and those you love.  Obesity is 100% preventable and it’s time for us to all find our better selves! 

It’s Thanksgiving – Be Full of Thanks Not Food & Frenzy

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it’s the time of year when we all seem to be filled with stress, to-do lists, anxiety, the turkey dinner, and other holiday foods.  Thanksgiving is the beginning of a two-month period where most of us put the festivities ahead of our health.  The holidays can be a very hard time to stay healthy and maintain your weight, much less lose weight.  Several studies have shown that the average American gains anywhere from three to 12 pounds during the period from Thanksgiving to New Years.  So, I encourage everyone to kick-off this season by being full of thanks this Thanksgiving and taking the focus off of the food and frenzy.  Here is my plan to tackle Turkey Day and get a healthful head start to the holidays:

·         Eat Breakfast – On Thanksgiving morning, wake up and eat a healthy and hearty breakfast.  Go for a mix of protein and carbs like peanut butter on toast with an apple or pear; an egg with a slice of cheese on a whole wheat English muffin with a bowl of raspberries or blueberries; or a bowl of oatmeal made with skim milk and a banana.

·         Water – drink lots of water throughout the day.  About 30 minutes before you are scheduled to eat, drink a glass of water.  Avoid sodas, teas, and any pre-made drinks.  These are loaded with sugar.  If you drink any alcohol, stick to wine.  If you have more than a few alcoholic drinks, alternate a glass of water between each drink. 

·         Appetizers/Snacks – Avoid the urge to eat mindlessly.  If trays of food are put in front of you, don’t grab for things just because they are there.  Avoid creamy dips with buttery crackers.  Stick with veggie platters or baked tortillas or pita chips with salsa or hummus.  A handful of nuts are better than greasy chips or crackers.  Also, wait as long as possible before you give into the first bite of the appetizer.  Once you start, it’s hard to stop.  So, chew a piece of gum or pop a mint to keep your mouth fresh. 

·         Turkey – Turkey is a better choice than ham.  Dark meat turkey does have more fat than white meat, but it also contains more iron and zinc than white meat.  Plus, it has more flavor and doesn’t dry out as easily, so you may need to pour on less gravy.  Or, better yet, pick cranberry sauce which is a healthier condiment than gravy.  Whether you pick white or dark, you should always remove the skin because that is where the truly unhealthy fats are found.  

·        Sides – Make your plate as colorful as possible.  Try to limit mashed potatoes and gravy and go for sweet potatoes.  For my meal, I add a bit of real maple syrup to mashed potatoes and I replace marshmallows with a walnut topping.  Green vegetables can be good, although at this time of year, they can be loaded with cream and fat in a casserole.  Instead of creamy green beans topped with fried onions, I toss my green beans with olive oil and sliced almonds.  Avoid creamy-looking casseroles and dishes with “crumble” toppings.  These are typically just greasy crackers with added butter. 

·         Bread – Avoid adding rolls or muffins to your plate.  You will get plenty of starch from everything else on the menu like potatoes and stuffing.  If you must have bread, go for just one piece and don’t add butter. 

·         Dessert – Stick to pumpkin or sweet potato pies.  Both of these are healthier than pecan or apple.  Avoid any pies with a double crust.   Crust is very fattening because the main ingredient is shortening, butter, or lard.  If you must have two slices of pie, eat only the filling, don’t eat the end crust.  You’ll save calories and still get the best part.  Also, try to avoid adding whipped cream or ice cream and just enjoy the taste of the dessert.  Eat it slowly and enjoy it. 

·         Stick to your Faves – Don’t put something on your plate if you aren’t that excited about eating it.  Save the calories for something you’ll enjoy.  Furthermore, if you put something on your plate thinking you will like it but don’t, you do NOT have to eat it just because it’s on your plate.  Even if old Aunt Mable thinks you should eat more, just smile and tell the old lady how wonderful everything was. 

