January 11, 2005
DURHAM -- If Daddio didn't know it before, he knows it now. The
1-year-old chow/shepherd mix will play a big part in Michelle Laws'
"Lose to Win" program. Laws' trainer, Keri Kaeding, has prescribed a
3-mile walk with Daddio as part of Laws' new exercise regime. "I think
he is one of my greatest cardio tools," Kaeding said.
To succeed at exercise, people need to build fitness into the life they
have rather than recreate their life around fitness, Kaeding said.
At their initial session, Kaeding had Laws walk on the treadmill and
tested her strength on machines at Bodyworks for Women, which has
given Laws a free membership during the "Lose to Win" program.
Laws was surprised by how much weight she could press and said
she also plans to take advantage of the track at N.C. Central
University, where she works.
Attitude always helps. "Michelle's got such a positive attitude,"
Kaeding said.
DURHAM -- If Daddio didn't know it before, he knows it now. The
1-year-old chow/shepherd mix will play a big part in Michelle Laws'
"Lose to Win" program. Laws' trainer, Keri Kaeding, has prescribed a
3-mile walk with Daddio as part of Laws' new exercise regime. "I think
he is one of my greatest cardio tools," Kaeding said.
To succeed at exercise, people need to build fitness into the life they
have rather than recreate their life around fitness, Kaeding said.
At their initial session, Kaeding had Laws walk on the treadmill and
tested her strength on machines at Bodyworks for Women, which has
given Laws a free membership during the "Lose to Win" program.
Laws was surprised by how much weight she could press and said
she also plans to take advantage of the track at N.C. Central
University, where she works.
Attitude always helps. "Michelle's got such a positive attitude,"
Kaeding said.
February 8, 2005
DURHAM -- Those 3-mile walks with her dog, Daddio, haven't turned out to be the vigorous workout Michelle Laws
and trainer Keri Kaeding envisioned. "The walks aren't so fast," Laws said. "He sniffs all the time." Still, these walks
have proven beneficial. "They're just relaxing," said Laws, 36. "It gives me time to clear my head and get exercise, too."
Laws has lost 6 pounds as well as body fat and 2 inches in her waist and has noticed a difference in how her clothes
fit. Kaeding has been especially pleased at the loss of inches because it means Laws' muscles are toning up. Adding
muscle mass will ultimately lead to weight loss because "muscle is a fat-burning factory," Kaeding said. Exercise has
other benefits, too. "A session of exercise changes how you respond to stress for the next 24 hours," the trainer said.
The fact that Kaeding was not at all sympathetic when Laws skipped exercise for a week as she worked to meet two
deadlines helped Laws get back on the program. "I really get back to basics with people," Kaeding said. "[I tell them]
This is your body. This is it. The choices you make have immediate and long-term consequences."
Not exercising for a week led to a discovery that Laws said has helped motivate her to keep going. "I could tell the
difference between feeling healthy good and feeling stressed and just worn out," she said.
She also realized she had a time-management problem, in part because she had overcommitted herself. As a result,
she's scaled back and even plans to say "no" to new requests.
Taking care of the body can lead to taking care of oneself and shedding excesses and clutter in life, Kaeding said.
Women, especially, have trouble as they try to meet the needs of everyone else. "We don't place priority on our own self-
care," she said. "Happiness doesn't come from losing weight. It's in the process of losing the weight that people get
the courage of saying what really makes them happy," Kaeding said.
On track: Exercise, controlling food portions is helping
March 8, 2005
DURHAM -- As she continues in the "Lose to Win" program, Michelle Laws' progress has shocked some people,
including herself. At work, she surprised her colleagues recently as they all worked together on a major project. "I
stopped at 7 and said, 'You know, my gym is going to close and I have to work out,'" she said. "They looked at me like
'This is new.'"
While she has lost just an additional one-half pound and now weighs 149.5 pounds, Laws said she continues to lose
body fat, especially in her waist where she has lost more than two inches. She's now able to wear a size 8 suit, which
was too tight last year, she said.
And Laws isn't just shocking herself and her coworkers. She also saw a look of surprise on the face of a man at her
gym. Laws had been waiting for him to finish using the leg press, where he was lifting a total of 90 pounds -- 45
pounds on each leg. "He asked me if I needed him to take some of the weights off and I said, 'Actually, I need to add
some,' " she said. The man looked on in disbelief as Laws pressed 20 more pounds than he had. Her trainer, Keri
Kaeding, wants her to start pressing even more pounds, Laws added.
April 5, 2005
DURHAM -- Michelle Laws feels like she's on the right path, even though she still sometimes finds herself in the
wilderness. But now, thanks to the "Lose to Win" program, she knows how to get back on track for healthy living. So,
when she sometimes has trouble controlling her portion sizes at dinner, or eats too many desserts, she's not too hard
on herself. "I keep trying and trying and trying," Laws said.
Her persistence is paying off as she continues to lose weight. She's lost 2 more pounds . . . "I see it happening
gradually and that's encouraging. It's part of my new routine. I do feel it is really a lifestyle change," Laws said.
