Karen

Age: 53

Lost: 46 pounds

Completed Program: August 2007

The lack of balance between my personal life and work life became my eventual downfall. I love my work, but I just neglected to make the time to focus on diet and exercise. Initially, I gained the weight when I had children and then again during the tech boom and Silicon Valley start-up days. I worked all of the time and before I knew it, this unhealthy lifestyle just became the norm.

In the fall of 2006, I was diagnosed with skin cancer. The diagnosis angered me, primarily because I had been neglecting my own health. I decided then and there that I was going to focus on my personal health issues that for too long I had ignored. Losing weight was definitely a key part of my plan.

20/20 Lifestyles addresses health on a very proactive and holistic level that made complete sense to me. The program's support system focuses on nutrition, exercise, self-care, and overall balance. Additionally, I knew several work colleagues who had successfully completed the program, and I saw first-hand what a difference it had made in their lives. Even if I had to get up every day at 4am to make the commute, I was totally committed to making this work.

Every single component of this program has made a positive impact on my life. Independently the advice and knowledge was very useful, but combined it was priceless.

My trainer was able to give me specialized exercises to strengthen my knees until prior pain I had experienced became nonexistent. Through my dietitian consultations, I learned I was allergic to foods containing gluten, which I definitely would never have discovered on my own. I can't express what a difference that knowledge alone has made in my overall energy level and well-being.

On a physical level, I am stronger, lighter, and not battling the reactions to food that negatively impacted my health. I love to hike and now notice that the strenuous trails are not nearly as challenging as they once were. My diet is completely different now and I don't at all miss foods that I used to eat. Most importantly, my blood pressure and cholesterol are both substantially lower.

20/20 has given me the tools and encouragement to make permanent and positive changes in my lifestyle that I probably would have never attained otherwise. I tell everyone I know about it!