Week 52

It is hard to believe that a year has passed since Briana set her goal of modeling in the Be Beautiful, Be Yourself fashion show. It is even more difficult to believe how much Briana's life has changed in the past year. When I look back on our journey, I am more certain than ever that God has a plan for everything. A year ago, Briana was dependent on her mother for everything: cooking meals, helping her dress, helping her shower, putting on her shoes. She didn't have the stamina or gross motor skills to do many of these things for herself. If she had not been blessed with the opportunity to train with me, she would still be extremely dependent on others for her care and well being. So I believe it was God's plan to have me prepare Briana for living a capable, independent life. When I look at her now and see that independence, I am overjoyed. However, by no means do I take the credit for Briana's success. It truly took a village to make this happen, so I want to dedicate this final week of the year to thanking everyone that has been involved in this amazing journey. First and foremost, I must thank Pat McDonnell of the McDonnell Family Foundation. If it weren't for you, none of this would have been possible. Your loving heart and generosity brought Briana and me together. You have blessed me with a year of work that never felt like work and that I will continue to do for the rest of my life. Second, I want to thank Biana's mom, Lorrie Carrey, who is now an angel in heaven. She was the backbone of Briana's success from day one. She made sure she followed my meal plans consistently and she taught Briana how to say no. There were many times that she skipped work parties or social engagements where she knew it would be difficult for Briana to be there and not be tempted to eat things she shouldn't. Without Lorrie's dedication, Briana would not have been successful. Next I would like to thank Trish Morris from the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. Thank you for being there to support me when things got rough this summer when Lorrie became ill. You have been a stable person in Briana's life and she considers you family. I also want to thank Gladys Upton, Briana's aunt and guardian. Thank you for all the time you spent on the phone with me, talking about Briana's diet, trying to understand everything that we had been doing, and supporting the process. You have been a blessing. Which brings me to Sandy and Crystal, Briana's new host family. It isn't every day that you see people open their homes and hearts the way you have for Briana. I am overjoyed that she has you in her life now. I know she is in good hands, and I appreciate you both making the effort to support her diet and fitness progam. I know it isn't always easy. Last, but definitely not least, I want to thank Briana. You are an angel in my life. I have learned more from you this year than you have learned from me. I will forever be inspired by your determination and you are always in my heart, reminding me to live in the moment, to love big, and to be honest in all things. And so it is with gratitude and love that I end this post, and with great pride that I can say Briana looked amazing on the runway last Saturday night. She will forever shine in my heart. This is just the beginning of another journey for both of us, so check back soon to see what happens next. Until then, live in the moment and celebrate the gifts you have in your life.

Weeks 50-51

Briana called me on Monday night. Our conversation went something like this: "Hello?" "Roberta, I have something to tell you, and I don't want you to be upset, okay?" "Okay, Briana, what is it?" I asked. "Today, for lunch, I had something that wasn't on my diet." "What did you eat, Briana?" "I ate casserole. It was at the Denver Rescue Mission," she answered. "You ate casserole at the Denver Rescue Mission? What were you doing there?" I wondered. "We went to volunteer!" she replied excitedly. "So you were volunteering and they fed you lunch?" "Yes, they did. Is that okay?" she asked? "Well, when you do special things like that and don't have a choice, it is okay to eat what they offer you. I'm not mad about that," I assured her. "Oh, good! Well I have to tell you something else. I took my lunch. I had a sandwich and juice and fruit," she said. "So you took your lunch and ate it AND had casserole?" I asked. "Yes, I did. Is that okay with you?" "Briana, next time that happens, I want you to eat the lunch you brought and skip the casserole. It isn't good to eat two lunches. If you don't have a lunch, you can eat what they offer you. If you do have a lunch from home, that is always your best choice," I informed her. "Okay. I just wanted to let you know," she said. "Thank you for telling me and that and thank you for thinking about making good choices," I told her. "I will see you tomorrow for your workout." "Okay! Love you! Bye!" she said as she hung up the phone. This conversation was just one of many we have been having lately. Briana is a new world with new opportunities. Everything is very different than it was six months ago. Before, the grocery budget was extremely small, so I didn't have to worry about excess or abundance of food. Her mom provided exactly what was allowed on the meal plan and there really wasn't room for anything else. Briana only went out occasionally, which meant she was rarely exposed to temptations or situations where she needed to make choices. Now that Briana is living with her host mom, she is out and about all of the time. She is part of the family, which means she is visiting friends and relatives and finding herself "celebrating" many things with many people. What used to be a rare special occasion has turned into a packed social calendar. This is all good news, but I am realizing that my job now is to educate Briana. It can't always be up to her host mom to tell her no. She needs to know a good choice from a bad choice and be able to stand up and say no for herself. So, over the past weeks, I have made lists of approved food choices for Briana. She and her host mom know where they can stop to grab a bite (and what they can grab) when out and about. They know which crackers Briana can have with her soup if she really wants crackers. They know how many days a week she can have cheese. They know what foods to use as substitutions for "treat foods." They know how to make good choices. When I talk to Briana and she tells me that she made a good choice (which doesn't happen quite as often as I would like) I really celebrated her success. She thrives on making me proud. So when she makes a bad choice, I simply have to say "that doesn't make me happy," and she will always come back with, "Okay. I am going to do my best. I won't make a bad choice anymore." Day by day, meal by meal, she is starting to think about her choices, which makes me proud. What makes me even more proud is that it finally starting to show. For the first time in weeks, Briana lost weight at a weigh in! She weighed in this week at 166 pounds for a total weight loss of 61 pounds! Hallelujah!

Weeks 47-49

A few hours after I posted my last blog, I received a phone call from Briana. She called to tell me that her mom had passed away at 3 p.m. My heart sunk as I told Briana how sorry I was to hear the news. She told me she just wanted to let me know about it. I asked her how she was doing and she simply said, "I'm fine." Needless to say, things have been a bit inconsistent these past few weeks. The good news is that Briana is maintaining her weight and has come to call her host family "home." She has many people in her life that love her and will continue to look out for her. She says that she has an angel in heaven now, and she knows her mom can always see her. I am dedicating this blog to Lorrie Carrey, Briana's mom. She was born August 4, 1958 in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She died September 3, 2012 from liver cancer. Lorrie was 30 years old when she gave birth to Briana. From the beginning, she loved her with all her heart. She made sure that Briana was able to attend mainstream schools and receive a good education. Friends say that in high school, Lorrie was always at the school helping out to make sure that Briana stayed in school. Because of Lorrie's dedication, Briana is a high school graduate. After high school, Lorrie made sure that Briana remained active in social and educational programs. She signed her up for dozens of events and activities and made sure she got her there. When I met Lorrie just over a year ago, she knew that Briana was severely overweight and was happy to have the help to turn it around. I credit Lorrie for having both the strength and the courage to manage Briana's diet. It is not an easy thing to do, changing your eating habits. I know that Lorrie had to be the one to say no many times to help Briana stay on track, and I am grateful to her for that. For the short time I knew Lorrie, I am touched to have had her pass through my life. She reminded me that regardless of how much we may or may not have, at the end of the day family matters most of all. Because of Lorrie, I now remind myself each day to put my children and family first and provide them with unconditional love regardless of circumstances. Lorrie was memorialized on Saturday, September 23 at 1 p.m. at a beautiful ceremony. Briana sang her favorite song and invited all of the special people in her life to say something about Lorrie. Briana was able to grieve and celebrate her mother's life surrounded by all of the people who love her.