·        Seconds – Don’t immediately go back for seconds.  It takes 20 minutes for our brains to register that our stomachs are full.  So, if you hoover through two plates of food, you will likely have overeaten which will lead to feeling severely uncomfortable for the rest of the day.   

·         Get Moving – While watching the traditional Thanksgiving Day football game, don’t sit for any period longer than an hour.  Get up during a commercial break and walk around.  After you eat, take a walk around the block, or take your kids out for a game of football or tag.  Or, impress your family and take out the trash, walk the dog, help clean up the dishes, or start putting up Christmas lights and decorations! 

If you want more tips, ideas, or recipes for the holidays, contact me today.  I will help you and your family fill up on thanks rather than the food and frenzy of the season.  Go to http://www.coachdconsulting.com/Services.html to see all the ways I can help you and those you love.  Let’s be thankful that obesity is 100% preventable and make a change today! 

A Coach for Life

I discovered my love of softball very early

The definition of a coach is one who instructs or trains, and it is usually sport-specific.  I have had many coaches in my life who instructed me within a specific sport.  However, several of those coaches taught me skills that go far beyond the field or the court.  They didn’t simply coach me for a season – I consider them coaches for life.  They taught me how to play on the field and how live off the field. 

Since becoming a full-time health and weight loss coach nearly 18 months ago, I have reflected upon the lessons my coaches gave me and the motivation they used to push me to my potential.  They had high expectations of me only because they knew what I was capable of.  I also now have high expectations of my clients because I see what they can do and I want them to realize their potential.  As a coach, I get so much joy from watching my clients succeed. 

This joy is why I am so proud and excited that my role as a coach has taken on a whole new meaning.  As of this week, I am the new head coach of my alma mater’s varsity softball team.  I am a 1998 graduate of Battle Ground Academy (BGA) and played five years of varsity softball.  I was blessed to have been coached and mentored by Coach Pat Stoffel.  My true love was softball and in addition to playing for BGA, I played year-round for various travel teams.  I recently discovered that BGA’s girls’ softball team was struggling, and actually did not even have a team for the 2011 season.  This was very disappointing for me as I feel such a loyalty to softball, especially BGA softball.  After nearly two years of correspondence with various BGA staff members, I had a recent meeting with the Athletic Director where I was asked to be the new head coach of their softball team.  After a few successive meetings, one with a few girls interested in playing on the softball team, I have gladly accepted my new role as the new head coach.

Coach Stoffel was a mentor on & off the field -
here she is talking to my catcher & me as we come off the field

When I think about the experiences in my life that have created who I am today, softball and my many coaches top the list.  Even as an adult, there is hardly a week that goes by that I don’t recall something one of my coaches taught me.  Coach Loring, Coach Overstreet, and Coach Gleason all nurtured me from a shy little girl into a competent young athlete.  Coach Belliford and Coach Eisenhauer pushed me from a timid teenager into a tough competitor.  My amazingly talented pitching coach Gary Martineau tapped into every ounce of talent I had and transformed me from a girl throwing a softball to a skilled pitcher – and even taught me which part of my mouth had the stickiest spit to help me throw a wicked rise ball.  Coach Stoffel developed me from a talented athlete to a champion on and off the field.  And of course I can’t leave out my dad and my step-dad.  They were my original coaches – they practiced with me, sweat with me, even bled with me and cried with me.  But they always encouraged me and cheered me on. 

I am so proud and happy to be able to share these types of experiences with my new players.  My coaches taught me beautiful lessons in accountability, perseverance, humility, personal growth, awareness of others, self-discipline, and self-esteem.  And most importantly, they taught me how to be a champion no matter what the scoreboard showed.  I feel I am a better person because of softball and the coaches who taught me lessons on and off the field.  I only hope I will be able to have the same impact on my new players for many years to come! 

Even as BGA’s softball coach, I still plan to coach my clients on health and weight loss.  So, make sure you go to http://www.coachdconsulting.com/Services.html to see all the ways I can help you and those on your “home team”.  Obesity is 100% preventable – if we play hard, give it all we’ve got, we will win the game!