Carmel~Owner
My Name is Carmel, I am an ISSA Certified Personal Trainer. I have been involved in fitness for over 10 years. I have been out of shape, I understand what it takes to get into shape and what it feels like to look in the mirror, put your clothes on for the day and hate what you see. I understand what it feels like to have no energy and constantly crave certain foods.
I have 2 young children and I understand how hard it is to find time for yourself when you are taking care of a family and working too. I know how hard it is to eat healthy when you are busy and I will teach YOU how to manage those obstacles.
The workout I will design for you will take a small portion of your day and leave you feeling full of life and energy to take care of your family the way you wish you could. It has taken me time to transform my body, but I firmly believe YOU can do it too!
It is now my goal to help you and teach you how to reach your goals! I am loyal, passionate about fitness and sincere. I hope that I can share the knowledge I have with you.
This is me in this series of pictures. The first one is me after gaining 60lbs while pregnant with my first child. I had hypertension, which is very serious and caused by my rapid weight gain during pregnancy. He only weighed 8lbs. The instead of losing the baby weight after he was born I packed on more pounds with comfort food and stress eating. He was in the hospital for 6 weeks, had surgery his second day of life and I was unable to nurse him. This was something I was really excited about while I was pregnant. That bond I would share with my new baby, giving him everything he needed in his first months of life. Well I ended up pumping in a very small depressing room so he would at least have breast milk fed to him through his feeding tube. It was such a blue feeling, I don't know how else to describe it. My husband and I practically lived at the hospital in the N.I.C.U. for those 6 weeks. I ate all of the mashed potatoes and gravy I could find. Not to mention those brownies and cookies. It made me feel good for a few moments when it seemed as if my whole life was out of control and falling apart around me.
We eventually got to bring our baby home but it was still stressful, I was still unable to nurse, we never really got the hang of it. I continued to eat due to the stress and depression many of us go through as new moms.
After about a year I lifted myself up off the couch and took the scariest step towards my own health. I joined a gym. Man how embarrassing to walk into there! I was measured, body fat taken, stepped onto the scale and was guided to do some things while I was there. I lost about 30lbs and was really proud of that, but wasn't where I used to be still. Then that August I got pregnant again. I was thrilled! But once again gained another 60lbs on top of the 30lb I hadn't lost.
After my daughter was born I knew what I had to do and this time it wasn't going to be a year after she was born. I was so repulsed by what I saw when I walked by a mirror or store window. I couldn't even believe it was my body I saw! My husband & I went back to the gym about 3 months after my daughter was born. After about 2 months I got on the scale....I weighed in at 200lbs. I couldn't believe I had been working so hard and was 200lbs.
By this time I started trying everything I could get my hands on online and at the stores. Diet pills, 24hr liquid diets, cabbage soup diet, Atkins, south beach, the zone, Dr. Phil, Body For Life, working out 2x a day, swimming workouts, trained for a triathlon, spin class, Pilate's etc.
I met one of my now best friends in one of these forums for weight loss support. I think that was the main key in me finally getting healthy and fit. Support is such a huge part of being successful.
The second picture of me is after I had been working out for about 8 months, as you can see by the look on my face I still wasn't happy with how I looked or felt about myself. I learned from Body For Life it is important to take before and after pictures. I can honestly say the scale would depress me and if I didn't have a picture diary I would of given up.
Now I know EXACTLY what works to get a lean, tone, fit body and become healthy without doing anything dangerous to get there. The pictures on the bottom are me today. I am happy, healthy and able to focus on my family and my business of helping others find their healthy, fit, sexy body and self. Both of my kids are happy and healthy now and my husband still supports me and is so proud of what I have accomplished.
I just want you to know from the bottom of my heart I care and I DO know where you are coming from and what you feel like inside.
~Your Trainer and Coach, Carmel