Week 46

This journey is about more than just weight loss. This journey is about quality of life. I am amazed when I watch Briana in our sessions together. Her quality of movement, her strength, and her endurance are so far ahead of what they were nine months ago. Nine months ago, it took Briana five minutes to get from the car into my front door. Now when she gets dropped off, she is out of the car and in the door in less than two minutes. Nine months ago, I supported fifty percent of Briana's body weight to help her down the stairs to work out. The journey down took us five minutes. The journey back up took almost three minutes. Now, Briana is able to walk down the stairs on her own. It takes her less than one minute. As part of her work out, she goes up and down the stairs three times. The entire set of three takes her five minutes. Nine months ago, I had to help Briana take off her shoes and put them back on at the end of her Pilates exercises. Now she can do both all by herself. Nine months ago, it took a lot of work on my part to help Briana lay down for her Pilates exercises. She was very weak and complained about her back hurting and her stomach hurting all of the time. Now, Briana can lay down and get herself situated without my help. Occassionally, she will complain about her back when I increase the intensity of her workout. She never complains about her stomach hurting anymore. Nine months ago, I had to use all of my strength to pull Briana up from a lying position to a sitting position. Now she sits herself up quickly and easily without my help. Nine months ago it took Briana a full hour to get through a handful of exercises. Now she does two complete sets and several different rotations of different exercises in one session. Her rest time has drastically decreased, and she works hard in every exercise. Nine months ago, Briana would call me to ask if she could have a cookie, or pizza, or cake. Now she makes healthy choices when they are available, and she is beginning to understand the importance of moderation with "treat" foods. So, this week I celebrate Briana for all she has learned and all she has gained on this journey. The value of her efforts is priceless.

Week 45

Briana and I have worked ourselves into a new routine. On Tuesdays and Fridays, I pick her up and bring her to work out then take her back to her program. On Wednesdays, she gets dropped off for her workout and is picked up by her host mom at the end. Since I only have 75 minutes with her (including travel time back and forth), Tuesdays and Fridays have become our "short and strong" workouts. On Wednesdays, we end up getting 75 minutes of workout time, so I focus on endurance and stamina. The "short and strong" workout begins with ten minutes on the treadmill at an incline of 2.5 and a speed of one. This is a huge step up for Briana. (Nine months ago she started at zero incline and a speed of one for only one minute). After the ten minute warm up, Briana does her weight and cardio intervals. These intervals include two sets of 12-15 reps of bicep curls then two sets of 12-15 lateral raises with one minute bursts of cardio between sets. Following this circuit, she gets a water break, recovers, then begins the next circuit. The second circuit includes two sets of 15-20 squats followed by ten overhead throws with a weighted ball and concludes with leg and arm work using an exercise band. Again, Briana gets a water break and time to recover. The final circuit is all cardio. Briana walks up and down one flight of stairs three times. She gets more water, recovers, stretches, then heads upstairs so I can drive her back to her program. Although this workout may seem easy to the average person, Briana has developed a lot of strength and stamina to be able to complete it in 45 minutes. Nine months ago, it took Briana 45 minutes to get through the first circuit; it was her entire workout! What about Wednesdays, you ask? On Wednesdays, Briana warms up on the treadmill at an incline of two and a speed of one for twenty minutes. Following the treadmill, she does her Pilates exercises. I primarily use the tower exercises with her, because she has more stability and is able to get the most benefit from them. Following the Pilates exercises, Briana does one weight circuit. This circuit includes two sets if 12-15 overhead presses, two sets of 15 standing twists with a weighted ball, and two sets of 15 squats holding a weight. We end the workout with five minutes on the treadmill and stretches. Again, Briana has shown tremendous growth in the amount of work she can accomplish in one workout. When I look at how far she has come, I am not only proud of her growth, but excited to have the opportunity to challenge her more. By the way, at this week's weigh-in, Briana was down two pounds. She lost the pound she gained plus one more! Yay Briana! We are back on track, and I couldn't be happier.

Week 44

I don't believe in giving up. In the past few weeks, Briana and I have met many challenges with her healthy eating and exercise habits. It would have been easy to write it all off and decide there wasn't any hope. Luckily, writing things off and giving up aren't in my nature. I remained hopeful that things would work out. I called, texted, and emailed the host family to make sure they knew I was here to support them. I told them to call or text anytime with questions and I was more than happy to be there for them. So imagine my joy when Briana's host mom picked her up this week armed with meal plans, a cookbook with recipes she had marked, and a list of questions for me. Hallelujuah! She said that Briana was determined to lose ten more pounds before the fashion show and she wanted to help her do it. This is what I wanted to hear. In order for Briana to succeed, she had to have this support. Without support, it would be difficult for her to maintain her weight let alone lose more. My focus for the week came down to nutrition. I spent time with Briana and her host mom going over her diet once again. Her host mom had great questions, and I felt like she was truly interested in making changes. I know change can be a challenge but having the will and desire to change is the first step. I felt encouraged about Briana's future when I witnessed this will and desire from her host mom. As for Briana, she worked hard this week. She spoke to me about diet and nutrition quite a bit. She, too, seemed to have the will and desire to make progress and lose ten more pounds. I cheered her for this and told her I was so proud. "I sure hope it's good news when you weigh me next week," she said. "I hope so, too, Briana. Just keep making healthy food choices and be sure to exercise!"

Weeks 42-43

I have good news and bad news. The best news is that Briana was selected as one of the models in the Be Beautiful Be Yourself fashion show. This is the goal she has been working towards for the past nine months. She was thrilled, proud, and excited when she called me to share the news. The other good news is that Briana seems to be settling into her host home nicely. She is able to visit her mom on weekends, and she happily celebrated her mom's birthday with her. She talks to her mom on the phone almost daily and is getting emotional support and encouragement from her. Briana is also getting support from her aunt and uncle. Although they are unable to provide her with permanent home with them, they have taken over guardianship and are making sure that Briana has the best place to live to meet her needs. Based on my interactions with her host family, they seem to be patient and nurturing. I can sincerely say that Briana's mood has been calmer since she has been placed with the family. She is clean and cared for and happy. The bad news is that we are experiencing a brand new learning curve with Briana's diet. The host family has two small children, ages two and six. Although they shop for good foods, they also have many things in the house that Briana cannot eat. Having these foods in the house proved to be a big temptation for Briana. I feel her pain. It is difficult to say no when the people around you are able to say yes. I can also sympathize with the host family. It is difficult to change your eating habits to match someone else's. Needless to say, there were several bumps and slip-ups in Briana's diet over the last two weeks. These slip ups equaled a one pound weight gain on the scale. One pound may not sound bad, but it was devastating to Briana. This was the first time in nine months that she had gained weight. She had one weigh-in where she didn't gain or lose anything. For every other weigh-in, Briana lost one to five pounds. So, as devastating as it was for her, it was also a prime opportunity to empower her. "Briana, you know which foods are healthy and which foods are not. I want you to teach your host family how you eat and find a way to say no. If I would say no, then I want you to say no," I told her as she did her treadmill warm up. "You know what, I'm going to do it," she replied. "I'm going to eat healthy, and I'm going to teach them, and I'm going to lose eight or ten more pounds before the fashion show. I won't make bad choices again. I won't," she promised. This made me happy. Briana's promise is good as gold. When she puts her mind to something, she is committed and strong. Perhaps the one pound weight gain will serve as an inspiration to her and remind her to stand firm in her commitment. At the end of the day, it is always going to be in her hands. My focus from this point forward is to keep talking to Briana, keep educating her, and find a way for her to stand strong with her healthy habits even when there are other choices available to her. This is what will help her most in the long run.

