success story

Jeremy Kersey

Training with Kristina has always been very challenging and rewarding. I will always remember the first workout with her. I knew she was a great trainer but she still surprised me with the workout she threw at me. I came back with a surprise of my own though; having puked early on in the workout I still came back for more and finished off the workout! Since then we’ve been inseparable.

That would definitely not be the last time she made me run for the washroom but the score has evened out these days. I have been training with Kristina for over a year now and I continue to see improvements in my strength, balance, posture, overall health and fitness.

Fast forward to January 2005; Kristina had put me through hours and hours of training sessions, spin classes, circuit classes, BOSU classes, trips to the Grouse Grind and my first ever 10k, the Vancouver Sun Run. Top it all off with a continually evolving diet and I was well on my way to a healthier happier lifestyle. Just when I thought I had seen it all she proposed a new challenge for my new years resolution.

I was continuing to gain muscle mass and lean out which was an overall goal of mine. But in the previous month or so the body fat losses had slowed as my body became more and more efficient. Kristina’s idea was to shock the system with a drastic change in my diet and a ton of cardio to go with it. So a personalized diet with daily meal plans weighed out to the gram was the menu I had to eat from for the next 3 months.

All of the food items in the diet are in fact foods I enjoy, however the portions and some of the food combinations required for maximum effectiveness were less than desirable at best. I managed to tough it out for the full three months but that’s not to say it didn’t come with any hardships along the way.

The first few workouts under the new diet were some of the hardest I’ve ever experienced. My strength was dramatically down, my energy was gone within the first half-hour of a training session and I was experiencing incredible mental fatigue. Everything in life seemed harder. I was extremely frustrated to say the least. The diet needed to be adjusted to include more calories per day to get me through it.

After adding in an additional 500 calories per day my body started to perform much closer to its previous level, eventually surpassing where I had been. Surprisingly the increased cardio was the easiest portion of this new challenge. However, with low energy levels, getting myself motivated to get up early and do the cardio was a huge hurdle.

The support of friends and family, and most importantly Kristina, are what I credit the most for keeping me on track when I thought I couldn’t do it anymore. Kristina kept my diet on track with her measuring tape and a high level of enthusiasm. That same enthusiasm got me through my training sessions, classes, cardio, Sun Run Training and the race itself.

At the end of it all I lost several inches throughout my body, continued to gain muscle, strength and balance. I even ran another 5k race before running my second Sun Run a full five minutes faster than my 2004 race time. As well as shocking the system and changing my body, I ended up accomplishing many other unexpected goals along the way.

So despite a rough start it was a very positive experience that taught me many things. The level of discipline required and the importance of quality support are the two things that stood out the most to me at the end of this challenge. So thanks to my friends and family, and of course extra special thanks to my good friend and trainer, Kristina.

So now what? Well I told Kristina that my “after” picture is going to be my “before” picture for whatever her and I cook up next. So check back in a few months to see what happens!

-jeremy

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Jeremy, as most people do, he doesn’t give himself enough credit. He is an extremely self motivated individual who, when he decides to do something, he does it. Simple as that.

Our first workout was on Canada Day and yes I did make him puke but not intentionally of course. Jeremy pushes himself to his limits every time and is rewarded with achieving all he has set out to do. In the last 2 years Jeremy has completely transformed his body and is currently in the best shape of his life. Being able to do this is extremely empowering for anyone and I am very proud of Jeremy and all he has achieved.

When Jeremy tells you, “Kris made me puke!!!”, of course you are frightened to try training with me. But then you don’t know Jeremy. Jeremy has a healthy competitive streak which I frequently tap into to push him to new limits. Do you want to lose to “a girl”?!!

So what have I cooked up for him now??? It is a Tri-Fit Obstacle Course held in Vegas. He has one year and he WILL be ready.

www.womenstrifitness.com Are you up for the challenge?

Note: check out the site to see the new addition of a men’s obstacle course as of 2005.