She can [also] tell a difference in how she deals with project deadlines and other stresses in her busy life. "Before, I'd
just be frantic," Laws said. Now, she feels an automatic response both mentally and physically to stress that helps her
remain calm, she added. "I think the exercise has a lot to do with it," Laws said. "When I can't get to the gym, I work out
at home, walk Daddio or run," Laws said.
Daddio has also been getting more of a workout as a result of the step-up in Laws' exercise program. She now
sometimes runs with Daddio, whereas before they walked. At first, when she started to run with him, he would try to
make frequent stops. Now, he keeps up with her as she runs. "He's getting the hang of it, too," Laws said. The
increased exercise is having a calming effect on both of them. For Daddio, it means getting rid of some of his excess
energy. "He's got a lot of energy," Laws said.
“After” profile
May 3, 2005
BIGGEST CHALLENGE (and how she met it): "My biggest challenge was not allowing my stressful and demanding
life to derail my goal to live healthy, including regular exercise and eating a healthy and balanced diet. ... I conquered it
by remembering something Keri [Kaeding] said to me early in the process: 'Look, it's up to you. Either you make it a
priority or you stay where you are and not see the changes you want?'" I remember that when I feel overwhelmed or
tired. If I want to grow and adapt to a positive lifestyle, I have to make it a priority."
Michelle's tips for weight loss:
-- Assess how much you really want to change and realize that ultimately it is up to you to do so.
-- Fight against the will not to exercise and once you get started you somehow will find the energy and drive to do so.
-- Find what works for you and realize that lasting change is often a slow process.
I didn't see the changes on the scale that I wanted to or thought I would see. But I certainly felt and saw the difference
in my physique and the way my clothes fit. Those changes made it all worthwhile and are my incentives to keep on
trying.
DURHAM -- Those 3-mile walks with her dog, Daddio, haven't turned out to be the vigorous workout Michelle Laws
and trainer Keri Kaeding envisioned. "The walks aren't so fast," Laws said. "He sniffs all the time." Still, these walks
have proven beneficial. "They're just relaxing," said Laws, 36. "It gives me time to clear my head and get exercise, too."
Laws has lost 6 pounds as well as body fat and 2 inches in her waist and has noticed a difference in how her clothes
fit. Kaeding has been especially pleased at the loss of inches because it means Laws' muscles are toning up. Adding
muscle mass will ultimately lead to weight loss because "muscle is a fat-burning factory," Kaeding said. Exercise has
other benefits, too. "A session of exercise changes how you respond to stress for the next 24 hours," the trainer said.
The fact that Kaeding was not at all sympathetic when Laws skipped exercise for a week as she worked to meet two
deadlines helped Laws get back on the program. "I really get back to basics with people," Kaeding said. "[I tell them]
This is your body. This is it. The choices you make have immediate and long-term consequences."
Not exercising for a week led to a discovery that Laws said has helped motivate her to keep going. "I could tell the
difference between feeling healthy good and feeling stressed and just worn out," she said.
She also realized she had a time-management problem, in part because she had overcommitted herself. As a result,
she's scaled back and even plans to say "no" to new requests.
Taking care of the body can lead to taking care of oneself and shedding excesses and clutter in life, Kaeding said.
Women, especially, have trouble as they try to meet the needs of everyone else. "We don't place priority on our own self-
care," she said. "Happiness doesn't come from losing weight. It's in the process of losing the weight that people get
the courage of saying what really makes them happy," Kaeding said.
On track: Exercise, controlling food portions is helping
March 8, 2005
DURHAM -- As she continues in the "Lose to Win" program, Michelle Laws' progress has shocked some people,
including herself. At work, she surprised her colleagues recently as they all worked together on a major project. "I
stopped at 7 and said, 'You know, my gym is going to close and I have to work out,'" she said. "They looked at me like
'This is new.'"
While she has lost just an additional one-half pound and now weighs 149.5 pounds, Laws said she continues to lose
body fat, especially in her waist where she has lost more than two inches. She's now able to wear a size 8 suit, which
was too tight last year, she said.
And Laws isn't just shocking herself and her coworkers. She also saw a look of surprise on the face of a man at her
gym. Laws had been waiting for him to finish using the leg press, where he was lifting a total of 90 pounds -- 45
pounds on each leg. "He asked me if I needed him to take some of the weights off and I said, 'Actually, I need to add
some,' " she said. The man looked on in disbelief as Laws pressed 20 more pounds than he had. Her trainer, Keri
Kaeding, wants her to start pressing even more pounds, Laws added.
April 5, 2005
DURHAM -- Michelle Laws feels like she's on the right path, even though she still sometimes finds herself in the
wilderness. But now, thanks to the "Lose to Win" program, she knows how to get back on track for healthy living. So,
when she sometimes has trouble controlling her portion sizes at dinner, or eats too many desserts, she's not too hard
on herself. "I keep trying and trying and trying," Laws said.