Week 41

On Sunday, Briana was placed into a host home. The family seems very nice and Briana seems happy. When she came to see me, the first words out of her mouth were "We need to talk about my diet." "Okay," I replied. Let's get you started on the treadmill and we can talk. Once she got going, I sat down and she started, "You won't be happy about this. Last night, for dinner I had spaghetti." "Well," I said, "it was your first night in a new house so I understand." "You aren't mad?" she asked. "I'm not mad, Briana. We just need to sit down with your new family and talk about your diet. I will do that tomorrow when they pick you up." "Oh good," she breathed. "Since you aren't mad, I also have to tell you that I had a milkshake. An Oreo one with ice cream and milk." "Okay..." I said, keeping my thoughts to myself. "Then for lunch today I had peanut butter and jelly, a banana, and grape juice." Rather than saying "Are you kidding me?" like I wanted to, I said "I will sit down and have a talk with your new family and help them understand how important your diet is to you." Briana seemed relieved by this. I realized how challenging this transition was going to be and new I needed to act quickly to educate everyone so that Briana wouldn't suffer the consequences. My game plan for the week was to know exactly what Briana was eating. As long as I didn't get mad, she told me everything. By the end of the week she had eaten Taco Bell, spaghetti, an oreo milkshake, and pizza twice. She had consumed a lot of sugar through juices and jelly and desserts. She had a terrible week from a nutritional perspective. The only good news was that she was down another two pounds when I weighed her at the beginning of the week and emotionally she seemed like she was adjusting. Overall, she was happy but her healthy habits took a severe beating. Needless to say, I worked Briana extra hard this week. We did more cardio and I kept her moving with minimal rest. She was sweaty, tired, and sore. She did everything and only got mad at me once. At a minimum, I hope I helped her burn the calories she consumed. As we move into next week, I will continue to talk to her host mom and help her understand the high importance of a healthy menu for Briana. I pray that she will make the effort to get Briana back on track. I will also start educating Briana and let her know that she has to take a stand and advocate for her health. If they can work together, I know she will continue to get healthy and stay that way.

Week 40

Briana's spirit and drive continue to amaze me. With everything happening in her life, she definitely has more reasons to give up this fight than she has reasons to continue. I think of what the "average" person would do under similar circumstances, and I know that health and weightloss would take a backseat to everything else. For this reason alone, I am more dedicated than ever. This week, Briana was bubbling over with excitement. At the end of last week, she auditioned for the Be Beautiful, Be Yourself fashion show. This is the fashion show she attended as a guest in October 2011. At that time, she was too heavy to even audition. She would not have been able to fit into any of the clothes. After watching the fashion show, she was determined to lose weight so she could audition for it in 2012. I had the honor of being with her at the audition. She was excited and confident. She was the first person to audition then sat and cheered for her friends when they auditioned. When I saw Briana on Tuesday, she was giddy. "Oh, I hope they pick me," she said as she did her treadmill warm up. "If they pick me, I will be up on that stage and be able to thank everyone that loves me." She named the list of people who have been there to support her in her journey. "I sure hope my mom will be there to see me," she concluded. For Briana, the realization is setting in that her mom is very ill. She has been diagnosed as terminal and Briana understands what that means. In spite of that, she stays hopeful that her mom will have enough time to see her accomplish her dream and be there at the fashion show. This makes it even more important to her to be chosen. As we worked out that week, Briana was motivated to do her best. I offered more praise than normal and she lit up every time I said something to her. She pushed hard, never complained and stayed on task. "Briana, I bet they will pick you," I said at the end of our last workout. "You are working so hard and you are so amazing. I know the judges could see that," I assured her. "Really? You think so? I can't wait to find out!" she said as she headed up the stairs.

Weeks 33-39

There is a saying "it takes a village to raise a child." During the last six weeks, Briana's mom has been in and out of the hospital. As her mom's health is dwindling, I have seen a village of people gather together to support Brianna. Friends, family, neighbors, caretakers, and acquaintances have all stepped up to provide healthy meals and transportation, assistance with cooking, and support with hygiene and laundry. It is because she has had so much support that Briana has not missed any of her special activities or workouts and has continued to follow a healthy eating plan. In June, Briana was able to be a cheerleader with the Broncos cheerleaders, continue her classes at Pure Barre, and see me three times a week. We took a two week break from the end of June through the first week of July. During that time, Briana attended her first Hollywood Ball. I had the honor of being a guest. It was a treat to see Briana dressed in her gown, socializing with friends, and dancing to her heart's content. Following the ball, Briana left for camp. Her aunt reported back to me that last year Briana had a difficult time at camp. She was unable to do many of the physical activities and could barely find the strength to walk from one part of camp to the next. This year, she had strength and stamina. She was able to keep up with everyone. She rode a bicycle for the first time and loved it so much that she snuck away to do it on her own. When I saw her for the first time after camp, the first thing she told me was "I rode a bicycle all by myself!" Upon her return from camp, Briana was ready for her weigh in. After several weeks off, the Hollywood Ball, and camp, I was praying that she at least had maintained her weight. She had lost three pounds at her previous weigh in, bringing her total weight loss to 51 pounds one week before our break. Hitting the 50 pound mark was such an accomplishment for her. I didn't want to see her slide backwards. She needed to get some good news on the scale. When she stepped on, I tentatively glanced at the numbers. I promised myself that regardless of the news, I would let her know how proud I was and offer support to boost her confidence. When I saw 174, I asked her to step off then step on again. 174 showed up again. "Briana, you lost another two pounds!" I exclaimed. This brought her total weight loss to 53 pounds! I couldn't be more thrilled and either could she. She made her round of calls immediately and was beaming from ear to ear as she shared her news. As she got on the treadmill that day, she told me how she ate healthy at camp. "I didn't have dessert, not one little bit," she said with satisfaction. "I had a hamburger and french fries one time, just like you said I could, and that's it. I ate healthy!" I swelled with pride knowing that Briana is beginning to advocate for her own health. I feel confident that by the time the year is up, she will be able to choose wisely, exercise on her own, and live a healthy, active life. Briana's village has given her a quality of life she may never have known otherwise. I am so proud to be a small part of that village.

