Marsue close to 200 lbs
I love my job! Seeing people realize goals that they only dreamed about is very fulfilling and uplifting for me. Improving ones self-confidence, self-image, and self-esteem is something that is hard to put a price tag on. I met
Marsue 9 months later at 117
Marsue awhile back at my grocery shopping tour. She was kind and quiet, little did I know that she had had a fire lit under her for the past few months. She was on a life transformation and I was fortunate to cross paths with her. She joined Fit Fun Bootcamp www.madisonbootcamps.com and continued her amazing journey. Each session I give her the heaviest weights, and the most progressed form of each exercise and Marsue quietly accepts each challenge I have given her. It has been amazing to see the physical transformation that has occurred in Marsue, some of her friends and previous acquaintences hardly recognize her now. The physical transformation is great, but I am sure if you would ask Marsue, the internal transformation is even more powerful! So here is Marsue’s story in her own words. If you are interested in bootcamps visit www.madisonbootcamps.com
“A little less than a year ago I was 185 pounds, had no energy, had daily backaches and after getting home from work spent many evenings in front of the television. I was miserable and had finally got it through my head that I needed to make a change. I started taking MMA classes at Karate America along with my husband and daughter. It wasn’t easy, but with a combination of setting a goal: ‘Lose weight and eat healthier’, exercise: ‘karate 4 days a week’, eating correctly ‘portion control and cutting out junk food’ and a good support system: ‘my husband and karate instructor’, I was able to loose 40 lbs in about 5 months. At that point I was feeling much better but wanted to take it to the next level. I was introduced to Dustin at a ‘Grocery Store Tour’ that was set up through karate. I started getting his emails, reading his blogs and when the Fit Fun Bootcamps started up in McFarland, found that I was hauling myself out of bed at 5:00 in the morning to work out and actually looking forward to it. It has been 17 weeks since I started the bootcamps. I have lost another 20+ pounds, lost 2 1/2 inches from my waist, have significantly increased my upper body strength, have tons of energy, no backaches and actually like myself again. Bootcamps have allowed me to make new friends and build a great support group while at the same time giving me individual attention , support and motivation . They work you hard, but it is well worth it. At 44, I am in better shape than I have been in since playing collegiate volleyball. I can’t wait to get to my next workout.”
If this story inspired you, please share it with friends and family you know who might have been in Marsue’s situation just less than a year ago.
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I just want to say that I came for my first time to one of Dustin’s bootcamps a few weeks ago. His workout totally rocked and ruled over anything the Marines had to deal out. As a former collegiate track and xc athlete, triathlete, ultrarunner and police academy graduate, I’ve been through some tough training but never experienced anything that could be so hard and so fun at the same time. Now I come to find out that my training partner that day is none other than Marsue the fabulous success story. Marsue: you are my hero! I’m a 48-year-old Mom to a four year old and I want to lose like you did. I can’t do 5am bootcamps like you committed to but I draw inspiration from your story and welcome any encouragement you can throw my way. Thanks for your quiet kindness and strong example!
I have been doing Dustin’s bootcamps with Marsue for the past 3 sessions and all can say is Wow! The transformation is awesome Marsue! You look young and strong, Keep it up!!!
Thank you for sharing this inspiring, real-life story! It is one thing to read about a person in a magazine, but another to read about a person who could easily be your next door neighbor (or yourself). Keep it up Marsue!
Wow, Marsue, what an inspiration and incentive to the
rest of us to go for it and not give up!! You gals have
all helped to get me off my duff and stop the excuses and finally join our beautiful new “Y” this fall! Last
summer when I was in Madison to help Dustin after his
knee surgery, and carrying around his ice chest to your BootCamps, I sat and WATCHED you all work to the max; well, next time I plan to join in and hopefully not embarrass Dustin too much!
So Marsue, it is your example that is speaking loudly and, one by one, Madison is getting healthier!
Thanks for helping to make Dustin look good….and in
response to a blogger the other day, yes, we are very
proud of our son! It’s people like you, Marsue, that
keep him very excited about what he does and has him calling home with your awesome stories of success!!
Hi, thanks for sharing that post. I have just come across your site and have already subscribed. By the way I’ve been blogging about my own weight loss and
rapid weight loss free
I would appreciate it if you could take a look at my site and let me know what you think about it.
Thanks,
Joan
This story is very inspiring!! Thank you for sharing! Dustin – thank you for the emails – they definitely keep me going!
MARSUE! You are awesome!! I am so proud of you! You look great. I miss you guys! Keep up the great work and hopefully I’ll pop in sometime!
Dear Marsue,
I have tears in my eyes, reading of your great accomplishment. I too am very proud of you!
My question to you is, how did you know it was finally your time to lose weight?
I am at 225# and every day of my life I struggle. I have very low self-esteem and I hate the way I look. Why isn’t that enough for me to do something about it? About a month ago I did join a gym to weight train. I got sick and haven’t been back since. Once again, I feel like a failure.
