Feel Better, Look Younger,
Get Your Life Under Control
Elke Brilando 623-694-8003 elkebrilando@gmail.com
“You must find the place inside yourself where nothing is impossible.”
~ Deepak Chopra
There are many stories like mine out there. Many women and men make a decision every day to finally change their lives. Many start out with enthusiasm and gusto and miserably fail due to self doubt and without support. Some start out slow and grow into their new life and other jump in full force and go all out. Everybody is different and everybody will have different results.
The inspiration to share my story comes from my experience of the journey that I am on. Yes I am still on this journey. I think many people fail because they just work and change to a certain point and then they fall off the wagon and slowly go back to their old habits. Looking at this site, you know, my transformation is one in fitness and health… but you can translate this to all aspects of your life. The interesting part of this is, that in the beginning I saw major changes in many areas in my life due to the enthusiasm and motivation, and then, when I decided to get real serious about my training, other areas in my life started to lose priority.
I am mentioning this because “that is so ok” We always want to be perfect in everything, and we do not realize it takes some time for balance to be found with the new changes and additions. This was an aha moment for me. I had to reset my priorities, make some sacrifices and yes that is ok too. When you want something big you will have to sacrifice a little, and maybe a lot, it depends on the attitude on how we approach all this. Bare with me that I am getting into all this psychological stuff but it is very important and it is half of the battle. When the tough gets going and we know what to expect we can accept and adapt and make adjustments. So here we go. Here is my story.
I have always been active and an outdoorsy person all my life. From mini-triathlons to mountain climbing, skiing, hiking, riding motorcycles and horses, working out… I love it all. And here is where my story runs parallel with so many other people’s stories. I was approaching mid forties and life had changed a bit. Our social lives where always planned around food, compared to in the past around some activity or sport. In the evenings I’d rather sit on the porch with a glass of wine than maybe go for a run or walk. You get my drift; you have been there or are there -- Right? The weight was coming on slowly, no big deal. I was still very active riding my horses and working around my ranch, but that weight kept coming on.
In July of 2009 after I returned from Germany visiting my family, I had a huge reality check. I was done! Putting on my wrangles to go riding, I could not even fit into my big size 11 jeans. So I slowly had grown from a size 5 in the last 5 years into a size 11+. Getting on my horse felt like I was climbing a mountain, now I felt like my Health was compromised. YES, I was done. I had to make a choice and so glad I did.
The inspiration to share my story comes from my experience of the journey that I am on. Yes I am still on this journey. I think many people fail because they just work and change to a certain point and then they fall off the wagon and slowly go back to their old habits. Looking at this site, you know, my transformation is one in fitness and health… but you can translate this to all aspects of your life. The interesting part of this is, that in the beginning I saw major changes in many areas in my life due to the enthusiasm and motivation, and then, when I decided to get real serious about my training, other areas in my life started to lose priority.
I am mentioning this because “that is so ok” We always want to be perfect in everything, and we do not realize it takes some time for balance to be found with the new changes and additions. This was an aha moment for me. I had to reset my priorities, make some sacrifices and yes that is ok too. When you want something big you will have to sacrifice a little, and maybe a lot, it depends on the attitude on how we approach all this. Bare with me that I am getting into all this psychological stuff but it is very important and it is half of the battle. When the tough gets going and we know what to expect we can accept and adapt and make adjustments. So here we go. Here is my story.
I have always been active and an outdoorsy person all my life. From mini-triathlons to mountain climbing, skiing, hiking, riding motorcycles and horses, working out… I love it all. And here is where my story runs parallel with so many other people’s stories. I was approaching mid forties and life had changed a bit. Our social lives where always planned around food, compared to in the past around some activity or sport. In the evenings I’d rather sit on the porch with a glass of wine than maybe go for a run or walk. You get my drift; you have been there or are there -- Right? The weight was coming on slowly, no big deal. I was still very active riding my horses and working around my ranch, but that weight kept coming on.
In July of 2009 after I returned from Germany visiting my family, I had a huge reality check. I was done! Putting on my wrangles to go riding, I could not even fit into my big size 11 jeans. So I slowly had grown from a size 5 in the last 5 years into a size 11+. Getting on my horse felt like I was climbing a mountain, now I felt like my Health was compromised. YES, I was done. I had to make a choice and so glad I did.
I checked out several gyms in our area and got free passes to train. Within 10 days I felt better, not weight loss or anything. Well to be honest, I did not even know how much I did weigh… I did not want to know. Hey, but I felt better, and that was a very good start.
The last gym I check out was Mountainside Fitness here in Surprise. The fitness director gave me two free 15 min sessions of personal training and I was hooked. Yes, I did enjoy it….but I was hooked because I knew, that I needed help. I needed accountability. I also do know every successful person no matter what they do, has a mentor or a trainer. That is when I met my coach Mandy! My life has changed and has never been the same.
Connecting with a trainer that is right for you will kick your ass (excuse my language), and also help you make changes in all areas of your life. Twice a week for 30 minutes is all I did for several weeks. In the beginning of our journey, Mandy measured me and weighed me. I wanted to crawl in a hole. I am 5.6” and weighed 164 pounds and had 27.2% body fat. These numbers hit home. I gained about 30 pounds in the last 10 years, and oh yeah that happens to everyone, especially when you “get up there in age. But you know what, it was time. I still had time to make a change. I will not be one of those people whose health is compromised in higher age due to bad choices and laziness. Am I talking to you??? I hope so!
