Steve and Dianne Miller, Alpine
When Steve Miller first saw Dianne Whitelock, he wanted to ask her out but thought she was way out of his league. Now, almost 40 years later, they are the best of teammates.
   Steve and Dianne met when Steve was in the University of Utah’s Air Force ROTC and Dianne was in the ROTC’s support group — Angel Flight.
   “I used to watch her walk down the hall and think, ‘Woah, would I love to ask her out!’” Steve says. “I almost asked her to a dance, but chickened out at the last minute.”
   Their paths wouldn’t cross again until 30 years later at an Angel Flight reunion. They say they were too shy to talk much at the reunion, but they started e-mailing each other soon after.
   “You really get to know someone when you’re just writing to each other like we were,” Dianne says. “I really got to know Steve’s heart.”
   Dianne, who is a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, invited Steve to a concert in Fort Worth, Texas, where Steve was working as a programs manager for Rockwell Collins, a leading manufacturer of communication and aviation electronics for government and commercial companies. Steve was not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had never been to a Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert, so he figured getting tickets would be easy. But when he called, they were sold out. After a few desperate attempts, someone turned their ticket in and Steve was able to go.
   “That concert changed my life,” Steve says. “I knew I would join the church and marry Dianne someday.”
   About a week later, Steve flew to Orlando to see another Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert. Afterwards, Dianne left a message on Steve’s phone saying, “Let’s go play!” (Which would become the couple’s motto.) Steve and Dianne spent the next day “playing” together at Disney World. That night, Steve told Dianne he was falling in love with her.
   Within five months, Steve was baptized into the LDS Church, and he and Dianne got married. Steve didn’t think twice about leaving his lucrative job in Forth Worth to join his wife in Alpine.
   “I was given a gift that I never believed I would deserve or ever have,” Steve says. “Sometimes I look at her and say, ‘I married Dianne Whitelock. Can you believe that?’”
   Now, both Steve and Dianne are teachers. Steve is in his fourth year as a science teacher at American Heritage School in Pleasant Grove, and Dianne is in her 17th year as a music teacher at Shelley Elementary in American Fork.
  “Everywhere we go, we’re greeted with an excited ‘Mrs. Miller!’” Steve says. “It’s like being married to the American Fork Chamber of Commerce.”
   One of the best parts of being teachers, Steve and Dianne say, is the time they get to spend together.
   “We wanted the same schedules, so we’re both teachers,” Dianne says. “We get summers off, so we take off.”
   Between trips with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and their own vacations, these adventure-seekers have visited more than 30 states together.
   “We are prone to simply pick up and hit the road when the opportunity arises,” Steve says. “We seldom plan exact routes or make reservations, because we enjoy the spontaneity of heading a different direction because it looks fun.” 
Their all-time favorite vacation spot is the Vandenberg Air Force Base just north of Santa Barbara.
   “There are 32 miles of Air Force coastline, so on that beach, the only footsteps are ours,” Steve says.
   Although Steve and Dianne got married at 55, their love would put plenty of 20-something newlyweds to shame.
“We decided since we took so long to get together, we want to make up for it by spending all the time together we can,” Dianne says. “So we do.”
   And they manage to do that, even with a blended family of 10 children and 18 grandchildren to keep up with.
   “My kids call Steve ‘Dad,’” Dianne says with tear-filled eyes. “Before we were married, I spent 18 years trying to deal with an abusive husband while raising eight children. I didn’t think I’d live through it, and I didn’t care if I did. But love can heal wounds. Now that I’m with Steve, I have my confidence back.”
“The girl I married was very fragile,” Steve says. “My purpose is to heal her, care for her and love her. I jokingly call myself her ‘Prince protector.’”
   One of the ways Steve and Dianne express their love for each other is through love notes they leave on a stuffed monkey on their bed. Steve also likes to surprise Dianne with presents.
“Last year, he bought a car for my birthday,” Dianne says.
    Between the surprises, trips and daily expression of heartfelt love for each other, Steve and Dianne have built a marriage to last. And although Steve still feels like Dianne is out of his league, he tries to win her heart every day.
   “I pretty much ask her to marry me every day,” Steve says. “The answer has always been ‘yes,’ but if she ever says ‘no,’ I’ll know I have to do something about it.”