Sherry,
I will let marsue answer that question, but you have to realize or create a picture that where you are and where you are going if you continue in your current lifestyle is more PAINFUL then taking those steps you need to take and the steps marsue took. Right now you are associating more pain with changing, I am guessing the thought of radically changing your eating, activity level, and overall livestyle is more PAINFUL then your current state of being. Vividly imagine a year from now how much better you would feel if you dropped 70 lbs, what could you do then that you couldn’t do now?
Anyways, those are just my thoughts, but I look forward to hearing from Marsue.
Dustin
Dustin,
I have imagined what it would feel like to be at a normal weight. Everything positive! I know that if I could accomplish this, it would be my biggest accomplishment in my life. I know this! My weight and how I feel about myself has truly kept me from living the way I want to live and more. I know that my future like this will be way more painful if I don’t take control. My dad’s side of the family are beyond obese (400-500#s) and thats my direction. I know this! My father died at age 59.
I know that I am only existing, not living.
Thank you for responding Dustin, and I look forward to hearing from Marsue.
Sherry
Sherry –
Thank you for the kind words, I hope I can give you some inspiration to get you started on your journey. And it will be a journey. A little less than a year ago I was very unhappy, just like you. I had a lot of stress in my life and eating was my coping mechanism. I would eat to get instant gratification however shortly after it would turn into frustration and guilt. I was tired all of the time and was quick to snap at my husband and daughter. I knew for a while that something major had to change but I kept on eating fast food breakfast sandwiches and other fast foods for lunch. It wasn’t until I was sitting at one of my daughter’s first Karate lessons (which has mirrors across the entire side of one wall) looked up and didn’t recognize the person that was sitting in my chair. How could that be me? At that moment I knew that I was ready to start changing the way I was living my life. I had to do it first and foremost for myself, but also for my daughter and my marriage. It is not a quick or easy journey, (although many infomercials want to make you think that) but once you get started and begin to see the results of your hard work, it is so worth it. I started with simple things like taking a healthy sack lunch to work instead of going out, and eliminating of all the temptations from the refrigerator and cupboard. Once I started eating healthier, my body didn’t crave the sweets so much and I found that I really wasn’t hungry all the time like I thought I would be. Snacking in between meals on fruits or vegetables helped me out as well. Exercise was the next thing I added. I had been a member at a gym in the past as well, but I had to force myself to go and use the elliptical or machines and it didn’t last very long. This time around I found a class that I enjoyed (it could be a class at a health club, however mine was a boxing class through Karate) and found it much easier to motivate myself to go. Once I started losing some of the weight, the classes got easier and I found myself looking for more challenging workouts. That’s when I got involved with Dustin’s bootcamps, I know I wouldn’t be at the point that I am today without them. I am very fortunate to have crossed paths with Dustin at the time that I did. The other great thing about the classes and bootcamps was meeting people that had the same goals as I did. You don’t have to go through the journey by yourself, there are many other people out there, like myself who are in the same boat and are willing to share their experiences and support your efforts. I am enjoying my life so much more today then I was a year ago. I wish I could tell you what will trigger and when you will have your ‘aha’ moment. It sounds like you have the desire to make it happen, maybe this note will give you that last bit of inspiration you need and I will be reading about your journey next year at this time. Best of luck, you are in my thoughts and I will be rooting for you.
Marsue
Marsue,
Thanks for responding… great words of encouragement to all.
Dustin
Morning Marsue-
Just a thank you, for all the gentle glances and words of encouragement you offer as you teach and guide us through bootcamp. You have “walked the walk” and now offer a trusted source of guidance and inspiration. Since starting Mcfarland bootcamp ~1 month prior I can honestly say I have ran the roller coaster of thinking I can do it, and then I can’t do it-I have left class and vomited, even shed a tear, but I still come back. Classes are scary and intimidating, but you and the other teachers offer the soft buffer that make it tolerable. I would like to think my body will tolerate this challenge, I want to succeed, and plan on doing what I can to make that happen. Your are proof that the program can work if we allow it too, thanks for your inspiration, and more importantly for sticking by your students.
Cheryl
Hi Marsue and Dustin,
From the beginning before I joined bootcamp on the west side of Madison, Marsue you were my inspiration for getting started. This summer I switched to the McFarland bootcamp and I have had the privelege of working out with Marsue. When we have big running days, I feel like I’m going to die, usually being the last to reach the finish line, Marsue has met me on my home stretch, with her high five hand out, “keep it up Sherry, you can do it, your doing great!” The support means everything. Regardless of my size, she has even volunteered to be my partner! I figure between Marsue and Dustin’s unbelievable support and compassion I can’t fail! So now I’m here to say “Keep it up Marsue!” “You look great!” “I’m very proud of you!”
Sherry