Joy Solliday-Allison Thank goodness, there’s always “tomorrow” for those of us perpetually chasing weight loss.
And sometimes that tomorrow actually arrives.
Nutritionist and fitness trainer Joy Solliday Allison contacted me at Greater Media Newspapers more than a year ago to offer three employees a spot in her January 2012 FOODFIT program in exchange for help in publicizing her new business.
How easy was that decision? Not as easy as one would think. If losing weight were a simple endeavor, it wouldn’t be a multibillion dollar industry. It’s next to impossible to find a popular magazine or tabloid newspaper without an article on weight loss. As a nation, we’re obsessed with finding the magic pill or solution to our fast-food and sedentary lifestyles.
What helped make the decision easier was the program’s motto: “A year from now you’ll wish you had started today.” How true those words turned out to be.
I approached two co-workers, Jean and Peggy, because I thought we should have a cross-section of age brackets and because they were two people who were open about not being happy about the extra pounds they had gained.
Solliday-Allison, who has spent more than 20 years in the fitness/nutrition business, initially gave the three of us eight sessions; most were weekly hour-long consultations at her Ocean Township office. Half of each session involved discussing our food diaries to ascertain their strengths and weaknesses; the remaining time was devoted to exercising under her direction.
The personalized attention was very helpful. In addition to the personal visit, Solliday- Allison phones every client during the week to see how things are going and to offer encouragement. She is always available when needed — by phone, text or email.
“My experience in the weight loss and fitness fields has provided me with many insights into what works and what doesn’t work in the effort to lose weight,” Solliday-Allison said. “But without question, what I find to be the ‘secret’ to success is support. One-on-one coaching, and the accountability it provides, makes all the difference in people’s relative success or failure in their weight-loss efforts.” The three of us found the FOODFIT exercise component very important, especially compared to programs that concentrate only on food.
Essentially, the FOODFIT program encourages eating about every three hours: three meals and three snacks. Solliday-Allison explained that this helps curb cravings and impulse eating, which we all know usually involve high-calorie treats in crinkly bags and frozen cartons.
One of the program’s best tips is to include some protein with every snack, whether it is a few bites of leftover chicken or a few nuts. The protein helps us feel fuller longer and also allows the body to metabolize the calories more efficiently, Solliday-Allison explained.
The program was easy to follow because you can customize your menus.
Solliday-Allison quipped that many of her clients tell her: “I’ll do anything you want, but don’t take my wine away.” So, most of the time, she doesn’t, which helps make the program more palatable. But the caveat remains: Extra calories will only slow weight loss.
Most of her clients report that eliminating refined sugar is an excellent way to curb cravings for sweets.
Peggy, the youngest of us, lost 10 pounds in a just a little more than three weeks. Her favorite part of the FOODFIT program was the workouts. “There is nothing like a one-on-one training session with someone who brings you to where you think the limits of your capabilities are, and then pushes you a few steps further.”
She took what she learned from Solliday- Allison at the weekly session and pushed herself harder the rest of the week when she worked out on her own.
Because we wanted to lose a lot more weight, Jean and I decided to continue with the FOODFIT program.
Jean was most pleased about getting back to a regular exercise program.
“I started exercising right after meeting with Joy, and it felt good to be active again,” she said.
Jean also appreciated having her food intake evaluated, so she knew what to work on the next week.
“I also really like the web calorie counter and the vitamin/mineral analysis provided with the program,” Jean said. “I feel it helps you get a balanced diet.”
Solliday-Allison weighed in on why most people need a support system to accomplish their goals.
“The problem is that most people know what they should be doing and keep convincing themselves that they will start soon,” she said. “And then the start doesn’t happen or doesn’t last. Also, lots of folks feel that they should be able to do it on their own. The thought is: ‘Why pay for a service when I can just do it myself,’ but the truth and reality are that most people cannot do it on their own, and that’s exactly why it doesn’t get done! And why the FOODFIT program works!
“I am passionate about health/wellness and weight loss,” Solliday-Allison added, “and I am truly devoted to all my clients’ success. I am fortunate to work at what I love, so it’s not work at all.”
And so far, this is working. The important thing is to realize that this is not a sprint, but a lifelong process — and there will be some bumps along the way.
Now that my coworkers and I are doing something for ourselves, we couldn’t be prouder of efforts. The scale is finally going in the right direction. I have lost more than 20 pounds and Jean more than 25.
The key was admitting that we couldn’t do it by ourselves. And just like the FOODFIT motto predicted, a year later, we are so glad we started!
Contact Joy Solliday-Allison at FOODFIT Ultimate Weight Management through her website, www.myfoodfit.com; email her at [email protected]; or call 855-MYFOODFIT (693-6633).
Adele Young, now retired, is the former news editor for Greater Media Newspapers