The SRC strives to provide all users with the programs, tools and atmosphere necessary to successfully reach personal fitness goals.

This page is devoted to sharing stories from SRC users of who have worked hard to reach their own goals, improve their lifestyle and fitness level, and who continue to be an inspiration to others.

SRC Staff Shape Up

This Fall SRC professional and student staff members are participating in the SRC Fall Shape Up and are blogging about their experience! Please follow Sonia, Sadat, Tara, Daryl, Amy and Wesley on their journeys to get fit!

http://srcsuccessstories.blogspot.com/

Story # 1 - Michael DiGirolamo

How much weight have you lost? How long did it take?
All in all I have lost a little over 85 pounds.  I began focusing on healthy eating and getting plenty of exercise in February 2008…By November 2008 I had lost more than 75 pounds. Since then I have focused on maintaining a healthy weight.

What made you start exercising?
The reason I started exercising actually had to do with a ‘bet’ so to speak.  I bet myself and one of my friends that within six months I would be able to pass the United States Air Force Physical Fitness Assessment.  The test consists of as many sit-ups as you can do in a minute, as many push-ups as you can do in a minute, how long it takes you to run a mile and a half, your weight and a measurement of your waist.  All of these items combined create a composite score that must be over 75 in order to pass.

What programs did/do you participate in at the SRC?
To help me achieve my fitness goal I started with a small group of friends and joined a “Commit To Get Fit” session in spring 2008, even though the course only met two times per week on several occasions a few of us would meet up on the weekends and work out on our own to impress our trainer with our progress.  By summer time I knew that I needed to focus more than ever and I joined the “Summer Shape Up” program.  WOW!  Is all that I can say, working out four times a week with a trainer was a truly amazing experience and he changed things up so every weekend all of us in that cohort had a feeling of pain…But it was the good kind!  In the fall of 2008 I signed up for the “60 Class Fitness Challenge” to change up my work out routine.  I had never really attended any of the “Sun Devil Fit” classes in the past and dismissed them as I didn’t think that the would be a good work out…I was very, very wrong!  Currently I just started the “Summer Shape Up” for 2009.

How did/do you stay motivated to work out?
The reasons that I stayed motivated were due to the fact that I set measureable and attainable goals.  I continued to feel better about myself when I added more push-ups in a minute or shaved seconds off of my 1.5 mile run time.  There was always this feeling of internal competition that pushed me to work harder than ever before. Additionally, it was great when the trainers that had worked with me commented on my progress or even the “Sun Devil Fit” instructors would take time either before or after to comment on how I have improved physically. Those words of encouragement were huge motivating factors.

How has your life changed?
My life has change drastically, I feel [and look] like a new person!  I am going to try and say this without sounding like an infomercial, but I am in the best shape of my life.  By losing weight they healthy way I have been able to accomplish and experience numerous things.  It has even led me to a new career field.  I was selected to attend Officer Training School with the United States Air Force and in a few months I will commission as a Second Lieutenant, something that would have never been possible had I not made a decision to change my life.

What challenges do you continue to face?
One of my biggest challenges is working out on my own.  I am fine going to classes, but when I attempt to workout on my own I never push myself as hard.  So even though I know what I need to be doing I need to stay accountable to myself rather than relying on someone else being there to push me. 

What advice would you give to someone who is just getting started in a work out program?
The best advice that I would give to someone just starting out would be to start out slow but consistent.  If you jump in going to hard at first you will get discouraged, want to quit and probably will.  Additionally, maintain a healthy diet when you are utilizing the SRC.  Do not starve yourself you will not get any results and quicker that way…and on the other hand just because you worked out that does not mean you should eat a pint of Ben & Jerry’s immediately afterwards or chug that extra large 44oz ice cold Coca~Cola Classic.  What I found is that my diet was harder to regulate than actually working out, and my now healthy diet contributed to my success…With that being said drink lots and lots of water.  It is the best thing to stay hydrated and also what I found was that when I felt hungry it actually just meant I needed to drink water.

What is your ultimate fitness goal?
Ultimately I would love to run a marathon just once.  I was the kid in high school that could not even run a mile, so that would be a huge a accomplishment for me.  Additionally, I just want to live a healthy lifestyle and maintain the weight I am at and no go back to being the “person” that I used to be.