Printer-friendly versionSend by emailPDF version

Luna Fitness is excited to announce the Winners for the 2012 Arizona Transformation Challenge. Several of our Luna Fitness members took on a 12 week weight loss challenge this January through April.  Here are this year's results. I hope their stories inspire you to reach your own health and fitness goals.

3rd place is Sharon Belone, 32 yrs old, Lost 12.8lbs, 8.1% of her body weight, and dropped a dress size during our challenge.  She is now only one dress size from her ultimate goal. Part of her success was her consistency in her workouts! She and her workout buddies would meet several times a week at the gym and workout together.  EVERY Week during the Challenge she attended group fitness classes and our nutrition workshops. She also met with a trainer a few times during the challenge to spice up her workouts and make them more challenging.  Recently engaged, she plans to use her prize money for some sessions  with a trainer and get a few body wraps to help her get to her ultimate goal weight before her wedding in a few months.

2nd place is Julie Banks, 45 yrs old, Lost 15lbs, 9.6% of her body weight, and rehabbed her knee after knee surgery.  She entered this challenge last year but was injured and not able to physically give 100%.  But that didn't stop her from trying again this year! During the challenge she attended the gym 4-5 times a week, including in her program were strength training, elliptical training,  yoga and stretch classes, with Fascia Stretch Therapy and Massage Therapy sessions to help rehab her knee.  Go Julie for not allowing an injury and surgery hold you back from reaching your health and fitness goals!

It is with Great Pleasure that I announce the 2012 Arizona Transformation Challenge Winner, Mary Cross.  Her Grand Prize was a Cruise for 2 and $1000 cash!  At 58 years old, she works a full time job that requires travel and much time away from the gym. Her Dr. Had also recommended she lose over 50 lbs! And for all of you out there that DID NOT take on this challenge because  "Why bother, I am not good enough, I am not going to win" .....let it be known that this was not Mary's  first time entering the contest! As a matter of Fact, all of the top 3 women have entered this annual challenge more than once. It just goes to show that Perseverance and Dedication pays off! Also know that being healthy and active takes a village....the more people you can have around you to uplift you and challenge you, the better. Here is Mary's Story...

During the 12 week challenge 58 yr old Mary lost 27 lbs, 12.9% of her body weight, and 4 pant sizes!  For the first time in over 20 years her weight is under 200lbs.  Weighing in at 184lbs for her final weigh in "Wowed" us both.  I think we both were overjoyed and amazed at her success!  She exceeded our goals for the challenge and she is almost to her Ultimate Goal of 175lb.

Mary's Transformation had really began back in November, about 6 months ago.  She and I set down and discussed her last 3 years of patterns......lose 20lbs, gain it back.....lose 20lbs, gain it back.....lose 20lbs, gain it back.....here she was sitting in front of me on this November day weighing 226lbs, only ~20 lbs lighter than when she joined 3 years ago at 244lbs. I asked her was she READY???.....ready to be "175lb Mary?" She said she was!  I told her the path was long and tough, with challenges along the way. She claimed she was ready! I could see the change begin in her! I was excited!!! So we spent the next hour planning her workouts for the entire month. Her work schedule requires that she travels 1-3 weeks per month! So planning "on the road workouts", with kick butt playlist to go with them, were a big part of her success. We also had to customize her nutrition program based on eating at hospital cafeterias and restaurants 4-5 days a week when she traveled. 

Mary and I also decided that day that her success would come from focusing on a monthly short term goal of 8-10lbs each month vs focusing on losing over 50lbs with the ultimate goal weight of 175lbs..... Sometimes thinking about losing a lot of weight seems unreachable.

So over the course of 6 months, we set a weight loss goal based on her travel schedule, holiday schedule ( Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentine's Day, and her Birthday to name a few), etc.  The first month we set 9 lbs as the goal and she lost 12!  Woot woot, we were off to a good start.  2nd month we were right on target! Then we hit a road block. She lost a weigh in.....even though she still LOST weight! She was mad, frustrated, ready to quit..... Here we were at that "20 lb lost cross roads" AGAIN......( same pattern, different circumstances) But she didn't see that..... She saw that she was working out with her trainer 2-3 times a week, taking spin class and doing body wraps 2-3 times a week, plus meeting with Dr. Yolanda and Dr. Jeanine sometimes totaling 10-12 hrs a week at the gym.....in her mind she was doing everything she was supposed to...... But when we looked a little closer at the small details we realized there were a few things we still needed to adjust.  I reminded her that this was part of the process and would "175lb Mary" Quit or fight back harder? "Old Mary" would have quit and went home and drink some wine or ate some junk food to sulk, as so many of us have done before.  BUT She said "175lb Mary" would fight back harder!  So we set our next monthly weight loss goal and put the past behind us.

 When the Arizona Transformation Challenge weigh in came around in January this year, Mary weighed in as her 3rd time entering this annual challenge.  We had already lost weight before we started the challenge, but that wasn't going to stop Mary from trying to win.  This time she was in it to win it!  6 weeks into the Challenge Mary weighed in less than 199lbs for the first time in over 20 years! A huge milestone!  

One would think that at this point, nothing could stop Mary.... She was full steam ahead. Wrong. She had another road block along her path to success! Her next weigh in she lost.....still losing a little bit of weight but not on track with our goals. However, this time she knew exactly where she had gone "wrong" and what the solution was! Yes! Yes! YES, another break through! And by the time final weigh in came around, she not only lost the weight we had set as our final weigh in goal, but beat it by 3 lbs!!! A HUGE SUCCESS!

It truly took a village. She worked with several of the Professionals at Luna Fitness throughout her journey. Fellow Gym Members started noticing her transformation and were also encouraging her and providing support. And of course she had her family encouraging her and supporting her throughout her transformation as well.

Many of you were super motivated at the beginning of this challenge, as most people are when they start their new fitness program.  Ladies, ask yourself this,"How many times have I started my fitness/weight loss program only to find excuses or allow obstacles along the way steer me off track, usually less than a month from when I started"???   I must admit that I was disappointed in those of you who didn't even do a final weigh in.  Just gave up (like Mary wanted to when the going got tough)..... thinking your efforts and hard work were not good enough....Had some of you done final weigh in, you might have found yourself in the top 10 and won something!  

I am honored to say that I was a part of Mary's transformation.  Currently Mary is just a few pounds from 175lbs, is off all her medications, 8 pant sizes smaller, and is a New and Improved Healthier Version of herself.  I challenged her at our awards ceremony this weekend to reach her goal of 175lbs by June AND at next years awards ceremony I expected her to be there, "175lb Mary". She happily accepted the challenge.

 To say I am Proud of her is an understatement!  And I can only hope that her story will help motivate others to make the changes they need to live their healthiest life! We are here to support you when YOU are READY! 

I do want let all the members who Started AND Finished this challenge know that we area proud of you for finishing what you started.  A Weight Loss challenge is like golf, your true opponent is yourself.  So next time we have another challenge, "Be in it to win it", But ALWAYS FINISH what you Start. I will end this blog with my favorite and most inspiring poem.
Skye

Don't Quit

by: Unknown Author

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.
When care is pressing you down a bit.
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns.
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out:
Don't give up though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.
And you never can tell how close you are.
It may be near when it seems so far:
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

~Anonymous Author