Mark and Robyn Bretzing, Orem
For Mark and Robyn Bretzing, life’s a dance. Whether it’s dancing the night away at The Dance Club in Orem or holding their own dance party in the kitchen with their four sons, dancing is their all-time favorite family activity. After all, it was dancing that brought them together in the first place.
   Mark and Robyn were introduced by a mutual friend at The Palace — a dance club that used to be on 9th East in Provo. Mark had sworn off girls, and Robyn was almost engaged. But when Mark cut in and asked Robyn to dance, they both felt the chemistry.
   “She had an energy about her,” Mark says. “She had a great smile and bright eyes. It wasn’t hard to have a conversation with her.”
   Robyn was impressed with Mark’s dancing skills and wanted to spend a little more time with him, so she asked for a ride home — secretly knowing she had driven to The Palace herself.
   Had Mark known she was interested, he wouldn’t have felt so discouraged after calling Robyn for the next two days and not getting a call back — especially when he had canceled two dates that weekend in hopes of taking her out.
   But on the third day, the call back finally came. Although Robyn’s invitation to attend a 7 a.m. LDS sacrament meeting at the Utah State Hospital in Provo was not what he expected to be their first official date, he obliged. He knew better than to pass up a date — any kind of date — with a girl like Robyn.
And despite being proposed to by three different men while she was dating Mark, Robyn knew a good thing when she saw it.
   After dates and dancing, Mark and Robyn tied the knot. And even though they’ve been married for 18 years, they feel like they met just yesterday.
   “When we look at where we were then and where we are now, it’s 10 times better,” Mark says. “Our love grows stronger every year.”
Their secret?
Always doing what makes the other person happy. For Mark, that means making sure Robyn gets her 15 minutes of mandatory “snuggle time” every day. For Robyn, it means giving Mark his “Mark time.”  
   “I love to take her out,” Mark says. “We have date night every week — sometimes twice a week. I love to do things with just us, even if it’s as simple as dinner and a movie.”
   By night, Mark is a sergeant with the Salt Lake City International Airport Police Department. But by day, he can be found happily doing the laundry, the dishes or baking bread for the neighbors while Robyn works as the physical education specialist for Alpine School District and a physical education teacher at Timpanogos High School.
Robyn has received numerous Teacher of the Year awards and was runner up for the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AHPERD) National Teacher of the Year for drastically improving physical education curriculum.
But her achievements don’t stop there. After playing soccer for BYU and the U.S. National Women’s Soccer Team, Robyn founded the Celtic Storm, Utah Valley’s premiere soccer club for girls, and was the first woman to be inducted into the Utah Soccer Hall of Fame.
   But Robyn knows none of those things would have been possible without Mark’s help.
   “I’ve always been pulled a lot of directions with teaching and coaching,” Robyn says. “And Mark has never complained about being home or helping when I’m busy.”
   When they’re not busy, Mark and Robyn love to go snowboarding, skiing, wakeboarding, wave running or camping as a family. But Robyn hasn’t always been a fan of outdoor sports.
  “My dad is afraid of water,” Robyn says. “All the outdoors stuff was a fear for me. I had to learn to like what he did.”
   And Mark has had to do some compromising of his own.
   “I wasn’t used to the commitment involved with soccer,” Mark says. “I played in junior high but wasn’t that into it. Now I am fully indoctrinated into soccer — I feel like I could coach.”
   But what they won’t compromise is putting each other first.
   “We always stay involved in each other’s lives,” Robyn says. “We’ve supported each other in whatever we’ve done. Too many times you get involved in things that are separate from each other.” 
   So when Mark and Robyn were given the advice to remember what brought them together as newlyweds, they looked at each other and said, “Dancing.” 
   And even though they don’t claim to have a perfect marriage, their goal to stay involved in each other’s lives has kept their marriage strong.
   “We’re not perfect,” Mark says. “What I do know is I can’t imagine what life would be like without Robyn, so we’ll work through whatever comes at us because it’s worth it. We have four beautiful boys, and we’re trying to set an example for them to follow. Robyn’s parents have been married for more than 50 years, and we hope when our kids grow up, they’ll follow our example and work on their marriages.”

