Of all places, it was a trip to Las Vegas that prompted Marci Holte to
make a lifestyle change. In her late 30s, Marci struggled to keep up with
two ladies 10 years older than her who’d just had surgeries. She
knew at that point it was time to get serious about losing weight.
“I couldn’t keep up with them,” Marci said. “I
was miserable the whole time.”
Marci had tried dieting at different times in her life, but found that
it was difficult to balance dieting and exercise while raising two active
young boys with her husband, and the demands of her teaching career. So,
Marci decided to try one more thing before considering weight loss surgery.
She turned to the professionals at Campbell County Health’s
Rehabilitation Service’s Personal Training program. Designed to help individuals reach a variety
of goals from losing weight to strength training and improving balance,
the program allows people to work with a certified personal trainer.
For the past two years Marci has worked one-on-one with
Brenda Robertson, the functional health supervisor at CCH Rehabilitation Services. It was
slow going at first, but Brenda helped Marci break it down into small,
attainable goals.
“I always had the excuse that I didn’t have time,” Marci
said. “We used to eat out all the time. We’ve changed as a
family what we eat. It’s been a good life change.”
Now she works out six days a week, one of them at Rehab Services, and has
completely changed her diet. Instead of eating out on a regular basis,
she’s cooking at home more. She used the
My Fitness Pal mobile app to help her track what she was eating and her exercise habits.
"It’s taken me two years and I’m still working on things,”
Marci said. “You have to make these life changes. I’m so grateful
that my family has also been supportive. My husband is actually the one
who does most of the cooking at home, and finds new healthy recipes to
try!”
Besides losing more than 100 pounds in the last two years, Marci is reaping
other benefits as well. She’s able to be more active with her kids
and do activities she never would have considered previously. This summer
she joined her family on an adventure course and enjoyed her time with
them in a way she never had before.
“I feel so much better,” Marci said. “I have so much
more energy.”
Now that she’s made so much progress, Brenda is helping Marci to
focus less on losing weight and more on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Her workout routine now includes more weights and strength training.
“Brenda has been so positive and someone I can talk to,” Marci
said. “She tries to keep it in perspective for me.”
Brenda and the other exercise physiologists on staff work to help individuals
identify their overall goals and break them down into smaller, easier
to attain objectives.
“One of our priorities is how to establish a behavior change,”
Brenda said. “I try to do a lot of communicating with the client
so they buy-in.”
Once the goals are set and clients begin a strength training or exercise
routine, Brenda works with them to stay on track and focus on the gains
they make that are not as easily identifiable as the number changing on
the scale. Instead, she teaches them to focus on how they feel.
“I put a lot on myself in order to educate them,” Brenda said.
“I gear them toward feeling better rather than focusing on the numbers
on the scale. If I can change their outlook, it helps them move past those
barriers.”
Coming into Rehab Services in the Stocktrail Building is also an added
benefit to the program. Instead of going to a gym where people might be
intimidated by other people working out who are more fit or have more
stamina, they’re able to work on what they need in a more laid-back,
individual-focused environment.
“We need to have a place where people are comfortable,” Brenda
said. “We want to serve the community in a way we can dedicate our
skills and compassion that help them with their well-being.”
Offering those services also means providing flexible hours and meeting
clients where they’re at. Programs are tailored to meet each individual’s
needs and to work toward the best outcome for them at a reasonable price.
CCH offers 10 one-hour sessions for $250, making it a reasonable option
for people.
Campbell County Health
Rehabilitation Services provides a self-pay personal training program to help people of all ages
and abilities reach their health and fitness goals. The program helps
anyone learn how to exercise safely and independently utilizing cardiovascular,
strength, flexibility and balance components. To learn more, call 307.688.8000 or visit
www.cchwyo.org/rehab.
Article written by Kim Phagan-Hansel, Wyoming freelance writer
