Adam Steffan

Lee Ann  Ellison's Story... before and after pictures

My story begins early.  I have ALWAYS had a weight problem.  I was always the heaviest in my class in school, and teased mercilessly because of it.  I graduated high school weighing over 300 pounds.

I have tried several diets and such to lose the weight...but diets simply didn’t work for me.  I had a really nasty case of colitis in the late 1990s, which helped me to lose 80 pounds; however, I ended up gaining back 95 when I felt better.  The fact that I took up smoking at the age of 24 didn’t help things either.

At the end of 2001, I decided, “Enough is enough” and actually decided to have a Roux-n-y Gastric Bypass. I was 295.  Convincing my parents that I was going to do this, with or without their help was one of the hardest things I had to discuss.  I did the surgery, and the first things I thought of for the *entire* first week of recuperation was, “WTF did I just do to myself”????  I was in an incredible amount of pain due to the incision and the formation of scar tissue.  I did, however, lose 25 pounds in 3 weeks.

After the surgery, I had no desire to eat, so, of course, the weight came off easily.  I continued to lose weight into 2002, and finally saw the end of the road after a loss of 115 pounds.  I was 180 and feeling good.  I was working out, though not that intensely.  Every time I tried to run, the stretched-out skin on my abdomen (pannis) would flap, and make a very embarrassing sound.   In August, 2003 I had 23 pounds of skin removed from my stomach, buttocks, and inner thighs.  For the first time since ninth grade, I was 157 pounds.  After the swelling went down, I was a size 12. I was a normal size for the first time in my life.  I could walk into ANY store, even the petites and get clothes.  I felt great.

I became pregnant in December, 2003.  It’s amazing as to how weight affects fertility.

I saw a dietician twice during my pregnancy; with the decrease in calories, my OB-GYN was seriously concerned about my health.  As she worded it, “Babies are wonderful little parasites”...in essence, the fetus was going to take all the nutrients it needed to live; therefore leaving me with very little to live off of.  I had to learn to eat even when I was full (normally, drinking my calories...’Boost’ became my best friend).  I stopped working out to hold onto every calorie.

My son was born September 13, 2004 and was very healthy.  I had gained 18 pounds during my pregnancy, but the labor had given me a hernia.  I wanted to nurse, which meant that I had to keep my caloric intake relatively high; I wasn’t producing much (the smoking didn’t help), and the fact that my son wasn’t hungry most of the time didn’t help either.  I stopped nursing when my son was 6 months old.  After 15 months of eating more than I should, it was definitely a hard habit to break.

After dealing with my son’s father, I came to the conclusion that my son will not have the life I want him to have if I’m out of the picture.  I have to start making some changes, and get healthy for my sake and for my son.  As a professional dieter, I knew what I had to do.  I had to quit smoking.  I had to lose weight.  I had to increase my exercise.  It seemed like a daunting task...until I broke it down.  First, I had to quit smoking....there is no way I could be successful with anything else until this was done.  It was a habit I had done for 18 years, and I knew I couldn’t do it alone.  My employer had just started, that year, a no-smoking policy on campus, and had also agreed to pay for Chantix, the drug to help stop smoking.  I went to my doctor, and he prescribed it for me.  I took the drug for 3 months. That was January, 2007.  I had my hernia repaired in June, 2007 in preparation for my next step.  By the end of 2007, I was smoke free, and have been ever since.

In January, 2008, I decided it was time to work on the weight.  There is no quick fix.  There will never be a quick fix.  This has to be a complete lifestyle change.  I took pictures and measurements of myself.  I knew that I needed additional ways to make sure I was losing, even if the scale didn’t say I was losing.  On January 11, 2008, I weighed 238.  Ugh.  I took that number, multiplied it by 7, and came up with 1666...the amount of calories I should take in.  I also knew that, if this was going to be successful, it would have to be something I could live with....1) I couldn’t be hungry, and 2) I wanted my favorite food daily (if you could call Kraft Easy Mac and Cheese food).  I decided to journal everything....I had to know what I was taking in before I could make adjustments.  I was able to come up with a plan where I ate every 2 hours, and had a bowl of Easy Mac and Cheese before I went to bed every night.  My meal plan included 2 eggs in the morning, 1 apple for snack, salad for pre-lunch with fat free ranch dressing, a Boca burger on a whole wheat bun, another apple for a snack sautéed veggies and ground turkey for dinner, and 1 serving of Kraft Easy Mac before I went to bed.  I was eating every 2 hours, therefore I didn’t feel *hunger*. 