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Katie Kitchen · SPRINGVILLE
Lost 34 pounds, 7 waistline inches Age 16

Biggest challenge Keeping focused on my eating habits. It is easy to slip back to what I was doing before.
Biggest success My family hikes Mt. Timpanogos each year, and I’ve always hated it. My mom kept saying I would notice a difference this year because I was lighter and stronger. She was right! Not only did we make it to the summit in Kitchen family record time — I carried my pack the entire way! My dad kept offering to carry it at the hard parts near the end, but I was determined to carry myself and my pack to the summit — and I did!
Habits I’ve changed I pay closer attention to portion size, and I don’t eat all day long. I also make a conscious effort to drink lots of water every day — at least 64 ounces. I do some form of exercise every day but Sunday.
Goals I want to lose another 20 to 25 pounds before the end of the challenge, which would be at least one or two pant sizes. But my biggest goal goes past the end of the fitness challenge. My brother comes home from a mission next June and I want to have lost a total of 80 pounds.
Advice to others Keep a positive attitude! You didn’t put the weight on overnight, and no matter how badly you want it, it’s not going to come off overnight. Have a good support system around you, and make sure you are doing some form of exercise every day.

Mike West · Lehi
Lost 37 pounds, 14.2% body fat
Starting weight 230 pounds Current weight 193 pounds

Biggest Challenge Between work, family, personal things, etc., making time for an hour or more to work out is tough. The answer is to make it a priority and get my tail out of bed!
Biggest Success I really feel like I have made a major turn and will never go back to how I was. I love how I feel and the energy I have. I have done things differently this time and feel that it’s sustainable for the long term.
Habits I’ve changed My eating and exercise habits have done a complete 180. I went from being completely sedentary to fully active on a daily basis. I went from filling my body with high-calorie fatty garbage to eating good, solid, healthy foods. I don’t crave the “junk” anymore and when I do step off the edge, my body lets me know.
Advice to others First, make the sacrifice and do it — you will never regret it! Second, don’t starve yourself. Eat the right foods and eat them often.
Goals I want to get down to 175 pounds while at the same time strengthening my cardiovascular endurance. It’s not going to be easy, but I think I can hit it.

Amy Weiland · Cedar hills
Lost 34 pounds, 15.75 inches overall
Starting weight 217 pounds Current weight 183 pounds

Biggest challenge Finding balance. I’ve tried to be everything to everyone, every day — wife, mom, sister, daughter, friend, worker, philanthropist, athlete. It’s just not possible. Life is about choices and making the best ones each day.
Biggest success Finding out I am stronger than I thought I was. Physically, I can run now for miles and miles and love it. Emotionally, I can take life, which is messy, and put things in the proper perspective without diving to the bottom of Ben & Jerry’s “American Dream.”
Goals I ran the Top of Utah Half Marathon at the end of August, and I am continually working to increase my speed and run a relay race in Las Vegas in October. Of course, to be smokin’ hot is still on the list!
Advice to others There is nothing I can say to someone who is not willing to put in the work. And it is work. Not just the physical aspect, but the emotional conversations you have to have with yourself when you finally tell the truth. When that happens, find a support system and run with it!

Roylence Croft · lindon
Lost 20 pounds, 7.5 waistline inches
Starting Weight 245
Current Weight 225

Kevin Croft · Lindon
Lost 10 pounds, 6.75 waistline inches
Starting Weight 208
Current Weight 198

Biggest challenge The exercise is great. John has been with us every step of the way. Our challenge lies in consistency with eating right. If I (Roylence) stick to our nutrition plan for four or five days I can lose weight. But if I go off of eating correctly for six or seven days, I have to lose the same weight I just lost, plus more. It’s a vicious cycle. That has been the most discouraging thing.
Habits we’ve changed For the past few years, Kevin and I have been walkers, but now that we’re working with John, he is constantly mixing things up every few weeks — from treadmills and elliptical machines to weight training and bands, he keeps our workouts fun. Our eating habits have completely changed! We mainly eat protein, fruits and veggies. We only have carbohydrates up to two hours after we work out, so only at breakfast. Eating very few carbs is by far the biggest change for us. Our No. 1 food is spinach protein drinks and fruit in the blender. I know it doesn’t sound very good and it looks even worse, but it is delicious. That’s a big change for us!

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Katie Kitchen · SPRINGVILLE
Lost 33 pounds, 7 waistline inches Age 16

I can’t believe we’re at the halfway point already! I am excited to report on my progress.

Late April and early May were rough for me. I lost and gained the same five to seven pounds for almost a whole month. It was frustrating to be working hard and see little results on the scale and sometimes even a weight gain. I knew I was continuing to get stronger, but the scales were frustrating.

