Beast of the Month – Heidi Hopfenspriger ~ Jeremy Scott Fitness 

Making Success Mandatory 

When I started with Jeremy Scott Fitness about 2 ½ years ago, I was roughly 30 pounds above my ideal weight. I’m not quite certain of my exact weight because I had stopped weighing myself when I hit the 150s and I didn’t weigh myself when I started JSF because I didn’t really see it as a new beginning. I’ve been a regular exerciser since the days of step aerobics and so coming to JSF was just a different option because the location, the time and the short 30 minute workouts fit into my schedule.

I came five days a week, worked out hard and I definitely got stronger; but I didn’t lose any weight. And, I wasn’t surprised by that. Like I said, exercise has been a part of my life for a long time and for me, it isn’t necessarily a means to lose weight – it is more of a stress reliever for me; the only time I have just for me. But then, as a year passed things began to change. I listened, read Jeremy’s blogs and watched the success stories. And eventually, I started to think, I want to lose the weight. I want to be back into those size 6 jeans.  So when a 7 day clean eating challenge was offered in October of 2013, I was ready.

I blamed my weight gain on a lot of things, but most of all I blamed it on turning 40. And maybe that had something to do with it but it was time to be honest with myself and regardless of my age, I just wasn’t eating properly. So I stepped on the scale for the first time in a long time and nervously started that 7 day challenge. What an eye opener. More vegetables? No processed food? Limited whole grains? And, oh yea, what about those couple glasses of wine each night?

For some reason during that 7 day challenge something clicked. After that first 7 days, I thought, I can do another 7 seven days. And eventually that turned into, I can live like this. It was like a light switch.   I was like wow, this is so painfully simple. Why didn’t I do this before? I weighed myself once every couple weeks or so. I didn’t count calories, I didn’t track my food, I didn’t go hungry – I just ate real food. It took me about 8 months to lose those 30 pounds. I still keep to the clean eating regime as much as possible and I still don’t weight myself much (maybe once every three weeks or so). But, it’s funny because each time I do I’m down a pound or two from the last time.

I am working on my self-image; I still picture myself with that extra 30 pounds and I tend to buy clothes that are too big. But, I’m getting there. I went jean shopping just a few weeks ago and I was in the women’s section and the sales lady told me that I should check out the junior’s section. I was like, what – me? It made me smile. I wouldn’t have gotten here without JSF. I am an example (one of many that this team has helped) that you can’t out work a bad diet.  But, also if I can do it, so can anyone.

Thank you Jeremy, Kelly and Monica for being my inspiration.

Jeremy Scott Fitness ~ Scottsdale Personal Trainer ~Make Success Mandatory