Weeks 31 & 32

Week 31 was a challenge for us because Briana's mom was in the hospital. Instead of three workouts that week, we only had two. We accomplished quite a bit in the two workouts, so I felt good about the week. I was able to collect several nutritious meals for Briana, so I knew that she was mainly sticking with her healthy eating habits. I also new that there were neighbors offering help and providing meals. I felt confident that we could get through the week without Briana losing progress or gaining weight. Week 32 was our weigh-in week. Briana was eager and excited. She was hoping for five pounds, because she really wanted to be at her 50 pound goal. As we went to the scale, I was happy to see her enthusiasm and tried to be optimistic. I must confess that I had my doubts about this weigh-in. Can I tell you how surprised I was when Briana got on the scale and she had lost THREE more pounds? That's right, THREE more pounds lost! During a week of stress, undocumented meals, and a few meals of spaghetti and meatballs and mashed potatoes (offered lovingly by her neighbors), Briana lost three pounds. This takes her total weight loss to 48 pounds. She was thrilled and I was, too. "Only two more pounds," she exclaimed when I told her the news. "That's right, Briana," I replied. "Keep up the great work!" The next two days of workouts were rocky. On Wednesday, she broke down ten minutes into her treadmill warm up. She never asked to stop, she just cried and walked. "I want to see my mom," she sobbed. "I miss her so much." My heart broke in two. I could see how worried she was about her mom. I told her that when she finished her time on the treadmill we could sit and talk. "I will give you some water and a tissue and we will talk about it," I said. "And a hug," she replied. "What was that Briana?" I asked. (Sometimes I have a hard time understanding her words and the sobs made it more difficult). "A HUG," she repeated. "For sure, Briana. I will give you water, a tissue, and a hug and we will talk about your mom," I replied. "Okay. Hug first," she told me. She finished her 15 minutes and we sat on the sofa together. I hugged her and she sobbed. I gave her a tissue and listened and told her that we would work through everything together. I told her we had to believe that her mom would get well and be back home soon. "Briana, it's important that you keep working hard and getting strong and healthy for your mom. She needs you to be healthy right now," I told her. This seemed to fuel her energy. She dried her tears and got straight to work. She was in great spirits and positive. "I'm doing good today!" she would exclaim every so often. "Yes, you are doing an awesome job today. I am so proud of you," I told her over and over again. At the end of the workout, Briana asked me to say a prayer for her and her mom. "Dear God, please watch over Briana and her mom. Help her mom get strong and healthy so that she can be at home with Briana, and bless Briana with peace and strength while her mom is in the hospital. Amen."

Week 30

This is the second week of Briana's new workout routine. We are now doing 15 minutes on the treadmill to warm up, 35 minutes of exercises, followed by another five minutes on the treadmill to finish. Her exercise sequences consists of Pilates tower exercises, hand weights, and cardio bursts. I am giving her little time to rest between sets so that she keeps her heart rate up to trigger her metabolism. I have also added in two rounds of stairs for her at the end of her hand weight sequence. The first week of this new program was challenging. Briana tired quickly and kept wanting to rest between exercises. I did my best to keep the resting moments short, but she became very irritable. "I refuse," she said when I asked her to do a second set of power circle exercises with her arms. I tried to talk her into it. I tried cheering her on for encouragement. Nothing worked. She crossed her arms and said, "You can't make me do it." "Okay," I replied. We will move on to the next exercise then." "No. No. I can do it," she said to me. This happened a few more times during the workout and I finally said, "Briana, you seem really upset today. Should I call your mom and ask her to get you early?" "Oh no, no, no. I'm sorry. I'm just so tired," she answered. "I know you're tired, but I am so proud of you for not giving up," I encouraged. "Your body is working extra hard to learn these new exercises and to not rest as often. I know it is hard, but you can do it." So, we made it through the week, each day getting a little easier for her than the previous one. Which means, that as we entered Week 30, I felt confident that she would do a great job. When I saw her on Tuesday, it was time to weigh in again. After two weigh-ins of two pounds or less, I was nervous. Briana was nervous, too. She climbed onto the scale and I took a look. I asked her to step off and get on one more time just to be sure. I looked at the numbers again and they were the same. Briana now weighed 182 pounds! She had lost five pounds in two weeks! We were both ecstatic. She gave me a huge hug and asked if she could make her calls. She called her program first. "Are you sitting down?" she asked when they answered the phone. "You better sit down to hear this. I lost five more pounds for a total of 45 pounds!" she exclaimed. She made the same call to her mom and was thrilled at how happy her mom was to hear the news. Making her mom proud is her number one goal in this journey. When her mom is happy and proud, Briana has awesome workouts. Which means Tuesday was no exception. She got through the treadmill without a complaint. She did all of her exercises without becoming frustrated. She tackled the stairs with enthusiasm, then finished strong on the treadmill once more. I told her that I was proud and happy with her hard work. "I am definitely going to be in the fashion show now," she told me as we finished our session. "I'm getting skinny and I feel healthy now." Being healthy is what this is all about, Briana, I thought to myself. I gave her a hug and told her I would see her the next day for another great workout.

Week 29

I went through Briana's meal plans for the last three weeks and discovered that overall she was doing well with her eating. The red flags appeared at breakfast and dinner. She was having cereal for breakfast every morning and potatoes were on her dinner menu too often. Since budget is a huge factor in Briana's meal plans, each week I give her mom lists of foods that are okay to eat. Cereal and potatoes are foods that they can get easily, so in the beginning I left them on the list as okay foods. I did recommend specific cereals that are high in fiber and low in sugar. I also recommended that dinner consist primarily of vegetables and protein. For the first five months, this seemed to work fine for Briana because she was losing weight. Now that she seems to be losing less weight over the last month, I had to talk to Briana's mom about diet. The conversation was not easy, but she was willing to do whatever she needed within her means to help Briana continue to lose weight. Ideally, I wanted Briana to add protein to her breakfast and take potatoes off the menu completely. Removing potatoes was easy but adding the protein was difficult due to budget. We were finally able to agree on a breakfast menu of whole grain toast with peanut butter. Although not the ideal breakfast choice (like the Greek yogurt I prefer her to have) it will have to do. After looking at her meal plans, I needed to dive into her workout plan. Although we have steadily added exercises to her base from day one, she was still performing the same types of movements. I knew it was time to change the entire routine in order for Briana to continue to see results on the scale. When she came on Tuesday, I had her start with a 15 minute warm up on the treadmill. As she was working, I talked to her about her meal choices. "I had peanut butter and toast for breakfast today," she said. "Briana, that is great to hear! I love it!" I replied. "And," she continued "I am not going to eat potatoes anymore, not ever again." "I think you will be able to eat them every once in awhile once you lose the weight," I told her. "Right now, we just have to be very strict to help your body keep losing weight. It's important to make healthy choices." "Oh, good," she said. She went on to talk about the camp she is attending in July. She is very excited to go to it. "At camp, we always have hot dogs and hamburgers and french fries and smores," she told me. "I can't have any of it." My heart broke when she said this. I could feel her disappointment. "Briana, I will make you a deal. If you don't eat potatoes between now and camp, you can have one hamburger with french fries and one smore at camp. The rest of the time, I want you to make healthy choices for your meals and stay away from the desserts." Her face lit up at this news. "Okay! I can do it! No potatoes anymore, then one time at camp. I can do that!" So we were both pleased now, and I felt like she was beginning to understand about choices and moderation with unhealthy foods. Huge success!