Her persistence is paying off as she continues to lose weight. She's lost 2 more pounds . . . "I see it happening
gradually and that's encouraging. It's part of my new routine. I do feel it is really a lifestyle change," Laws said.
She can [also] tell a difference in how she deals with project deadlines and other stresses in her busy life. "Before, I'd
just be frantic," Laws said. Now, she feels an automatic response both mentally and physically to stress that helps her
remain calm, she added. "I think the exercise has a lot to do with it," Laws said. "When I can't get to the gym, I work out
at home, walk Daddio or run," Laws said.
Daddio has also been getting more of a workout as a result of the step-up in Laws' exercise program. She now
sometimes runs with Daddio, whereas before they walked. At first, when she started to run with him, he would try to
make frequent stops. Now, he keeps up with her as she runs. "He's getting the hang of it, too," Laws said. The
increased exercise is having a calming effect on both of them. For Daddio, it means getting rid of some of his excess
energy. "He's got a lot of energy," Laws said.
“After” profile
May 3, 2005
BIGGEST CHALLENGE (and how she met it): "My biggest challenge was not allowing my stressful and demanding
life to derail my goal to live healthy, including regular exercise and eating a healthy and balanced diet. ... I conquered it
by remembering something Keri [Kaeding] said to me early in the process: 'Look, it's up to you. Either you make it a
priority or you stay where you are and not see the changes you want?'" I remember that when I feel overwhelmed or
tired. If I want to grow and adapt to a positive lifestyle, I have to make it a priority."
Michelle's tips for weight loss:
-- Assess how much you really want to change and realize that ultimately it is up to you to do so.
-- Fight against the will not to exercise and once you get started you somehow will find the energy and drive to do so.
-- Find what works for you and realize that lasting change is often a slow process.
I didn't see the changes on the scale that I wanted to or thought I would see. But I certainly felt and saw the difference
in my physique and the way my clothes fit. Those changes made it all worthwhile and are my incentives to keep on
trying.
From December, 2004 to April 2005
Keri acted as Fitness Consultant
for the Durham Herald-Sun’s
“Lose to Win” campaign.
Four community members were
selected to receive free nutrition
guidance and personal training for
16 weeks, and their progress was tracked by hundreds of
thousands of people reading the weekly articles in the Herald-
Sun.
Keri worked closely with Michelle Laws, a busy professional
who's main difficulty was establishing a healthy lifestyle while
keeping up with her myriad personal and professional
responsibilities.
Here is Michelle’s story, condensed from reports by reporter,
Susan Broili of The Herald-Sun:
Keri acted as Fitness Consultant
for the Durham Herald-Sun’s
“Lose to Win” campaign.
Four community members were
selected to receive free nutrition
guidance and personal training for
16 weeks, and their progress was tracked by hundreds of
thousands of people reading the weekly articles in the Herald-
Sun.
Keri worked closely with Michelle Laws, a busy professional
who's main difficulty was establishing a healthy lifestyle while
keeping up with her myriad personal and professional
responsibilities.
Here is Michelle’s story, condensed from reports by reporter,
Susan Broili of The Herald-Sun:
Michelle Laws
Age: 36
Height: 5 feet 4 inches
Starting weight: 160
Weight now: 152.6
Total weight loss: 7.4
Starting dress size: 10
Dress size now: 8
Age: 36
Height: 5 feet 4 inches
Starting weight: 160
Weight now: 152.6
Total weight loss: 7.4
Starting dress size: 10
Dress size now: 8
From an e-mail
from Michelle,
April 8, 2005:
Well I did it! I ran the competitive
5k as part of the Great Human
Race today! I stopped three
times to walk, made the mistake
of starting out running at a fast
pace up a grueling hill . . . which
left me feeling really out of breath
[and feeling] pessimistic.
However . . . I remembered what
Keri said. I am doing this to raise
money for a good cause, build
community and fellowship. So I
started talking and encouraging
the other people who were
lagging behind with me. Then I
told myself "you can do this"
caught my breath and started
running again . . . I ran it in,
passing some of those earlier
runners who had since given out.
I thought I was among the last
few people however I learned
that I finished right in the middle
. . . I am thinking about running
[in a 5K] again . . .
from Michelle,
April 8, 2005:
Well I did it! I ran the competitive
5k as part of the Great Human
Race today! I stopped three
times to walk, made the mistake
of starting out running at a fast
pace up a grueling hill . . . which
left me feeling really out of breath
[and feeling] pessimistic.
However . . . I remembered what
Keri said. I am doing this to raise
money for a good cause, build
community and fellowship. So I
started talking and encouraging
the other people who were
lagging behind with me. Then I
told myself "you can do this"
caught my breath and started
running again . . . I ran it in,
passing some of those earlier
runners who had since given out.
I thought I was among the last
few people however I learned
that I finished right in the middle
. . . I am thinking about running
[in a 5K] again . . .
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Radiant Fitness ©2005 last updated on June 21, 2005
Please email us if you have trouble viewing or navigating this site.
Radiant Fitness ©2005 last updated on June 21, 2005
Please email us if you have trouble viewing or navigating this site.