Kami has been so great! We have developed a great friendship, and she continues to motivate me and keep me focused.

Since the end of school, I have started to see a steady loss — back to the usual one-and-a-half to two pounds a week.

My mom and I run a lot together, and she challenged me to see how far I could run without stopping. (Our usual four-mile route is a run/walk combination.) At the beginning of the year, I couldn’t run a block, but the other day I ran a whole mile without stopping! Now I push a little further each time.

Each summer, our family hikes Mount Timpanogos. It is an all day adventure climbing to the 12,000-foot summit and back. It has always been difficult for me, but this year I will be much stronger. I am dedicated to working hard this summer and will go back to my senior year in high school as a lean, mean fighting machine!

Mike West · LEHI
Lost 31 pounds, 11.5% body fat
Starting Weight 230 pounds
Current Weight 199 pounds

These past few months have been phenomenal. For the first time in more than nine years, I am below 200 pounds! Because of the weight loss, I have been able to reengage in former hobbies that I have been unmotivated to do because of the extra 30 plus pounds I was carrying around. Mountain biking, hiking, running and going to the gym have all been enjoyable again and my body has literally been craving the activity. I even joined an indoor soccer team.

I attribute this round of weight loss to two things: strict, smart dieting and regular activity at the gym or elsewhere. The activity has been easy because I am just doing the things that I love to do.

The biggest shift with diet from past weight loss failures is that I am actually eating a ton of food and not starving myself. I am just eating the right foods on a more frequent basis. It’s manageable, sustainable and has made a world of difference.

Thank you to all those who have been helping and supporting me with this endeavor. I hope you all know how much I appreciate it. Next stop: 190 and below!

Amy Weiland · CEDAR HILLS
Lost 31 pounds, 7.7% body fat
Starting Weight 217 pounds
Current Weight 186 pounds

Many fairy tales have large stone walls protecting a fair princess.

“You work hard, my dear,” the wall says to the fair maiden. “You deserve to sleep in this morning and not go to the gym.”

She replies with a thoughtful “Yes, wall — I do work very hard. What a good idea … Zzzzzz … ”

I’ve loved the wall for letting me sleep in and for giving me the excuse to eat comfort food if I’ve had a long day. I’ve also hated the wall, in the past, for making me gain back all the weight I’ve lost (and then some.)

Losing the first 30 pounds through a lifestyle change of correct eating and exercise, I was able to maintain my weight during my latest “dance” with the wall. But 30 pounds is not my goal, so I’ve had to recommit myself and tell the wall to take a hike!

That’s what this princess will be doing this summer!

Roylence Croft · LINDON
Lost 21 pounds, 7 waistline inches
Starting Weight 245
Current Weight 224

Kevin Croft · LINDON
Lost 10 pounds, 6.25 waistline inches
Starting Weight 208
Current Weight 198

Summertime brings vacations and swimming suits. (We will get to those later.) We are so happy to be able to share these fun times with our family.

Kevin has been able to maintain his weight very well. His workouts are always 110 percent. He is getting very strong, and he watches what he eats but can still afford to treat himself once in awhile.

As far as I (Roy) go, I thought I was doing really well. My clothing size is very much on its way down. People have been very complimenting, and life is good! Well, summer hit and it was time to take my daughter Kylee and her friends to Seven Peaks. The swimming suit came on and reality hit — I still have a long way to go!

John is so wonderful to us and helps us every day. Here are two of his nutrition tips that have helped us:
• Even if you know what’s good for you, if you aren’t prepared when it’s time to eat, you’re doomed.
• View each meal or snack as an opportunity to improve your body. Make sure each meal has a good protein source, a good fat source, and a good amount of fruits and veggies.

It’s easy to talk the nutrition talk, the million dollar question is, do you walk the nutrition walk?

We know for a fact that John walks the nutrition walk — and he’s helping us get there, too. Thank you, John!

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Annie Kitchen · SPRINGVILLE
Lost 10 pounds, 1 waistline inch
Starting Weight 215
Current Weight 205

Between changing salons, moving to a new apartment and working two jobs, I have struggled to maintain my workout schedule and nutrition plan.
I work at a high-end, fast-paced salon and I am constantly on the go. Going from one appointment to the next, I am constantly looking for a quick fix and grab whatever is nearby. I am getting to the point where my body is shutting down. I am realizing how important it is to take care of my body physically and mentally. I have started packing lunches, and I am trying to get to bed earlier. Since I have started doing that, I have noticed a big increase in my energy levels. I plan to keep making progress and become my best self!