Weeks 26-28

I have had some technical difficulty with my blog. Google has made some changes that weren't helpful to me. I wrote a post last week, saved it as normal, then went to preview it. I could not exit the preview, so I closed out and went back in and the post was gone! As I tried to find it and retrieve it, I accidentally deleted my post from Week 25. Frustrated, I put it aside for a little while until I could play with the new settings and feel more comfortable. So, I am back in business now but have some major catching up to do! Briana has had two weigh ins since my last post. In Week 26, she weighed in and had lost two pounds. I was mildly disappointed because this was her first time falling below her average of 1.5 pounds per week. I wasn't too concerned, however, because the weigh in came the week after her birthday and Easter. I knew that her diet had been a little looser during that time, so I felt like we could get back on track by working harder in our sessions together. I worked Briana hard for the next two weeks. She got mad at me, got over it, and gave me her best effort. She was even putting in extra time at home to work out. Her mom said that she was exercising in the morning every day and in the evenings on the days she didn't see me. So, with two workouts per day, her Special Olympics training on the weekends, and the Pure Barre class she had started again on Saturdays, I was feeling good about the next weigh in. Disappointment hit for the second time on the scale in Week 28. Briana lost one pound. I hate saying I was disappointed, because a pound is a pound and that is progress. I can't be disappointed in progress. I tried finding the good for Briana's sake. She looked to me for encouragement and wanted me to be happy and proud. I had to shift gears and put things in perspective. The truth was she had lost a total of 40 pounds since October! How could I be disappointed with that? Honestly, she is only ten pounds away from her target weight loss of 50 pounds, and we still have five months to get there. That means Briana has achieved 90% of her weight loss goal in six months! Again, how can I be disappointed with that? I decided to switch gears and take measurements. The last time I had measured Briana was in January. In four months, she had lost another 1.5 inches in her waist, an inch in each leg, and an inch her neck. When I told her this news, she was thrilled. She was also thrilled that she had finally reached the 40 pound weight loss mark. As it turned out, switching gears was good for both of us. While Briana did her treadmill work that day, I told her that I would need to go through her meal plans over the last few weeks and see where we might need to make changes. I also told her that I would begin to give her new exercises to help her muscles work in new ways so that she would continue to lose weight. She liked these ideas and told me she would do whatever it takes. Now, as we approach Week 29, I feel like we are back on track. We may have hit a small plateau, but I am confident that Briana will continue to progress and do well. I am also confident that she will surpass her initial goal of 50 pounds! I know we are both prepared to put in the work it will take to get her there. The odds are now in our favor. Right?

Week 25

I had a great post here about Walking Wednesdays. Unfortunately, the blog was lost. I have now learned to print my postings each time I write. Read on to Week 26...

Weeks 23 & 24

Briana and I took time off for Week 23. It was Spring Break and I took a small trip with my family. Before I left, I gave her specific instructions: make healthy food choices, exercise every day, and take a walk around the track by her house. I asked her to call me and check in when she did her walk.

When we met again after our time off, it was time to weigh in. For the first time, I was more nervous than Briana. I wasn't sure what to expect since she had spent a full week on her own. I was confident that she made good choices because she promised she would and I knew she exercised and walked because her mom had left me a voicemail.

I took Briana to the scale. "I am so nervous!" she exclaimed.

"I'm nervous, too," I said. "Let's see how you did while I was away."

She stepped onto the scale and let out a deep sigh. I checked her weight, asked her to step off, then checked it again. Both times, the scale read 190. Briana had lost five pounds since her last weigh-in! This made a total of 37 pounds lost in five and half months. She was so excited and happy when I told her the good news.

"Briana, I am so proud and so impressed! You really did make good choices while I was away."

"Yes, I told you I would," she replied with a huge smile. "Only three more pounds to 40!"

She was right. I told her that if she works hard and stays focused, she will have lost 40 pounds by her next weigh in. She clapped her hands in delight and said "Let's get to work!"

Her workout was a little tough, but she hung in there and stayed positive. She worked extra hard and loved it when I was pleased. I acknowledge her progress, especially the amount of control she showed in her strength work. My encouragement and the news of her weight loss fueled her workout. She left in good spirits, and as I watched her drive away, I felt a surge of gratitude for being able to take part in something so special.

Weeks 21 and 22

The good news is Briana lost another two pounds. She is down to 197 pounds for a total weightloss of 30 pounds!

The not so good news is that week 21 was a rough week for Briana. After the weigh in, she worked hard and did a wonderful job. Then, by the time I saw her again on Friday she was complaining about her shoulder. Anytime she tried to move her arm, I could see the pain on her face and she would say "Ow!" At one point, she looked like she might cry. I asked her if she had fallen or done anything to injure herself. "I don't know. It just hurts." She tried telling me that she would be fine, but I insisted that she take it easy that day. I didn't want to push her or aggravate her shoulder, so I told her we would do all of the leg exercises and let her shoulder rest. Although the workout wasn't our most productive, it was better than nothing. More importantly, Briana seemed to feel successful. I sent her home with some ibuprofen and instructions to rest her arm and ice it over the weekend.

By the time Briana came back on Tuesday, everything was better. Her shoulder had no pain at all, she was feeling better, and her mood was lifted. During her treadmill warm up, I told Briana that we would start walking more now that the weather was getting nice again. I told her that Wednesdays would be our walking day. She was apprehensive and doubtful. She didn't like the idea of walking outside for some reason. I assured her that we would start with a short distance then increase over time. It took some gentle coaxing,but she finally agreed to try it.

When she arrived on Wednesday, the weather was perfect. Briana told me that she wanted to walk by herself. I explained that it was my responsibility to make sure she was okay and that I needed to go with her. She was not happy. Knowing how important her independence is to her, I agreed to let her walk ahead of me. I lingered behind her, close enough to hear her cheering herself on, "Come on. You can do it. You're almost there."

Listening to her made me smile. Every so often she would wave her hand back to me and say, "You stay there. I'm doing this myself."

When she made it to the end of the street, I caught up with her to see how she was feeling.

"I feel good! I did it myself," she said.

"Yes, Briana, you did it yourself. I am very proud of you," I assured her.

She took a deep breath then turned around to walk back to my house. Again, I lingered behind and let her walk ahead. The entire walk was less than a quarter mile and took about ten minutes. I was pleased with her effort and told her it was a great start.

"Next time, we are going to walk a little further. Then each time after that, we will walk a little further," I told her.

"Okay. I need some water now," she replied.

Her reply made me happy. When Briana agrees to do something, I know she will do it. So I gave her a water bottle, and we headed downstairs to finish the rest of our workout.

Hooray for Briana, and hooray for Week 22! We are back in business!

