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This week the Stronger U Member Spotlight is shining down on Marcia Kelmenson, who has worked with Coach Tanner Baze to lose over 30lbs and maintain that weight loss. Congrats, Marcia!

What’s your name? (First and last names, pretty please)

Marcia Kelmenson

Who was your Coach? 

Tanner Baze

If there was one thing you could say to your Coach, what would it be?

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making me better beyond anything I could have imagined.  

Tell us a little about you. Where are you from? Are you a parent? What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I live in Baltimore, Maryland.  I have two children ages 28 and 26. I enjoy reading and exercising. 

What was the moment that made you decide to join Stronger U?

Two very lean friends became even more lean.  Without doing any research, I joined on a whim.

Is there anyone from the SU community you would like to shout out?

My Coach, Tanner, for continually being there for me in every single step along this journey. Mike, for founding this incredible program and this truly wonderful community of people who are all in this journey together. 

What dieting experience did you have previous to Stronger U? 

Everything. Paleo, Weight Watchers, Zone, South Beach.  I have three full shelves of diet books. I’ve tried just about every single one of them out there, sometimes multiple times over.

What were your eating habits like before joining Stronger U? Did you prep your meals? Did you eat out regularly? Did you think you were already eating healthy and in moderation?

I thought I was a healthy eater.  I cooked most meals and brought my lunch to work.  I quickly realized that despite this, I ate the bulk of my calories after work and in the evening as a way to unwind.  

Why do you think Stronger U worked so well for you compared to other programs or diets?

Having a coach in my back pocket who cared about me and who answered my text messages within 5 minutes was everything. 

What was the biggest challenge or change when you first started with Stronger U?

Weighing myself every day and hating the scale every day despite the downward trends. Because I stepped on the scale every single day I not only started to learn more about how the scale fluctuates on a daily basis, but I learned to keep an eye on the bigger picture and look out for the trends, not any single weigh-in.

What was something you regularly ate while on Stronger U that people wouldn’t expect you to eat on a diet?

Bread every day for lunch (with protein of course)

What does your typical week of eating look like? How many days a week do you meal prep? Do you have certain meals you make most often?

I mostly eat the same foods.  I keep all meals VERY simple.  Protein and veggies. I bulk prep and rotate between the same proteins, chicken, tuna, salmon. I eat the same breakfast and lunch or rotate between two favorites.  I don’t get bored eating the same foods. 

If you exercise or train for a sport, did Stronger U have any impact on your training? Or did Stronger U have an impact on your decision to start exercising or training for a sport?

I have been an exerciser for a long time.  Running , swimming , crossfit. I NEVER got stronger or faster until I lost the weight with Stronger U.  In recently PR’ed in the Annapolis 10 miler and finally got the courage to participate in the Crossfit Open last spring. 

How much weight did you lose with Stronger U?

35 pounds. 

How did your waist measurements change with Stronger U? 

I lost 7 inches. 33 inches down to 26 

What were 3 major non-scale victories you experienced with Stronger U?

Fitting into size 2 and 4 has been unbelievable.  Faster run times. Avoiding and not missing all the junk food that lands at work. 

Outside of the scale, inches, and previously mentioned NSV’s, how has your life improved thanks to your time with Stronger U?

I am better in general beyond anything I could have imagined. This process has been one in which I have changed everything about my mindset. Not only in how I think about food, but in how I think about and treat myself. And THAT is the biggest win.

What are 3 tips, based on your experience, that you’d give to new members of Stronger U to help them see success early on?

Plan tomorrow’s food to avoid decision fatigue.  If there’s something you want, try planning it into your day before anything else so you can see HOW that choice might impact your day. Trust and listen to your coach. They are truly a gift. 

If someone is thinking about joining Stronger U, what advice would you give them before beginning their journey?

Be open-minded to learn a whole new way of life. Take a beginner’s mindset into this and remember that you’re working with professionals. They’re here for you, and they want you to succeed. When you can enlist their help and their guidance, you can truly accomplish anything you want.

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