What encouraged you to start with AFS?
Late last year, my weight hit an all time high. I had very little energy. I didn’t like the way I looked or felt. At the same time, my friend John Birchler (a 2 time AFS success story!) told me about the great success that he was having at AFS. John explained the AFS program to me. I had never belonged to a gym before, and was certainly apprehensive about joining one because I was in terrible shape. I really liked the structure and atmosphere that John described. I knew that if I wanted to make changes in my life, I needed to give AFS a try. I became an AFS client on January 6, 2016.
What keeps you coming back to AFS?
I really look forward to my 3 Weight Loss Solution classes every week. Devin has put together an outstanding team at AFS. Kate, my fitness practitioner, has been really great to work with. Kate has helped me develop and implement a plan that works for me. She reads my food logs every week and has many helpful suggestions. In class, the practitioners are all great about making sure that I do exercises correctly. Kate and Brooke especially do an excellent job of pushing me to do a few more reps of exercises than I might do on my own.
How do you define your success since starting your program?
I’m healthier. A few months before I joined AFS I went to my doctor and got some blood work done. The results were less than great. My cholesterol and my triglycerides (among other things) were really high. Something had to be done. After only 3 to 4 months of being with AFS I had the lab work done again. The doctor could hardly believe it. My cholesterol had dropped significantly into a perfectly normal range! In fact, all of my levels were normal! These numbers couldn’t have come at a better time. My weight loss was slowing down. I had hit a wall. Seeing my labs go from being in the danger zone to being within normal range made me realize more than anything that what I’m doing is working. I’m healthy, I have more energy, I’m stronger, and I’m happy with my weight loss. AFS works!
What was the hardest thing you had to overcome to achieve this success?
The hardest thing to overcome, and probably the most important, was controlling not only how many calories, but what kind of calories I was eating. I get off my plan occasionally, but I am making far better nutritional choices now. Also, when I began WLS classes I had not been exercising for quite a while so I was in terrible shape. Those first few sessions were very challenging. Now I really enjoy seeing how hard I can push myself each session.
What advice can you offer others looking to start?
My advice for anyone thinking about starting at AFS would be- START TODAY! The AFS staff and clients are outstanding! If you follow their advice and work hard, you will see great results.
Results to Date: Down 28 lbs Fat Mass, Up 10 lbs Lean Mass, and Down 10% Body Fat
Practitioner: Kate Shafer
Start Date: January, 2016
George, you may have seen a lot of numbers go down – but you continually lift our spirits up!
Thank you for being you. 🙂
Want to make changes like George?
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About the Author:
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Michael Stack is the founder & CEO of Applied Fitness Solutions and Frontline Fitness Pros. He is a faculty lecturer for the University of Michigan’s School of Kinesiology. He is also the creator and the host of the Wellness Paradox Podcast, produced in conjunction with University of Michigan.
Michael is an exercise physiologist by training and a health entrepreneur, health educator, and fitness industry advocate by trade. He is dedicated to enhancing the standard of practice of, and advocating for, fitness and wellness professionals to ensure they become an essential constituent in the healthcare delivery system.
With a career spanning over three decades in fitness, health, and wellness Michael has a deep knowledge of exercise physiology, health/wellness coaching, lifestyle interventions to mitigate chronic disease and leadership. He is credentialed through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) as an Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP), Exercise is Medicine practitioner (ASCM-EIM), and a Physical Activity in Public Health Specialist (ACSM-PAPHS). Michael is a National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and a CDC Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) Lifestyle Coach.
Michael received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan’s School of Kinesiology in 2004 and is currently a Master’s of Public Health (MPH) candidate at University of Michigan, with a specific concentration in health behavior and health education.
Michael is a board of directors’ member for the Physical Activity Alliance and Michigan Fitness Clubs Association. He sits on the University of Michigan’s School of Kinesiology Alumni Board of Governors. Michael is an expert curriculum reviewer for the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Finally, he is a member of the executive leadership team for American Heart Association’s Heart Walk.
Michael lectures nationally for several health/fitness certification and continuing educations, including; IHRSA, the Medical Fitness Association, the National Strength & Conditioning Association, and SCW Fitness.