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Danielle Anctil

It was through a referral from my friend Bob Zun Lungo that I met and started training with Wayne at VERVE. Since I’d had a lifelong struggle with my weight, I was inspired that Bob had lost 105 lbs in working with a trainer. Though I’d never seriously considered personal training before, I signed up for an initial consultation and clung to the hope that I could make a difference with the course of my health and fitness.

We had an aggressive plan that we began gradually that included full-body weight training sessions twice a week, coupled with a cardio program of 5-6 days a week. Using a combination of the treadmill, Precor, stationary bike, step class and long, outdoor walks, I never felt like I had a dull moment, and neither did my increasingly happier heart.

As is the case for many people, my greatest challenge was overcoming some bad eating habits. I have a profound love for snacking on things like ice cream and baked goods, and I’m also doubly blessed and cursed with a talent for cooking. Slowly, I learned that I could combine my passion for the kitchen and desire for healthful eating by substituting more whole grains and raw foods into my diet. Since I was a natural grazer, we broke down my few huge meals a day, into five smaller, more manageable ones, thus minimizing the opportunities and cravings to snack.

Now, most of my meals consist of 4-6 ounces of lean protein (in the form of egg whites, chicken or fish) and unlimited amounts of green vegetables with complex carbohydrates eaten in the morning only. For a snack, I now grab a crisp apple or a bunch of grapes instead of a muffin or cone. Add to this the consumption of nearly a gallon of water a day, and its no wonder my body has benefited from the change in diet and exercise.

In August, I hit my two-year anniversary of training with Wayne at VERVE. It is amazing to look back at what I weighed in the beginning (195) and what I weight today as a far fitter 30 year old (147). Not to mention, I’m 7 short pounds away from my ultimate goal of 140, and finally, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. You cannot imagine that feeling.

Back in the day, I thought if Bob can do it, I can do it. Now I say to you, if I can do it, so can you.