Week 20

It was time to change up Briana's routine. After observing her for a full week, I realized that her workout consisted mostly of upper body exercises. Although I had a few lower body strength exercises plus the cardio intervals to work her legs, I felt like she needed to be challenged and pushed to do more leg work. With her increased sense of balance and agility, I knew she could handle more at this point.

On Tuesday, I told Briana that we were going to add three new exercisies to her routine.

"Oh good," she replied in a way that told me she was ready for the challenge.

As she warmed up on the treadmill, I told her we were going to add more exercises for her legs so that she could get even stronger than she is now. She was excited and happy to hear this news. Right away, she began to talk about the fashion show. "I am definitely going to be in it now. I can't wait!"

The first exercise we added was on the reformer. After her footwork, I taught her "reach and pull." Although this is technically an arm exercise in Pilates, I had to combine it with legs for Briana. I increased the resistance for her so that she could pull with her arms and push with her legs at the same time. She found the timing and coordination to be awkward and became frustrated several times. I only had her try five repetitions knowing that we would smooth it out over time. Regardless of the agitation she verbalized on the reformer ("I HATE this, I'm not doing it. You cant make me.") while doing the exercise, she was more than pleased with her effort when she was done and standing next to the machine. I just chuckled and gave her a hgh five.

The next exercise we added came after her standing strength and cardio intervals. I showed her how to hold the weights in her hand and do squats to make her legs strong. "Oh. I got it," she said. She took the weights from me and did her squats. I tried to correct her because she was going really fast and locking her knees. I didn't want her to hurt herself.

"Oh be quiet. Leave me alone," she grouched. Now I knew she was working outside her comfort zone, exactly where I wanted her. I smiled and kept quiet and each time she did the exercise correctly, I simply said "Wow!" This was enough to encourage her without agitating her. Plus, it helped her self correct her form.

The final exercise we added was leg raises with ankle weights. While laying on her back, Briana had to lift her leg with a five pound weight wrapped around her ankle. She asked me to hold her hand, so I did. I encouraged her as she started and I could tell it was a challenge for her. She was determined to finish and was proud of herself when she did. She was able to do ten raises on each leg. I felt like this was a great start.

I feel optimistic about this week's workout. I am impressed with Briana's dedication and commitment. I know she will continue to make progress, and I know she will accomplish her goal. I am happy and thankful that I get to be there every step of the way.

Week 19

Briana has broken into the 100s! As of this week's weigh-in, she is 199 pounds! As always, she was excited and nervous about her weigh in. Once she heard the news, she exclaimed, "I am going to be in the fashion show for sure!"

Every year, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation hosts a fundraiser and fashion show. The show features a designer line with paid models, then features models who have Down Syndrome. The fashion show is an exciting event for the men, women, girls and boys who are selected to be models. It is a great honor to be in the show, which takes place in the fall. Last October, before beginning her weight loss journey, Briana attended the fashion show as guest. At that time, she weighed too much and was too big to fit into the clothes. She was happy to be a guest, but she really wanted to be a model. Since October, Briana's goal has been to be in the fashion show. Her motivation to lose weight comes from her drive to succeed and have the opportunity to be up on stage this fall.

"When I'm in the fashion show, I am going to have my whole family come up on stage so everyone can see how much I love them," Briana told me as she did her warm up on the treadmill.

"That will be wonderful, Briana. They will all be so proud of you."

Briana beamed from ear to ear and finished her warm up without a complaint. She was happy to start her workout and gave it her all. I cheered her on and encouraged her when it got tough. She finished strong and told me she would see me next time. As I hugged her goodbye and helped her out the door, I couldn't help but think how much I love Weigh Day.

Weeks 17 & 18

I have never seen anyone look forward to getting weighed the way Briana does. On "weigh day" as we now call it, she is always in good spirits. It's like she knows she will be getting good news and can't wait to hear how good it really it is. Weigh in after weigh in, she is never disappointed. This week was no exception. After two weeks, Briana lost another four pounds! This brings her total weight loss to 26 pounds! Her starting weight was 227 pounds and her current weight is 201 pounds. At this rate, she is more than half way to our initial goal of a 50 pound weight loss.

Aside from successful weigh ins, Briana is doing great things in her workouts. She is now comfortable on the reformer and we are slowly adding in new exercises. I do my best to keep most of the exercises familiar so that she doesn't feel overwhelmed as I continue to challenge her and push her past her comfort zone. She is doing her strength work at home twice a day on the days I don't get to work with her. She even does them in the morning before she goes to her program on some weekdays. She seems to be dedicated and is always happy to tell me what she has done at home.

Briana is also making good food choices. She doesn't ask my permission for cake or treats anymore. Instead, she tells me "I'm not going to eat it anymore. I'm not."

Briana and I began this weight loss adventure with nothing more than will and desire. Neither of us knew how it would turn out. To be perfectly honest, I was more worried than confident when we had our first session. I believe she was, too. I had to work hard to gain her trust, to bring up her confidence and build her endurance. Now that she trusts me and has more strength, I believe there is nothing she can't do. In fact, I believe that by the end of the year, Briana will have surpassed her goal of 50 pounds. I believe she can get her weight down to 150 pounds, which is truly a healthy weight for her height. Call me crazy, but I have faith!

Week 16

Briana learned a new exercise this week!

I have been waiting for the right time to introduce the Pilates reformer to Briana. Unlike the tower, which is stable, the reformer is unstable. On the reformer, there is a small mat (a bit less than three feet in length) that is connected to springs and glides back and forth. I knew that the movement of the mat would be challenging because Briana would need strength to be able to shift her weight and move into position correctly. The small surface means that coordination and control are necessary to simply get on the mat before starting any of the exercises. If Briana got scared or frustrated and lost control, she would be at risk of falling off the side of the mat and injuring herself and me.

Getting off the reformer is even more challenging. To get up, Briana needs abdominal strength and the ability to sit up without assistance. As the she sits up, she must have the strength to pull her body weight onto the mat or she will fall into the springs. Although I am there to assist her, she needs to be able to support the majority of her body weight in order to be successful and prevent injury. From start to finish, Briana would need to have concentration, control, will, and desire in order to succeed and keep us both safe.

After observing the amazing progress Briana has had during our first three months of training, I knew she was ready for the challenge. She has demonstrated that she can support her body weight and she has more strength and control than she did when I first started working with her. She is able to sit herself up without my help now and she is focused. When she understands what is coming, she is committed to success. Knowing this, the first thing I wanted to do was get Briana excited about learning the new exercise. I showed her the exercise in January and told her I was excited to teach it to her in February. Each time I saw her, we talked about the new exercise. By the end of January, she was looking forward to it. She even reminded me the week before that she would be learning the new exercise the next week. By the time the day came to learn the exercise, Briana was excited and eager.

We talked about the exercise while she did her warm up on the treadmill. I told her that I would teach her the new exercise first before we did the rest of our workout. I wanted to make sure that her attention was fresh and that her body was not fatigued when she learned it. When she finished her warm up, I demonstrated the exercise once more and told her everything I was doing as I did it. I showed her how the mat moves and told her not to worry if it moved when she sat down. I showed her how she would need to sit up carefully when she was finished and to make sure she stayed on the mat.

"So that's it?" she asked.