I noticed during some plateaus I was taking in 4-6g of sodium!!!!  That’s incredible, when you think you should have no more than 2.5 g.  Sad thing is, there are many pre-packaged meals that, albeit tasty and easy, have 1g sodium.  So, I became a ‘foodie’.  I started finding recipes on the internet, and started cooking my own meals.  I have made some amazing meals, and have made substitutions in things that most people wouldn’t imagine (white bean puree + reduced sugar cake mix satisfies a sweet tooth!).  I don’t use salt at all any more. 

I also started working out.  I hadn’t done anything in 3 years, so I started with the elliptical machine....doing 10 minutes twice a day.  It was a start.  I lost 6 pounds that first week.  Slowly, I increased my activity....10 minutes, twice a day, then 15 minutes twice a day, then 10 minutes 3 times a day, etc.  By June, 2008 I had lost 40 pounds. I also had an awesome support system; my sister was incredible in helping me with the food aspect of the situation.  If I was hungry, she actually helped me realize that, with the increase in activity, I may have to increase my food intake, and that it was actually okay to do so...my metabolism was finally kicking in.

I was up to doing 30 minutes at one time on the elliptical, and rotating between working out my arms and legs doing weights. I thought I was in shape.  My employer hires a private training company (Fit in the City) to come and teach exercise classes, and in July, 2008, I met Killer Colleen.

That first class made me realize how out of shape I actually was.  It wasn’t that KC was hard...but you were there for a reason, and her job was to make sure you got what you were there for.  I couldn’t walk for 2 days, I was so sore...and thank goodness my son was mobile, because I was so sore I couldn’t even lift him.  But, that soreness went away, and throughout her classes, I began to realize that I was becoming stronger, and doing things I never thought I would do.  I use to say that KC was like Jillian Michaels...but she’s different.  She never yelled like Jillian..but she would look you in the eye, and say, “You can do this...I’ll do it with you”, and then finish the exercise with you, so you weren’t alone.  She was always there to hand you a heavier weight when she knew you could take it.  I had lost another 10 pounds, and was ready for the next challenge.

In the fall, 2008 Fit In The City started “Fit City Loser” where, for a small fee, I got incredibly intense workouts as well as nutritional guidance, and yes, KC was the trainer.  And it was perfect.  It started the weight loss again, and by March, 2009, I had lost 60 pounds.  I hit a plateau, and was trying to work on getting my body stronger.  I wasn’t concerned about the scale by this time.....I was more concerned about getting stronger.  I decided, with KC’s help, to make small fitness goals.  First, it was to do 10 pushups....on my toes.  I could never do one, let alone 10.  I was able to do this by the end of May.  Next, what should I do?  I decided I wanted in increase my cardiovascular health, and the best way to do this was to run. 

I hate running. I loathe it.  But it’s not about me.  It’s about trying to reach a goal for my son.  I had to get healthier, and to show him a healthy lifestyle and this was the most logical step.  I wanted to run 2 miles without stopping.  I talked to KC about this and I started slowly.  Walking one minute, jogging one minute, walking one minute, jogging one minute...for 15 sessions.  Then I was walking one minute, jogging 2 minutes, for 10 sessions, and so on.  Soon I was able to run 22 minutes without stopping.  KC then said...”it’s time for you to do something else....sign up for the Corporate Cup Run September 20, and I’ll run it with you”.   I was scared.  I had NEVER done anything like that...me, the fat, former smoker running for the American Lung Association.  But, since I met her, KC always had more faith in me than I had in myself.  So, I signed up.  I told my family as well; and my sister and brothers even pledged money to the American Lung Association...stating I had to refund them if I didn’t cross the finish line!

The morning of the run, KC was there, with Chris, to run with me.  The last shot was hard, but we did it.  We could have walked, but we didn’t.  We ran it... the entire way.  I met my goal of running 2 miles without stopping.  I have never felt as proud of myself as to when I did that run.  KC?  She just shook her head, knowing I could do it the entire time.  Even when I thought I was going to fade, she knew I wouldn’t....There is nothing I could do to thank KC enough for being there through this journey of mine.  At the corporate cup run, I saw my grade-school gym teacher.  He always knew me as the ‘fat’ kid, but never treated me differently.  He was amazed at the changes I had done....that it’s a lifestyle.

What’s next?  Who knows...according to KC, it’s a 5k.... and she’s probably right.  But for now, I finally have the energy to keep up after my son.  I am healthy according to my physician, with cholesterol of 135, and 110/70 blood pressure.  This is what I wanted.  This is what I have to keep...this is what I have to do, because I am worth it.

Roger Wehrle

I want to take a moment to thank both ConAgra and Fit in the City.  I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to take fitness classes here at work.  It makes getting active easier and the excuses fewer.  I started taking classes last summer and while I still have a long way to go I am excited at some of the progress I have made to date. 