Katie Kitchen · Springville
Lost 22 pounds, 5 waistline inches
Age 16

I’m having great success! I am right on schedule, losing 1.5 pounds per week. I have lost 22 pounds and almost two pant sizes. I can really feel a difference in the way my clothes fit!
My workouts include twice a week with Kami at 5 a.m. The workouts are great, but the 5 a.m. start is a killer! In addition to that, I do a daily 45- to 60-minute cardio workout, which is usually a run/walk combination.
As for my diet, I’ve cut out mayo, butter, candy (for the most part) and sodas. My new favorite treat is sliced strawberries, bananas and apples with fat-free peach yogurt. For me, the hardest part of this challenge is trying to balance my schedule. But since I am seeing results, I am motivated to keep at it!

Mike West · Lehi
Lost 13 pounds, 3 waistline inches
Starting weight  230 pounds
Current weight  217 pounds

The last couple of months have not been without personal challenges. My wife has been hospitalized several times due to a chronic illness, and she’s been sick on and off in between. Consistently hitting the gym and staying focused has been extremely difficult. But this same issue has been my excuse for the past eight years.
I have realized a couple of key things. First, I need to focus on what I can. I haven’t been able to get to the gym consistently to lift weights, but I have been able to focus on my diet and cardio. It’s working well, and I’m happy with the results.
Second, I am going to act upon the things that are important to me. There are always going to be obstacles. If I keep my health and fitness where they are on the priority list right now, nothing will ever change.
I am stoked about the months to come. I feel good and I have a great plan and a phenomenal support system in place. Not only that, but the 36s are starting to fit again. Good stuff!

Amy Weiland · Cedar hills
Lost 29 pounds, 6% body fat
Starting weight  217 pounds
Current weight  188 pounds

I love taking my little guy to the “jumping places” around town. He burns off some energy and I add more points to the “Best Mom Ever” column.
Being young at heart, I have often wanted to frolic in the inflatable jungle with my son, but was always stopped in my tracks by the big octagonal sign posting the dreaded weight limits — dun, dun, dun. To my usual dismay, I was told in inch-high black and white that the world would end (or at least the structure of the dino slide would end) if I were to join in on the fun. So instead, I would take the time to catch up on some reading, politely declining my son’s invitations to “Come jump with me, mom!”
No more! It dawned on me this last go-round that I was indeed under the recommended weight limit and was therefore free to entangle myself in the bouncy neverland that was once out of my chubby-fisted reach.

Roylence Croft · lindon
Lost 23 pounds, 6.5 waistline inches
Starting Weight 245
Current Weight 222

Kevin Croft · Lindon
Lost 9 pounds, 4 waistline inches
Starting Weight 208
Current Weight 199

Spring has sprung, and so has the baseball season. Our two sons are baseball players — Colby plays for Pleasant Grove High, and Gentry plays for the College of Southern Nevada. We have had to make a few eating adjustments as we go to the boys’ games. Instead of hamburgers or hot dogs, you’ll see us with fruit or veggies on double-header days.
John has really worked with us on our goals. Kevin’s goal was to break 200 pounds, and he did! John reminds us that our behavior must match our goals. If I (Roylence) want to lose 75 pounds, then I have to work out five days a week as well as follow the nutrition program John has given us. Another “Johnism” is: “You can’t read or talk your way into a better body. You have to work your way into it.”
Thank you, John, for helping us get closer to our goals. We’ll be hitting home runs in no time.

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Annie Kitchen · PROVO
Lost 4 pounds, 1 waistline inch
Starting Weight 215
Current Weight 211

This has been a challenging two months for me. I started out in January being motivated and determined. The workouts Kami had me do were awesome. Kami and I sat down and set realistic goals and talked about nutrition, and everything was going well until reality set in.

I loved the exercise and it helped me cure the winter blues, but my diet started to go south. I have no excuses — I just made poor choices. I’m now back on track with my diet. I’ve noticed a big increase in my energy level and my body is starting to become firmer. Two months down, 10 to go!

Katie Kitchen · Springville
Lost 10 pounds, 2 waistline inches, Age 16

Success! I’ve lost 10 pounds since we started, and I’m learning a lot from Kami about muscles, calorie intake and general nutrition. I’m getting stronger — I can feel it!

