Where to start..... First, when I started I was a Pizza Eating, Frozen Food cookin’ couch potato with no drive. I ate one meal a day with a late night snack consisting of chocolate, peanutbutter, or cheese! This went on for quite awhile ballooning up to a plump 222 lbs. My shirts never fit so good.. XXL !!!! To top it all off, my cholesterol came in at a whopping 274! I was put on 20 milligrams of Simvastatin...A cholesterol reducing pill that has a small side effect of destroying your Liver...I took those pills for 2 months and my Cholersterol was reduced to 251. Now under 200 is what they were looking for. So I was told to remain on the pills and we would see!...3 more months of pills. I decided it was time to exercise, so with the help of my wife, I was introduced to Bonnie! I joined Gold's and started working with Bonnie. She slowly built me up to where I could breathe after a set or two! Sad but true...Nothing worse than hanging onto the assisted pullups bar and sinking to the bottom...Reality slap...

Well, a couple of months into my workouts and my wife thinks we should join a Biggest Loser Contest. Bonnie would be our Coach!
At first I said no way. That's not me. I'm fine by myself. Well, I could have never been so wrong... It was for me! I signed up complaining the whole way...Like a good spouse should! So we were weighed in and the beginning of what I thought would be a breeze began! This brings me to the HEART of my story, BONNIE!

Ahhhhh Bonnie. This girl has heard more whining than anyone I know! The poor puppy dog eyes do not work on this girl, which was one thing I loved! Obviously I/we needed the pushing! The only pushing I had before this was the slice of pizza down my throat!

I was given exercise routines that worked and I felt it! My arms hurt so bad I could not answer the phone for 2 days! Along with this exercise, I was given the Bible, if you will, on what to eat! Not only what to eat, when to eat and why! I learned how to log my foods and keep track of my food intake! Was it easy? NO WAY! But getting to 222 lbs wasn't easy either. Took me a few years to build myself up that big! But after a couple of weeks I had it down and was preparing my foods ahead of schedule and actually learning how to cook, which doesn't suck...In fact, learning how to cook was one of the hardest things. I now can make a peice of haddock taste like a Hamburger! Well, pretty close anyway..Huge step for Frozen Entree Man! Imagine that, fresh, healthy foods tasting good. Who knew!

So right before the contest started my prescription for my Cholesterol ran out and I decided to see if all the exercise and my new eating habits would change my levels. It couldn't hurt..Save my liver for awhile longer too! Back to that later! I exercised my butt off. Cardio was and now is a part of life! Strength training wasn't just arms and chest! Kettlebells are where it’s at. You want to get a workout? Try kettlebells! I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU! Kickass workout that will leave you feeling like you have accomplished something! You will feel good about yourself...Feeling good about yourself! Hmmmmm That’s new! But I like it!

Now back to my Cholesterol. I went in with three weeks left and had my blood drawn! This was the last chance to get off the Meds! My results came in and my jaw dropped! I went from 251 down to 169. Under 200 is good! HELLO 169!!! AMAZING. The Doctor couldn't believe it and was so happy for me and my Liver! NO MORE PILLS!!!!!

Lastly, and the reason I really signed up for this..My weight. I have lost over 40 lbs and I have 4 more days ‘til the end and weigh 176 pounds. INCREDIBLE...As Bonnie will tell you, 80 to 85 percent is just eating right, and she has given me the knowledge to do this! I owe her a great deal as well as my liver and heart! She will tell you that "I gave you the knowledge, but you did the work!” True, but without that knowledge and drive that she has, it never happens! She has changed my life in so many ways..She truly enjoys her job and it shows!!!!!! This is very hard to find these days! Someone who actually enjoys what they do and knows what they’re talking about! Most can talk the talk but she walks the walk. She has been there done that and knows what works! There’s no mirage here, no smoke and mirrors, just results!!

So Bonnie. I thank you, my family thanks you, and most of all, my heart and liver thank you!

Yours Truly,

Bruce V.