The last gym I check out was Mountainside Fitness here in Surprise. The fitness director gave me two free 15 min sessions of personal training and I was hooked. Yes, I did enjoy it….but I was hooked because I knew, that I needed help. I needed accountability. I also do know every successful person no matter what they do, has a mentor or a trainer. That is when I met my coach Mandy! My life has changed and has never been the same.
Connecting with a trainer that is right for you will kick your ass (excuse my language), and also help you make changes in all areas of your life. Twice a week for 30 minutes is all I did for several weeks. In the beginning of our journey, Mandy measured me and weighed me. I wanted to crawl in a hole. I am 5.6” and weighed 164 pounds and had 27.2% body fat. These numbers hit home. I gained about 30 pounds in the last 10 years, and oh yeah that happens to everyone, especially when you “get up there in age. But you know what, it was time. I still had time to make a change. I will not be one of those people whose health is compromised in higher age due to bad choices and laziness. Am I talking to you??? I hope so!
I changed my diet only some… I just watched my intake a bit more and I became more aware of what I was feeding my body. Later Mandy challenged me to journal my diet and share with her. That was harder for me than working out. I was too lazy to do that. But guess what I did. I actually started a daily journal for my workouts and meals and how I felt that day. My goal was to lose all that weight, but mainly to be healthy and change my life style to a more focused active one. It took me 2 months to lose only 8 pounds, but I was down to 23.1% body fat and my clothes were loser and I felt so much better. To lose more weight I learned that I had to increase my cardio, and that is when I started going to the gym on days I did not see Mandy for my session.
I am sharing all this with you, because I want you to understand that I was not looking for a miracle. I am very aware to keep the weight off, I would have to change my lifestyle and that does not always happen fast. Fortunately, Mandy has a way of keeping the training fun and challenging.
Weight lifting combined with agility and balance and core exercises kept us busy and we developed a wonderful friendship. I kept going to the gym not constantly worrying about my weight and what I looked like, I just had fun but worked very hard and it showed. My clothes were getting looser and looser and the weight dropped slowly. I was replacing my fat with muscles!!!! During this time I was gaining a lot of strength and enjoyed the heavier more serious lifting aspect of the training.
In the meantime I was introduced to a new Protein drink called ACHIEVE from the company Zrii. Within one month I lost 10 pounds right in the middle around the waist and back, the typical area that it is hard to lose when you are “up there in age." I was excited! it was incredible! You can learn more about these products on my site.
Weight lifting combined with agility and balance and core exercises kept us busy and we developed a wonderful friendship. I kept going to the gym not constantly worrying about my weight and what I looked like, I just had fun but worked very hard and it showed. My clothes were getting looser and looser and the weight dropped slowly. I was replacing my fat with muscles!!!! During this time I was gaining a lot of strength and enjoyed the heavier more serious lifting aspect of the training.
In the meantime I was introduced to a new Protein drink called ACHIEVE from the company Zrii. Within one month I lost 10 pounds right in the middle around the waist and back, the typical area that it is hard to lose when you are “up there in age." I was excited! it was incredible! You can learn more about these products on my site.
That is when my husband and Mandy challenged me to train for a bodybuilding show. After several weeks of joking about it, I gave in. Mandy consulted one of the other trainers with experience in bodybuilding training/diet and competition… and that is how it all started.
Imagine this. Yes I was excited about my new regained shape and looks but now I was standing in front of a strange man in a bikini that BTW I have not worn in years, for him to evaluate me and see in what category I should compete, Bodybuilding or Figure or Bikini. Just to let you know, I really stepped out of my comfort zone there. Yep, he just looked me over and his comment was bodybuilding and we have a lot of work to do….just like that! There was no time being shy or bashful…wow that alone was an experience.
That is when the serious journey started on 27.October 2010. Consulting with Bryan and training with Mandy we reevaluated my status, changed work outs and diet along the way. What helped me along the way is to take one day at a time, don’t take myself too serious and focus on myself (oh yes) but find and maintain balance in the other areas of my life.
Imagine this. Yes I was excited about my new regained shape and looks but now I was standing in front of a strange man in a bikini that BTW I have not worn in years, for him to evaluate me and see in what category I should compete, Bodybuilding or Figure or Bikini. Just to let you know, I really stepped out of my comfort zone there. Yep, he just looked me over and his comment was bodybuilding and we have a lot of work to do….just like that! There was no time being shy or bashful…wow that alone was an experience.
That is when the serious journey started on 27.October 2010. Consulting with Bryan and training with Mandy we reevaluated my status, changed work outs and diet along the way. What helped me along the way is to take one day at a time, don’t take myself too serious and focus on myself (oh yes) but find and maintain balance in the other areas of my life.
My life has changed completely. I am a new person. I have a new strength within. And I cannot believe how much I love to focus on myself. Yes this sounds bad! But it is not! When you make changes in your life, no matter what they are, you have to focus on yourself. Often we do not realize this importance and that can set us up for failure. My workouts bring structure to my life.
I am very focused when I train. My meals are pre-planned throughout the day. It took a bit of time in the beginning. Now it is easy and with my new balance… I can cook other meals for my husband without stress. We have to allow things to change, priorities to change. That is LIFE. I am in the middle of this journey and things constantly change and adjust and what helps me to keep my balance are my Faith and my Belief. My Journey continues - and my wish is the same for you!
I am very focused when I train. My meals are pre-planned throughout the day. It took a bit of time in the beginning. Now it is easy and with my new balance… I can cook other meals for my husband without stress. We have to allow things to change, priorities to change. That is LIFE. I am in the middle of this journey and things constantly change and adjust and what helps me to keep my balance are my Faith and my Belief. My Journey continues - and my wish is the same for you!
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