Letter to David Gilks
Shannon Baldwin
So how did I start this amazing journey? I started with David Gilks from Core Essentials. David started working with me in late fall of 2005. David went through my eating plan I did for about a month and set up a fitness routine that met needs tailored to me. My aim at this point was to be able to wear a bikini top and shorts in the Dominican Republic in December 2005. Guess what? I was able to wear a bikini top and some shorts and to be able to walk around and feel comfortable with my body and feel really good about those changes. This was the start of a new me.
I have battled my weight all my life right from childhood. Doing many diets my weight would go down but back, but a lot heavier. At that time of dieting I restricted a lot of my food intake and exercised vigorously 3 times a day. What happened there I lost a lot of my lean body mass and my weight dropped, but I still had considerable allotment of fat on my body. This experience happened just before I got married in 1992.
I started to really think of working towards some fitness courses. This would help maintain my weight and keep myself active. That journey began and is still on-going. I had this philosophy or "Vision" if I could encourage, motivate and show someone at this type of build or heavier you can do this. Working really hard and giving yourself these goals, and this is possible for anybody. The results can be truly amazing!
I want to be out there for all the women. Being a person with this structure/build who is heavier, you can do this. There is so much support and encouragement when attempting this amazing goal. But all these goals are done in small baby steps. When you get closer to this goal it will blow your mind away and that this is possible no matter what your body type is.
My belief system is to believe in yourself that you can do this. You have so much strength to keep going to fulfill your "Dream"!
How did I start my journey? I was asked by David Gilks of Core Essentials if I had any long-terms goals. I have had one that I was not sure if I was able to do it with all the unsuccess I have had from the past. I thought I would I take a shot, what do I have to loose? So my goal was competing in a fitness competition doing the "Figures". The other part is to have this done before I turn 40 next year before July 1st.
So this began on Jan 9/06. The new journey began for me. This consisted of a new eating plan. The first part of the eating plan was very hard. So many different emotions, being tired and moody.
There was so much support from David at Core Essentials. Very good in helping with your anxiety with this new regime. He was able to help and explain why this was happening. Always made sure you understood "why". I find David very knowledgeable, easy to talk to and so very comfortable. He is always there when you need encouragement and a lift to get through it.
When I finally came back at the end of February this experience was so amazing. I walked in and David was so amazed as well as his staff. His first comment was "you lost your ass!" Other comments were, "you come in now walking tall, have a big smile, and look very happy." I'm not afraid to show my tummy!
I am showing a lot more of my body and wearing tighter clothing... feel very good about myself and I'm liking my body and the changes it is going through.
Other positive encouragement from Core Essentials is getting these hugs on how amazed they are with my changes. Lots of wonderful words like "awesome" and "unbelievable transformation"... I am truly amazed David.
The greatest thing that I am so proud with these changes is my stomach. I have lost a lot of weight around that area, I can't remember the last time I was able to be feel confident in showing it off. I was so proud of this accomplishment. Starting to see muscle development forming and feeling my ribs in my stomach area, I've never felt that.
What this shows me is that I can do this and there are so many more changes to come that I cannot wait.
Now since this has happened so many have noticed the changes. The first thing they ask what "diet" are you on. No diet, just a different eating regime and eating very clean. I am doing this for my long term goal a "Fitness Competition".
So much encouragement and positiveness from whoever I talk to. Yes I have amazed so many and cannot believe these changes. I even get requests of what I should wear in my fitness classes when I teach. Lots of compliments. This makes me feel so good inside. I can't wait for changes...
Other experiences is keeping up with my clothe sizes. I can't seem to keep up with my clothes, they keep coming off. Spending a lot of in alternations. But so amazed how small I am getting...
These are the changes so far... getting a hourglass figure, slimming in my face, muscle definition in the upper body.
Also finding when buying new clothes looking at tighter/clingy and form fitting clothes.
When I started with David in fall I was a 40 in pants and now I'm in a size 34... unbelievable.
I have started to weigh myself a little more and when I do it is getting lighter. Makes me so happy and amazing of these results.
I could not have pursued this without David. He has guided me to something I thought I couldn't do in my lifetime. I was in a mind set of not doing it... David, thank you for this journey!
How have I changed is my attitude is different, happy, I feel I am on top of the world, lots of energy, I can look at my body in the mirror, walk tall and lifted, I feel free and I have no limitations on what I can do....
I know when I walked out of Core Essentials how wonderful I feel and how proud I am of my accomplishments. I know upon leaving David how amazed he was and proud of how I have progressed in those 2 months. I guess I blew him away...
I believe I can get to my final goal next year and I have the faith in myself in meeting my goals.
I know David has so much experience, motivates me to meet my goals and how important this is to me. He encourages and pushes to your limits and always gives lots of positiveness and so much support.
I am so glad that this goal was asked and now I see the possibilities to pursue this dream to a reality. This will be a overwhelming experience.
The ongoing battles I face or can't get a grip on it. Changes are happening to my body all the time. Every week there is a change. However, my mind is still back in the past. It doesn't seem to be connected to my body.
I get lots and lots of compliments and some are hard to absorb. I guess I am second guessing myself... is this real??? I feel I am in a dream!
I try really hard to accept these wonderful compliments. I need to accept these changes and look deep inside that this is me just waiting to emerge into this beautiful and amazing person. Thank-you David.
Shannon Baldwin