When I started my cholesterol was around 230.  In January it was down to the 180’s and this month my cholesterol is at 139.  My triglycerides are under control and I am no longer on the medication I was taking to manage them.  My blood pressure medications were reduced in January and with my pressure registering 117 over 58 this month I will be taken off of it completely at my next appointment if it stays were it is.

I missed about four months of working out while recovering from surgery, an injury and some business travel, but am happy to be back in the lunch time classes as work permits.  The Fit in the City instructors are great!  They inspire and challenge you to work hard while also making the classes fun.

Thanks again for helping me improve my health!

Karla Gochenour

While I had never considered myself to be severely overweight, I had overtime put on a number of extra pounds. Now I am a girl who loves to eat, so various diets had never worked and I just didn't seem to have the time or the energy to exercise. One day I finally got tired of the excuses and decided I would try to do something about it and that is when I made the decision to try the Fit City Loser Challenge at Woodmen of the World.  Making that decision to join the class has really turned  out to be a life changing decision.

Four months have passed and I have lost over 20 lbs, have gone down 2 sizes in my clothes. I have more energy, sleep better and definitely feel a real sense of accomplishment. Our instructor was tough but motivating which is just what I needed to stick with the program and finally after years of complaining I have real results!

Vicki Hall

In 2000, I became a Fitness instructor teaching Aqua and Yoga, both low impact styles of exercise and easy on the body. I have always watched my eating habits and maintained an active lifestyle.

In Jan 2007, I started attending Boot Camp at the Lied Center. I had decided that I wanted to try something that had strength training and aerobic exercise.  The program was offered at 6am which was a good time for me to work out.  For our first class we had a fitness assessment.  I could not run the entire mile and I was only able to do 7 push-ups.  Two years later, I now consider myself an avid runner and can do over 40 push- ups.  My goal is to do 50 push-ups!

I attribute much of my success to food journaling, consistency, and challenging instructors that always gave us different workouts. 

I started to keep a food journal and it made me accountable for how much I was eating.  I learned to ration my calories.  I lost 20 pounds and went from a size 12 to a size 8. 

At 54 years old, it is fun for me to see how I hold up against the younger people in class. In the past 2 years I have only missed 2 classes!

Jocelyn Saucier

From the moment I came to work at ConAgra I have touted their benefits compared with other companies I have worked for.  Free coffee, free parking, free fitness centers (not just one, but many), free aerobics classes, etc.  For the past 10 years I have enjoyed the variety of classes offered during the lunch hour.  I’m not one to push myself on my own, so doing the classes works best for me.  It wasn’t until recently that I realized how much I really appreciated them.

A year after losing 25 lbs, I found myself right back where I started.  In April 2008, after admitting I was overweight, I began the journey to making a life-style change.  The first step-lose 30-35 lbs!  I attended 5 strength-training classes a week.   In June, I joined weight loss program (again) and added alternating morning and/or afternoon cardio workouts from the fitness classes offered.  The Walking Program proved to be the best thing for me.  It helped me gain the leg strength that I wasn’t getting from normal exercise and I was slowly able to work up to running.  By October I was running 5 miles 3 times a week.  By the end of December, I was running a 9-minute mile and had increased my distance to 6 miles.

It took me 7 months to reach my goal weight, but I finally did it!  I still utilize the aerobics classes during the lunch hour almost 5 days a week.  I’ve maintain the exact same weight for 4 weeks now.  I am much healthier and happier and have much more mental strength at the end of the day. I truly appreciate the fitness centers and the aerobics classes.  Just having them available has made me aware of my potential.  I can only do so much on my own, but with the wellness program I can increase that potential tenfold! Weight management is truly a balance of diet & exercise! 

I could not have done it without the support of the instructors and my workout “buddies”.  The instructors are more than instructors because they are a part of my daily routine. They taught me the importance of exercise form, mixing up my routine and staying the course.  My “buddies” and I share a love/hate relationship with exercise and that makes it bearable.  Just knowing my “buddies”  will be there each day to suffer through it too, makes it worthwhile. 

Craig Heuton

I have participated in the morning session of Boot Camp offered by Fit In The City at the downtown ConAgra Foods location.  Since beginning boot camp, I’ve noticed both physical and mental improvements in myself.  The tangible results have served as a catalyst for my improved psyche. Boot Camp is not an easy endeavor, but seeing the results at the end of the session make all the hard work worth the effort. 

Total Pounds Lost-25

Waist Inches Lost-5

Mile Run Improvement-99 seconds

Additional Push-Ups-25

Additional Crunches-16

I now physically feel better, have more energy, my clothes fit better, and I have an improved outlook for the future.  Without activities offered at ConAgra, such as this boot camp, I might not have gotten involved and make the choice to improve my health.  As a result of this program, I’ve started to eat healthier and take better care of myself.  I originally was skeptical of boot camp, but the results speak for themselves.