"Yes, that's it, Briana," I replied. "I am here to help you. I know you can do this."

There was some trial error helping Briana onto the reformer. It took time for her to feel secure in laying down and placing her body just right on the mat. The third attempt was a success and there was only one moment of frustration. Once she was in position, I gave her time to recover and feel comfortable. She then placed her feet on the foot bar and pushed the mat out with her legs.

"Look! I'm doing it!" she exclaimed.

"You are doing it! What do you think?" I asked.

"I love it! Oh, this is nice! My mom is going to be so proud!"

She completed ten repetitions. I gave her time to recover once more, then I reminded her how she needed to be careful getting up. Again, it took us a few tries, but in the end she was successful! She used her strength. She stayed focused and in control, and when she got frustrated she didn't give up.

So this week's accomplishment marks the beginning of a new chapter for Briana. As her strength and focus continue to increase, I will continue to introduce new and more challenging exercises. I am confident that will she achieve her weightloss goal of 50 pounds. Even more than that, I know that she will be stronger, more agile and coordinated when the year ends.

Week 15

If I were to pick one word for Briana this week, it would be "consistent." She continues to ahcieve steady weightloss, losing an average of one and a half pounds each week. When she weighed in on Tuesday, she was down another three pounds. Briana's current weight is 204 pounds, a total weightloss of 23 pounds! If she continues at this pace, she will be half way to her weightloss goal of 50 pounds in just three more weeks!

After this week's weigh-in, Briana began her warm up on the treadmill. Now that I don't have to stand by her side and hold her back and cheer her on to keep her going, I am able to sit where she can see me and have conversations with her. Rather than leading the conversations, I like to wait and see what is on Briana's mind. This week, she was very interested in talking about food choices.

"We are having a potluck at my program tomorrow," she started.

"A potluck?" I asked.

"Yes, and I was wondering if I could take some applesauce as my snack."

"Well, what kinds of foods are other people bringing?" I asked.

"Oh, I don't know. Probably treats and cookies and stuff like that. I won't eat it. I promise. Can I just take applesauce for myself?"

"So you're asking if you can pack applesauce in your lunch box and eat that at the potluck instead of eating unhealthy foods?" I confirmed.

"Yes. Would that be alright with you? I just wanted to ask," she said.

"Briana, I think that is a fabulous idea! You can definitely have applesauce as a snack at the potluck. Thank you for checking," I replied.

Smiling, Briana said "Yep! Now I'm done. Come press stop."

And she was done. She had reached ten minutes and 12 seconds on the treadmill. I pushed stop, helped her off the treadmill, gave her some water and let her recover before we started the next segment of exercises.

As we began her Pilates exercises, I let Briana know how proud I was of her for thinking ahead. Making healthy food choices is not always easy. I have come to realize that it is especially difficult for Briana. It seems that she is always celebrating something at her program. They have parties quite often and have treats even more often. When she refuses, they still serve her. She eats what she is given then feels guilty and tells me about it when I see her. I feel proud that she is already thinking ahead and making a plan for the potluck. Many people could benefit from following her example. I tell her throughout the workout that I am so impressed and so proud of her.

In addition to taking a major leap forward with food choices, Briana also had a big achievement in her Pilates work this week. She has been working on an exercise called arm circles. In this exercise, Briana lies on her back and puts her hands in two seperate straps. The straps are attached to springs. When she pushes the straps down toward her hips, the springs add resistance and make the movement more challenging. Being able to push into the springs requires strength and concentration.

In arm circles, the goal is to circle the arms through the air, push into the springs toward the hips, then return to the starting position with control. Briana has successfully made the circling motion using her hands rather than her arms. This week, for the first time, she was able to make the circle with her arms and actually push into the springs! Needless to say, when I called attention to her achievement, she just beamed. She repeated the movement over and over again, delighting in her newly discovered ability and proving that consistency really does pay off.

Week 14

As usual, Briana arrives in a great mood. She is happy to see me and gives me a hug. As we head downstairs, I comment on how she is practically taking the stairs all by herself now. I ask her if she remembers how much I used to help her on the stairs and she says, "Yep!"

Once we get downstairs, she knows exactly what to do. Today she says, "I'm going to do the treadmill all by myself."

"Okay, Briana, do you want me to help you get started?"

"Nope. I'm going to do it all by myself. You go do something, and I will surprise you."

I couldn't help but feel apprehensive and excited at the same time. This would be a huge accomplishment for Briana. She always gets a little upset when the treadmill first starts up because it goes a bit fast then slows down. She always wants to make sure that I'm there to hold her back, and she always tells me how much she hates it when it goes fast. Once it steadies out, she is fine and is able to continue on her own. So for her to press start and get going completely on her own, she would be addressing a fear. I want this for her, but I also want to make sure she stays safe. What if she falls? What if she gets hurt? This would set us back and create more fear for her.

I realize that I am worried for no good reason. Briana has never showed signs of falling off the treadmill. She has never come anywhere close to stumbling. Today, coming down the stairs, she showed how much her balance has improved. She is moving around easily and independently. So, I decide to have faith. I trust that she will be okay.

I walk to the other side of the room and pretend to do some computer work. She gets onto the treadmill easily. She holds onto the rails. Aloud, she gives herself some encouragement "You can do this." She takes one hand off the rail, presses 1 then start. (She has watched me do this dozens of times, so I knew she would know how to start it). She holds on tight and she is fine, perfectly fine! I breathe a sigh of relief, wait about two minutes, then go over to talk to her. She is happy and chatty during her ten minute warm up, so I assume the rest of the workout can only go uphill.

At the fifteen minute mark, Briana's attitude takes a u-turn. She becomes more than agitated. She seems angry. She snaps at me. She tells me to leave her alone. She says she wants to go home. She stops and says I can't make her do anything. I say, "Briana, you are right. I can't make you do anything you don't want to do. But I know you want to do this, so I will just sit here and wait until you are ready."

"No. Don't do that. Take me home this minute." And she sits down on the mat, crosses her arms firmly and looks the other way. I sit near her and stare at the floor. I realize that we are now in a stand-off. Luckily, God has blessed me with tremendous patience. So, I sit and wait while Briana talks aloud "I'm not doing it. Yes, you are. No, I'm not." She has this conversation several times with herself.

When I least expect it, she jumps up and picks up where she left off. When she completes the set, I compliment her. "Just leave me alone," she says and plops herself down on the bench again.

"Okay," I say. "You know what comes next. You can get started when you're ready."

"Just leave me alone. Just take me home this minute," she argues.

"Briana, your mom will be here at the end of your workout. I am not taking you home. You are here to work. Why are you so upset all of the sudden?"

"I don't know. I just want to go home."

Well, she didn't go home, and she did get up and finish her workout. By the time she reached the final exercise, her mood was great again. By the time she was on the treadmill for her ten minute ending, she was chatty again. I am still unsure what set her off. I wonder if possibly the huge accomplishment she had at the beginning of her workout (getting started on the treadmill all by herself) zapped her energy? I will watch to see if this is a pattern.

