Thursday, June 2, 2011

Spring into SHAPE: You are not alone!


 Through the next  two weeks of the Spring into SHAPE event I will be having some guest posts from various individuals that are involved in making lives around them happy and healthier!  Along with the guesy posts I thought it would be great to interview these fabulous individuals so you can put a face to the name and know they are truly just like you and I!

Meet Sarah!!
1.   What is the name of your company/business and where can it be found?
I am a nutrition and wellness specialist and coach. I work with people, mostly busy moms, to get healthy and lose weight. I have partnered with a top-tier nutritional company, Usana Health Sciences. My website is www.sarahrutka.usana.com.  

2. How long have you been in the health and wellness industry and what brought you into it?
I stumbled into the wellness industry almost five years ago. At the time I had a busy career in public relations but soon discovered that my true passion was in helping people lose weight, get healthy and reach their goals. 
3.  What would you say is your specific area of expertise?
My area of focus is on coaching people through weight loss with low glycemic eating coupled with optimal cellular health.  We tend to focus on exercise and diet, that we sometimes forget the importance of nourishing our cells with the right balance of nutrients and antioxidants. It helps increase our energy, boost metabolism and fend off colds and flus.  As busy moms, isn’t that exactly what we need?!

4.  What would you say you love most about what you do?
Helping people reach their health goals is incredible but part of my job is coaching people to build a business in the wellness industry. I find it so inspiring to work side-by-side with amazing moms who are balancing a career and motherhood. 

5. What can you tell my readers about a typical day in your business?
I’m a mompreneur so I usually jump into my yoga pants, drop the kids off at daycare and start my work day. I’m at my home office most days with my glass of water and chlorophyll, talking to clients or setting up my next coaching program. If my day is too busy for a workout, I’ll pick the kids up from daycare and walk them over to the park for a little playtime. 

6. Tell us a bit about yourself outside of your business.
When I’m not working, it’s all about the kids. Or maybe it’s the other way around…when I’m not with my kids, I’m working! I have two amazing children – Lilly is three years and Joshua is 11 months. They make me laugh, smile, scream and sometimes cry!
I also play in a women’s recreational hockey league, am a fair-weather runner and most recently an avid bootcamper. I have always been active, but I gained a lot of weight after my pregnancies. Through some hard work and perseverance, I lost close to 30 pounds with diet and exercise. I know how it feels to be the frumpy, chubby mom but not have the energy or willpower to do anything about it. Here is my before and after pic: 
7. What advice do you have for someone who is looking at getting into shape, but does not feel there is enough time or can not afford a gym membership?
Exercise is only 20% of the game. It doesn’t matter how much you work out if your diet is poor. If your goal is to lose weight or inches, try eating low glycemic. A low glycemic diet means eating foods that won’t spike your blood sugar and cause your body to store fat. Avoid “white” foods at all costs i.e. baked or mashed potatoes, white rice or paste, white bread or sugar. Chose whole foods and avoid anything processed. The bulk of your carbohydrates should come from nutrient rich fibrous fruits and vegetables.

8. What do you find is the greatest motivational factors for your clients and what advice do you have for someone who is having issues staying motivated in quest to become healthier?
Staying accountable to someone other than yourself is the biggest motivator. As women we hate to disappoint others and we don’t like admitting we’ve failed a task.  When you stay accountable to a coach or a friend, you are more likely to think twice about eating that brownie or skipping the gym.
·         Be selective. Invest in a wellness coach or enlist a friend who isn’t afraid to challenge you.
·         Set Ground Rules. Make it clear how often you are going to check in with your coach and what you are going to report i.e. a food journal or exercise log.
·         Set Goals. Saying “I want to lose weight” doesn’t cut it. How much? By when? Is it a realistic timeframe? Be crystal clear on what you want to accomplish.
·         Try setting an activity goal instead of a weight loss goal. Focusing too much on weight loss can be demotivating. Try “I want to run 10km” or “I want to play on a women’s soccer team”
·         Tell the world. Check your pride at the door and put yourself out there. Tell your family and friends what you are going to accomplish. Post it on Facebook or Twitter. It may be embarrassing but it will be more humiliating if you have to admit at the next family barbeque that you gave up on your health goal.  

9. Is there anything else that you would like us to know?

Every few months, I host a 14 and 30 Day Health Challenge that incorporates low glycemic eating, top notch antioxidants and moderate exercise. It’s a great program for women who want to lose pounds and get healthy. Anyone who has been through the program loses weight, feels lighter and looks and feels amazing. The program includes free online coaching so that those involved have the tools and knowledge to maintain their weight loss even after the program has ended. I’ve interviewed some incredible wellness professionals, including top trainers and nutritionists and incorporated their “secret tips” into video emails that come right to people’s inboxes. It allows moms the flexibility to participate in the program even with their hectic schedule. My next program is starting mid-June, just in time for bathing suit season. I’ve included a short video message that details a bit more about the program and anyone interested can email me at sarahrutka@usana.com. 




Thanks so much Sarah and be sure to stay tuned for her future post!





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