Lesley Young/Special to The Commercial Appeal
Heather Normand, 37, of Lakeland lost 40 pounds and 20 percent body fat by attending Memphis Adventure Boot Camp for Women three days a week.
With twin toddlers running around and constantly wanting to be held, Heather Normand found herself unable to keep up.
"When they got to be 2, they started outdoing me," Normand, 37, said.
At the same time, Groupon enticed her to buy some classes with the Memphis Adventure Boot Camp for Women.
Four classes led to two months of classes, until Normand became a regular and eventually a fit mom.
"After a month, I decided to do two months," said the Lakeland resident. "Then I did a transformation contest, which was four months of intense workouts to see who could lose the most weight."
For a year and a half, Normand has attended the classes three days a week, doubling up some days to get in a full five-days-a-week regimen.
Normand cites the versatility of the classes and the group for keeping her in the game for so long.
"Every day it's something different," she said. "I've tried different things on the Internet, but I would get bored, mainly because there was no one else doing it with me. The support of the other women around me, it's like family. The other women are calling you and holding you accountable."
Normand began running again, something she had shelved due to injuries in her past.
"Boot camp sort of eased me back into it. It's taught me how to modify things if something is hurt," she said.
She's run a few 5Ks, and has also picked up some pointers on how to make her day-to-day life easier.
"I have two boys who weigh 35 to 40 pounds each, and they both want to be held. I've learned how to hold them. Little things like that," she said.
Her healthier lifestyle has had an impact on her overall outlook as well.
"I just feel better. I have more confidence. It's just a little bit of everything," she said. "Plus my boys can see what I'm doing, and if they see it's important to me, it becomes important to them. We're role models for our children. If we're not good examples, how can we expect them to be able to do what's right."
Normand lost 40 pounds of fat, gained 20 pounds of muscle, and lost 20 percent of her body fat over the course of a year and a half.
"I see people eating bad and getting heavier and heavier and sicker and sicker. I don't want to go that way. I want to go the other direction," she said.
Heather Normand
Age: 37
Hometown: Lakeland
What she did: Normand bought a Groupon to try out Memphis Adventure Boot Camp for Women. Over a year and a half she has lost 40 pounds and 20 percent body fat.
Advice: "Find something you enjoy. If you don't enjoy it, you won't do it. Make time for yourself, whatever your priorities are. Find something that will fit into your schedule."
Have you lost weight and kept it off, adopted better eating habits, started exercising or had success living a more healthful lifestyle? E-mail your story to sunyata00@gmail.com.
Source: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/nov/14/success-story-heather-normand/?partner=RSS
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