My Story:
In 1973 I received my Advanced Lifesaving credential and Swim Instructor certification. I was size 16 at that time. I weighed 170 pounds — a thick-bodied girl. In 1980 I became pregnant. The doctor considered it a high risk pregnancy and I had to grossly limit my activities. I ate for two as was the custom for mom-to-be.
I gained a whopping 60 lbs. In 1981 I gave birth to a healthy baby boy and six years later, I was still claiming my pregnancy caused my excess weight. I was a P.E. teacher for 4th and 5th graders at that time. Some of those kids were very rude about my weight as they had no fear of consequences calling me names. I felt very self conscious and hypocritical at the time. By the end of 1987 I was in a size 20! As a 6-foot-tall woman, I carried my weight well, but then I saw myself in a video that had been taken of me running with one of my dogs. That was it! I couldn’t believe what I saw and couldn’t stand it any longer.
I had to do something, so I started watching fitness shows on TV. Yes, just watching them. However, after a little while I started to think it would be nice to be a bodybuilder like Cory Everson or fitness dancer like Pepper Von. It seemed impossible at the time, but I decided to do what I did as a kid. Walk! I got up extra early before anyone else woke up and walked as far as I could in one hour. I went faster and faster as I built up strength to walk five miles an hour. I did this six days a week. Although I was very self conscious about everyone seeing me out on Carmel Valley Road like that knowing how I appeared in my video. I knew they would see the results — that’s what kept me going.
After six weeks I had lost about 15 pounds, but my ankles were very painful due to the weight and old injuries. I needed to go to physical therapy and wear an air cast, but I kept going.
By the end of six months I had lost 40 pounds, but I stopped losing. I had cut out bread, chips, popcorn, ice cream and boxed foods like hamburger helper that had been a family favorite. I did not allow myself any snacks at all except for two light beers. I finally decided to dump the beers and switch to one glass of red wine and right away I lost another 10 pounds. I continued every day except Sunday to walk that hard mile. Now I was wearing size 14 and feeling much better, but very flabby. Because I had heard on fitness shows, I knew that I needed to do some weight training to harden up. My PE teaching job had been eliminated due to budget cuts and I began a career as Manager of a veterinary hospital. This was a new challenge and long hours, but I hadn’t finished my mission to get fit, so I used my lunch hour to continue my walking. I could eat as I worked. I ate snack size meals several times during the day.
On my walks, I noticed in the village the construction of a small gym. A man from L.A. had moved to Carmel Valley and opened the Personal Fitness clinic. He was a personal trainer as well as the owner. He said he’d been enjoying my dedication to fitness/walking and I could train there for the muscle. Soon thereafter, I was in the gym now six days a week, one to two hours, doing cardio and/or weight lifting. In the fourth month I got down to 160 pounds in a size nine and was gaining muscle.
My body liked the work and responded well. It was hard work and I did not dare cheat on my diet at all! I was a bit obsessive. I loved how I felt, and how I looked. People were telling me that they saw me out walking and that I was an inspiration. They started asking me for advice and help in the gym.
Pretty soon I started working out with a tape player so I wouldn’t be interrupted with my workout, but I loved helping people. I started to gain weight, but it was muscle so my size did not change much. I ended up at 175 pounds and a size 10. My body was completely transformed.
My trainer asked if I would like to be a trainer myself and that is when I decided to start my career. The certification process was much different back then. I apprenticed with that trainer for two years for practical training and used correspondence courses for the book stuff before becoming certified. My life changed profoundly.
I was seen by the fitness director at the U.S. Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey (my arms caught his attention) and he asked if I would like to be the trainer for the Naval Officers! I was there seven years. While I was volunteering at the local Boys and Girls Club of America, I was asked to pick up a motivational speaker and fitness pro at the airport. It was Pepper Von! I spent as much time as I could with him learning all I could about the industry and we have been good friends ever since.
Today I still maintain my weight and size. I am aware of all the latest trends but I firmly believe that trends do not do the job. It’s in the individual. It’s basic! Calorie in calorie out ... too many in and they don’t go out.
Truly instinctively I knew what I needed to do and those instincts keep me fit today. During my career I have helped several hundred others meet their goals and change their lives. It took a little outside embarrassment from those kids, encouragement from the trainers and friends, hard work and dedication. The hard part was getting to my ideal weight and size. I still have to work at it and I do eat the forbidden foods in moderation now, but it has been worth every bit of hard work. I will do my best to stay fit for the rest of my days.
That’s my story!
This is the first of a series by Incline resident Heather Golden. Her columns are in the “health & wellness” category on NorthTahoeLiving.com.