Perhaps on days when Briana achieves a milestone or makes big progress, I need to tone everything else down. I will certainly be as sensitive as I can to make sure she continues to succeed. For now, I'm simply grateful that we have made it through this day. She tells me to wait while she goes upstairs. By the time I go up, she is out the door and halfway to the car. I wave at her mom and say "Goodbye, Briana. You did great today. I will see you tomorrow."

Week 13

Tuesday was Weigh Day. Since we had passed our three month mark, I also wanted to take new measurements. Briana was nervous and excited. She wanted to get on the scale all by herself, so I stood back and gave her some space. There isn't much for me to say here. The results speak for themselves:

Weight
Week 1= 227 lbs
Week 2= 207 lbs
Total loss= 20 lbs

Waist
Week 1= 48.25"
Week 2= 45"
Total loss= 3.25"

Left Arm
Week 1= 12.25"
Week 2= 13"
Total gain= .75"

Right Arm
Week 1= 12.75"
Week 2= 14"
Total gain= 1.25"

Left thigh
Week 1= 26"
Week 2= 24.75"
Total loss= 1.25"

Right thigh
Week 1= 26.75"
Week 2= 25.5"
Total loss= 1.25"

Neck
Week 1= 20"
Week 2= 18.5"
Total loss= 1.5"

I was stunned and amazed with her results. Briana was beside herself with excitement. She called her day program and her mom immediately to share the news then said, "okay, let's do it!"

We got to work. We worked hard. Her enthusiasm came and went. She got frustrated when I pushed her. She told me to leave her alone. She quit then started up again as soon as her discomfort passed. She gave me high fives then refused when she was unhappy. She broke a sweat and cheered herself on. She asked how she was doing, and was happy with my approval.

This is now our pattern. This is now our rhythm. And I love it.

Week 12

On the days she sees me, Briana attends a day program for adults with special needs. They teach her life skills and job skills so that she can have a functioning role in society. They also plan outings and activities to expose her to things she may not get to do otherwise. Briana has told me about trips to the museum, the capitol building, and the planetarium. She has also told me about trips to the mall, jobs she gets to do like answering the phone and vacuuming, and parties they have had. Briana loves her day program, and I am grateful to them for being able to drop her off three times a week for her session. If it weren't for this service, I'm not sure that she would be able to come as often.

Normally, Briana arrives at least ten minutes before her session. I sit near the window so I can see her coming. I like to walk out to greet her and thank her driver for bringing her. So on Wednesday, when the clock reads 2:30 and there is still no sign of Briana, I begin to worry. After calling her mom to let her know that Briana has not been dropped off, she assures me that they are on their way. As it turns out, they had car trouble and had to switch to another vehicle. So, Briana arrives 15 minutes late and we have less than 45 minutes to workout by the time we get downstairs.

The good news is that Briana is eager to get to work. She remembers that we are starting with a ten minute warm up on the treadmill. She also remembers that we are supposed to end with another ten minutes on the treadmill for a total of twenty minutes. I tell her that she is right, but I remind her that we are short on time and will probably have to skip the second ten minutes. Although she seems disappointed, she understands. When I tell her that we will definitely do it on Friday, her spirits lift and she is ready to work.

Even though it is short, Brana has an amazing workout. She takes little rest and does everything I ask of her. She has a few moments of agitation. I now take this as a sign that she is working hard and feeling uncomfortable, just like any other person going through a challenging workout. I know I can still push her a bit even when she is agitated. I just can't push too hard or she will refuse to listen to me. As in all things there is a delicate balance, and we have definitely found our groove.

On Friday, Briana arrives 15 minutes early. I take advantage of the extra time and get her started right away. She gets on the treadmill, sets her speed, presses start, and gets going ALL BY HERSELF! This is a tremendous accomplishment for her. I think back to her first day on the treadmill when she was so scared and could barely get through one minute with me standing by her side, holding her back tightly and letting her know that she would be okay. I feel so proud of her confidence and independence and I tell her so.

Briana proceeds to do her ten minute warm up without my assistance. When she finishes, I press "stop" and give her water. "Wow!" she says. "How did I do?"

"You did great! I am so proud of you! How do you feel?"

"Good." she says with a satisfied smile on her face.

That smile comes and goes through the rest of the workout. She smiles less when she gets tired or when her muscles are sore. She smiles more when it is time to move on to something new. And she especially smiles when it is finally time to do her second ten minutes on the treadmill. This is a first for her and her longest time on the treadmill yet. She wants to do it all by herself and "surprise" me. I agree reluctantly. I want to honor her independence, but I'm not sure how her stamina will hold up after the strenuous workout we have done. I sit on the couch and pretend to busy myself with a notepad and pen. I keep a close eye on her from the corner of my eye. I smile as she coaches herself: "You got this. Come on. You can do it," she says aloud. And she does.

She calls to me when the time hits twenty minutes. By the time I get to her side and press stop, she has done a total of 20 minutes and 14 seconds. Her face is pink, and she is sweaty, and she is so happy with herself! "I've never done this before! My mom is going to be so proud".

I know she is right. Her mom will be proud, but having seen it with my own eyes, no one can be prouder than me.

Weeks 8-11

It has been three weeks since my last post. Briana and I are coming up on our 12th week of work together. So much has happened over the past few weeks: Briana has had two weigh-ins, increased her distance on the treadmill, and gotten much stronger.

I weighed Briana in week eight and again in week ten. She lost three pounds in week eight and another two pounds in week ten. As of this posting, Briana weighs 210 pounds. She has lost a total of 17 pounds in 10 weeks! As many of you can imagine, Briana was thrilled with her progress at both weigh-ins. She immediately made a phone call to share the news with the people from her day program. The positive news gave her inspiration to work even harder and she seemed less grouchy when I pushed her.

The last time I updated Briana's progress on the treadmill, she was up to nine minutes. As of week ten, Briana had increased her time to 19 minutes! She has built a lot of stamina here. Although most days she goes through moments of agitation, she has become her best cheerleader. At this point, she likes me to stay next to her for half the time then finish the second half on her own. I stay close by to make sure she is okay, but I am trying to honor her independence and give her space to feel successful. I am so proud of her progress and her determination. When I see her this week, she will finally meet her goal of twenty minutes on the treadmill!

Briana's strength has increased exponentially in the last few weeks. I am amazed at how much she can do before she gets tired and needs to rest. We are working in true intervals - bringing her heart rate up with strength and cardio, then allowing a brief recovery before starting another set. She is finally getting hot and sweaty during her workout and does not seem to be bothered too much by it!

Now that we are concluding our first three months of training, I am looking forward to our next phase together. My plan is to break up the twenty minutes on the treadmill into two ten minute segments. She will begin her workout with a ten minute warm up on the treadmill. From there, she will do her Pilates exercises on the tower, followed by the intervals of cardio and strength training. She will end with a few more Pilates exercises on the tower followed by another ten minutes on the treadmill and stretching. I will increase the number of sets of each strength exercise to two sets and then increase the weights from five pounds to eight.

With the holidays behind me and things back to "normal," I look forward to posting weekly updates. I hope you will all continue to follow and share the blog with friends and family! I can't wait to see what the future holds for Briana!