Editor’s note: This is the second of a two-part series on health and fitness. Late spring and early summer are considered the best time to begin a new diet and exercise plan. This series offers tips on how to get started.



Kiely Hopwood could not be more proud of her recent physical transformation.

Since June 1, 2006, Hopwood has lost a stunning 90 pounds, and even more impressive, she did it by herself — no formal program, no trainer, no help of any kind.

“I just woke up one morning and decided to try to lose weight,” she said. “I’d go to the gym, I’d see people working out and I’d try to mimic them. That worked out pretty good.”

Looking back, however, Hopwood knows her journey would have been easier had she enlisted the help of a personal trainer.

“I felt so stupid when I was working out,” she said. “I was so heavy at the time, I thought no one would want to help me. If I would have had a personal trainer, oh my goodness, it definitely would have been easier.”

After transforming herself, Hopwood recently became a personal trainer to help other people reach their health and fitness goals. She said it started as a joke with one of the owners at the Ultimate Fitness gym where she trained but eventually led to a new career opportunity.

As Hopwood recalled her journey, she said she would advise anyone in need of help to take on a personal trainer, whether they are beginning a new program or trying to take their fitness to a new level.

“Even if they already are fit and they need someone to push them to come to the gym, I can do that,” she said. “Everyone is going to have their off days, and they might need help. Or maybe it’s the complete opposite. If someone is overweight and wanting to tone up and get fit, I can help them, too. Anyone can benefit from a personal trainer. No matter what, it’s about getting results.”

While most people are aware of the basics to begin a new diet and exercise program, plateaus inevitably arise that can be difficult to work through alone. Personal experts like trainers and dietitians can offer valuable tips to help smooth the road toward reaching a goal.

These specialists work one-on-one with clients and offer case-specific advice, something that is generally unavailable with a gym membership alone.

“Every client is different, so we look to see where they are in their life and what kind of change they’re willing to make,” said Angel Woolever, a registered dietitian at Logansport Memorial Hospital. “I try to do things in steps so I don’t throw everything at them at once. You’ve got to do it one step at a time, but some people are just more aware of what they need to do than others.”

Hopwood and Woolever both said the first step when they take on a new client was to do a full evaluation, including taking a person’s weight and measurements. From there, they each look at the client’s history, assess his or her current level and then work to set relevant goals and build a personalized program that will fit within the client’s lifestyle. Both said that short-term, measurable goals are best to help clients recognize their successes.

From there, the interactions vary.

Hopwood said she likes to meet with her clients several times a week to address any problems with the routine, make changes to keep things fresh and offer motivation to reach the goals. Hopwood said she will also meet with clients outside the gym setting to help give them other workout options.

“I have one girl who comes from Peru to work out with me,” she said. “You really do become friends with the clients you train.”

Woolever, on the other hand, sees her clients only about once a month. After addressing things like portion control and eating nutrient-packed foods, Woolever said, she gives clients checklists to keep track of what they are eating, and the rest of the daily and weekly maintenance is up to them.

Both Woolever and Hopwood say they often have clients come to them wanting a fast fix and it can be hard for those clients to understand that lifestyle changes are long, difficult processes. But both also said that the easiest time to change is in the present.

“Anybody who’s ready to make a change can benefit,” said Woolever. “The younger you are, the easier it makes the change. The older you are, the harder it can be, but you should still do it. So often, people wait until there’s something wrong. If you could be proactive and preventative, that would be ideal.”

Carla Knapp can be contacted at (574) 732-5150 or via e-mail at carla.knapp@pharostribune.com