Connie May
Connie May decided to enroll in “A Healthier Weigh at Madonna ProActive” last winter because, “I knew calorie counting wasn’t going to be enough for me. I needed the input of an exercise expert, and I needed support for the psychological challenges of weight loss I had faced as well.”

Connie wasn’t a ProActive member when she read about and decided to register for the 10-week program that provides instruction, resources and exercise, nutrition, medical and wellness coaching support to help participants achieve natural, lasting weight loss. In her early 60s, Connie knew she needed to make lifestyle changes that would stick. She’d tried other programs that focused primarily on diet, allotting each food item a point value. And although she walked three miles two or three times weekly on her own, Connie wasn’t seeing the results she needed for her health.

“When I read about the program, I thought it was a chunk of money, but I also thought if it worked, it would be an answer to my prayers and would absolutely be worth every penny,” Connie added. “The $50 incentive was a good motivation for me,” she explained, describing a perk of the program awarded to every participant who attends each weekly classroom session and also keeps appointments with the support staff, including a personal trainer, holistic nurse, wellness coach and registered dietitian. “I had to drive 16 miles one way, so I knew from the start that I needed to be committed 100 percent.”

Committed she was. Connie reached her goal of losing 20 pounds in 10-weeks and has since gone on to lose 10 more applying what she learned in the program. “I never intended to join a gym, but I feel so good and I enjoy it at ProActive so much that I decided to apply my $50 incentive toward ProActive membership. I can’t imagine needing another place. There’s something for everyone at ProActive,” she said.

Connie never really considered weight training until she started the program, but exercise physiologist Drew Osborne worked with her to explain the benefits, developed a personalized program and ensured that Connie understood how to adjust equipment for safety. Additionally, through the class she learned to improve her cooking habits and spends more time enjoying her food and nourishing her body versus feeding an empty feeling. “In fact, my husband has lost 15 pounds just by the small changes we’ve made at home,” Connie said. “It seems kind of funny to say, but it seems food just has so much more flavor now. I guess when you start to enjoy every bite you savor more.”

Connie explained she would recommend this program to anyone who feels helpless when it comes to weight loss because, “It’s just a perfect program. The balanced focus on nutrition, exercise and the psychological support made it seem possible and not as overwhelming as it had been in the past,”she said. “I had a total hip replacement three years ago, and I have a few aging issues that I thought might have prevented me from achieving my goal, but they haven’t. In fact, I feel stronger because of this program! To be honest, I don’t love going to the gym, but I sure do miss it if I don’t go. I just have so much more energy and I get so much satisfaction knowing that I’m taking care of my body.”

To learn more about A Healthier Weigh at ProActive, contact Sharon Duffy, (402) 486-7787 or sduffy@madonna.org, or register at the ProActive front desk. Madonna ProActive is located at 7111 Stephanie Lane (55th & Pine Lake Road).

Marcia Worth
Marcia Worth and her husband Bruce looked all over Lincoln before choosing to join ProActive. “Other places just didn’t compare,” Marcia said. “I have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and I’ve had three strokes. I’ve also had a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), vision impairment and knee and foot trouble. I needed a place where I felt comfortable. ProActive is that place for me,” Marcia said.

Feeling comfortable meant fitting in and believing the staff had the expertise to answer her questions, both medical and otherwise. “Every single instructor is knowledgeable. They will offer alternate ways for me to perform exercises in group classes and take time after classes to discuss pain concerns. Each instructor brings something unique to ProActive. They teach things in class that translate to our everyday lives, like carrying groceries. Bob (Chase, ProActive group exercise manager) reminds us that it’s important to be fit for the way we live. Before I joined ProActive, I couldn’t balance on my left foot, now I am in a dance class and I can do that and so much more than I ever dreamed!”

Since she joined ProActive, Marcia has even been able to discontinue some of her heart medications because of the improvements she has made. “When you have a place like ProActive to go, it’s as good, or better than any medicine,” Marcia added.

Betty Miller-Kimball
Betty Miller-Kimball has been a member at more than one other Lincoln fitness facility, but eagerly tells people it wasn't until she joined ProActive that she started to feel her arthritis pain was manageable. She has chronic pain in her joints and muscles that has sent her to seek help from experts as far away as Rochester's Mayo Clinic. Today, Betty says, "Throw away your arthritis medicine and stop bothering the doctor, and start coming to ProActive!"

The warm-water aqua track at Madonna ProActive and more specifically, the EZ Moves class designed for chronic pain sufferers, seems to be the best cure for Betty. The water is heated to comfortable temperature like warm bathwater, but the expertise of the instructors at ProActive are what Betty said is the difference. "Julie does the things you need to do for arthritis. She works the muscles and joints all over the body, including the muscles in your fingers, hands, hips and knees. I used to have a major issue with my legs, but now they don’t even swell and I feel great! The only side effect I've experienced since joining Madonna ProActive is good health!"

Linda Parrish
I've never stuck with or was motivated to exercise. For health reasons, I had to get started. Doctor's orders! The Madonna staff, especially Jessica Madsen and Darrin Bryant, DPT, have been very knowledgeable about my needs and have helped make me a healthier person.

I came to Madonna ProActive with various health problems. Blood pressure was one of the more serious. In the year before joining I had had two emergencies for blood pressure. Medicine was not controlling or helping me, and I needed another way. I found Madonna ProActive. I'm happy to say I have passed my first-year anniversary, and my blood pressure is doing great! Plus, my motivation to stick with it has not declined. I workout at ProActive four days a week, and it has given me hope and health. I feel so positive about ProActive and how they have had the answers and support I needed to become healthier. I am looking forward to my second-year anniversary. They are truly my friends!

Brad Kohl
In April 2007, Brad was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), and it changed everything. With GBS, the body's immune system attacks your nerves, typically causing severe weakness and numbness. There is no cure for the disorder, but several treatments can ease symptoms and reduce the duration of the illness.

The benefits Brad discovered using the reverse-current, warm-water aqua track at ProActive proved especially motivating. It was in the water where he felt he made some of his best improvements. "I've done some land therapy, but it doesn't inject me with the life that I feel in the water," Brad said.

Despite living 25 miles away, in Crete, Neb., Brad joined ProActive in March 2008, and shortly after he realized further benefits, he encouraged his wife Margaret to join. For Margaret, ProActive has been a positive way to healthfully deal with stress and anxiety related to Brad's illness. "People are there to get healthier, whether it's after an injury, illness or just to be active in everyday life. I never feel intimidated exercising at ProActive," Brad said. "The employees' dispositions are encouraging. Nobody is ever too busy to stop and talk for a couple-three minutes and share an encouraging word. I can't picture myself stopping my trips here," Brad added.