Here it is again…3 months into the “New Year.”  And what did we “resolve” to do this year? Oh I know, lose 20lbs, commit to workout; get ready for the summer. Haven’t we all had the same conversation with ourselves year in and year out?  Wouldn’t you like to have one year come in without the same old rhetoric of losing weight and getting it together?  So What is it Going to Take? 

For Maureen Lilly all it took in November 2007 was an email from her personal trainer David Farmer of OPT, with the subject line: David Cheating. Prior to the infamous email subject line, Maureen had been working out with David for four years.  Her commitment was such that she worked out during her entire pregnancy and was up the next day after a C-section and back working out six weeks after giving birth! But life has a way of causing us to slide off the mountain into the valley.  Maureen was diagnosed with cervical cancer, which resulted in a partial hysterectomy and then a year later having a tumor removed.
 
At the time of the email Maureen weighed 242lbs and was wearing a size 16.  Working full time as a Curriculum Support Teacher, and feeling like a “married, single mother of a three year old daughter” Maureen was doing it all.  But Maureen said it took two wake-up calls for her to finally commit to truly take care of herself.  “Cancer can shock you to no end; if you don’t take time for yourself, you cheat yourself,” she declares.  You can also cheat those you love the most.  “Even at the tender age of three, it’s important for me to be good role model for my daughter,” explains Maureen.  So she decided she was worth more than the attention she was paying herself.

Maureen and David started Virtual Training shortly after that email.  He would send her an email or text message everyday of what she needed to do; cardio, abs, weight training, etc. And Maureen would get up at 3:45AM to make it happen.  “The hardest part about working out at home alone is that it’s mental and there has to be accountability to yourself,” says Maureen.  But it’s the follow up text messages from David that could read, “Did you do it?” or “Great Job” that let her know accountability was shared between the two of them.  In addition to the Virtual Training at home, Maureen maintained her two days of weight training at OPT and took up running.

Today Maureen has lost 67.5 lbs and weighs in at 174.5 wearing a size 8.  She still gets up at 345AM (ok…4:15AM!) and does her Virtual routine every morning before heading to work.  She still looks for her “Great Job!” text message from David.  She remains committed to her Monday-Wednesday weight training at OPT and she’s been running….and running! The Peachtree, a triathlon, 15K Race, ½ Marathon with a time of 2 hours 12 minutes and a full Marathon time of 5 hours 10min in February of 2009!  Maureen also runs with her daughter.  Nestled in her jogging rider she encourages her to, “Run faster!”  And what better compliment can you receive than when your three year old daughter says, “I want running shoes like Mommy!”  Most importantly, today Maureen is cancer free.  She knew what it would take to get her life back, and she took it; What is it Going to Take for You?