Client Spotlight: Lora

You can always tell when someone is excited for an interview; just waiting for that first question so they can jump right in with both feet. For Lora Hugelmeyer, usually quietly reserved, that was an understatement.

“I’ve done it all before” Lora said with a smile. “Atkins. Weight Watchers. I’ve read all the books, and even went to another nutritionist. I thought I knew the right things to do but for some reason it just wasn’t coming together.”

So after a friend planted the Altheus seed last April, Lora enrolled in the Weight Management Program and has not only lost 22 Lbs and three dress sizes but she seems to have gained a massive perspective shift on her health. “Something clicked” Lora said. “Dr. Karen Dolins (Director of Sports Nutrition at Altheus) did an RMR test (Resting Metabolic Rate) and it turns the whole procedure of getting healthy from a struggle into a mathematical equation. Something I could really understand.” She amazes at the simplicity of it. “Why should I eat something if I don’t really need it? It definitely made it easier for me. And I actually learned about fueling my workouts. It’s so smart how they do this here and how everything is based on the science!”

Easier? Well if easier is 5:30AM workouts in the mornings! Lora dedicated herself to coming three times a week bright and early.Even on those days when it seemed so hard she was able to tough it out because, as she now says, “pain leads to something great!” And for her it truly has.

Sometimes it is easy to forget how important one’s physical being can be to their life, but for Lora it was a refreshing reinforcement of what we do here. “I went from sitting on our sailboat while my husband did all the work to being an active participant. Now I help on the boat! I was not even athletic when I started at Altheus, and now I actually seek out activity! It’s a total shift of perspective.”

Some of that perspective can be attributed to working with Dr. Jonathan Katz, Altheus Sports Psychologist. “I know what I am supposed to do,” said Lora “but Dr. Katz helped me realize that some of my eating was due to unresolved conflicts and showed I was ‘using food’ in certain cases and that looking at my behavior could show a lot. I found that very empowering.”

I asked Lora to sum up her experience at Altheus in a couple of words and it was simple: “Holistic View” she said. “Everyone in the program, from Dr. Dolins to the coaching staff, looks at the whole body to totally improve your life! It is total fitness!”

I thank Lora for her time and for honestly telling me her inspiring story in this spotlight. She has since integrated massage and assisted stretching as she has moved on to the Phase 2 of the Altheus Weight Management Program. Good luck Lora and keep up the fantastic work!