I’ve been able to increase my cardio workouts and I’m making a better effort to watch what I put in my mouth. I wear a bodybug, which keeps track of the calories I burn, even when I’m asleep.

My goal is to lose 1.5 pounds per week, and so far I’m right on schedule. I have a chart where I log my progress, and it’s fun to see that line keep going down. I can do this and I will!

Kami Price · Energy Explosion · 801.602.7057· energyexplosion@gmail.com · www.energyexplosion.biz

KAMI’S FITNESS TIP
Despite what the media would like you to think, weight loss doesn’t just magically happen. You have to work for it.  No quick fixes. It takes time and consistency. It’s 80 percent diet and 20 percent activity. If you justify having dessert because you worked out that day, the harsh reality is that you can’t. Once you have reached your goal and you’re just maintaining, then you can have the dessert. Not before. Otherwise, you will just keep repeating the same vicious cycle of gaining and losing weight.

Mike West · Lehi
Lost 4 pounds, 1 waistline inch
Starting weight  230 pounds      Current weight  226 pounds

The goal over these past couple of months has been to build — so the lifting has been intense! Having been away from the gym for so long, sore muscles and Jell-O legs have definitely been more of the norm than the exception. In spite of it all, it’s been fun getting back on the horse.

I am nowhere near where I want to be . . . yet. One of the challenges I have faced is changing my mindset about getting into shape. I am accustomed to killing myself right out of the gates in both diet and exercise. While I would experience quick dramatic results, I would lose my intensity and fall back into old habits. While working with Luanne, I’ve realized that this is a process, not a singular event. The past two months have been full of hard work, but I have appreciated the stepped approach we have been taking, and feel that it’s the key to staying engaged and making long term changes.

Overall, it’s been a great experience so far and I am looking forward to the next phases. I feel stronger than I have in a long time and it’s allowed me to more fully enjoy what Utah winters have to offer — great snow and great skiing!

LuAnn Van Akin · corefit Personal training and nutrition · 801.792.3184

LUANN’S FITNESS TIP
To curb your cravings, add fiber-rich foods to your diet such as broccoli, almonds, apples and spinach.

Amy Weiland · Cedar hills
Lost 16 pounds, 1.25 inches off waistline
Starting weight  217 pounds      Current weight  201 pounds

I feel like the wicked witch of the west — I’m melting! At first I was really shocked at my progress. In the past, I would work really hard for a few weeks and maybe drop a few pounds, but I’d be right back to where I started in no time. Here’s the difference — this isn’t a diet. This is a lifestyle change.

I eat eight times a day. I exercise four to six times a week. I’m never hungry and I’m never tired. And I found something out about myself — I love to exercise!  I used to think feeling good meant sitting on the couch, exerting only enough energy to dip Oreos in milk. But I’ve realized that the real secret to feeling good is to treat my body to regular exercise and healthy foods.

My first few times at the gym, I had to suck up my intimidation and lift my five pounders with confidence. Now I’m totally secure in what I’m doing and completely comfortable next to a burley guy benching more than I weigh, and I’m amazed at how strong I’m getting.

The biggest challenge for me has been giving up my role as treat maker after every meal and chocolate supplier to friends in need.  But I’m really enjoying being the friend and mom who can go to the mall and be excited about clothes shopping. Here I come, skinny jeans!

DAN WILCOX · total health and fitness · 801.762.6207 · www.thfonline.com · dan.wilcox@thfonline.com

DAN’S FITNESS TIP
A common mistake people make is working out “on the fly” — heading into a workout without a plan of attack or desired outcome. These five tips will help you get more organized and reach your fitness goals.  1. Assess where you are right now. 2. Set smart goals. 3. Develop a plan of attack. 4. Follow your plan to the letter. 5. Measure your results weekly. 6. Make adjustments based on your weekly results.

Roylence Croft · lindon
Lost 13 pounds, 3.5% body fat
Starting Weight 245
Current Weight 232

Kevin Croft · Lindon
Lost 4 pounds, 2 waistline inches
Starting Weight 208
Current Weight 204

The first three weeks, I (Roylence) was doing great with the weight loss. Kevin and I were trying new recipes, new foods and new drinks, but we soon realized that eating healthy on a long term basis was tough, and nothing tasted very good. Rather than eat something I didn’t like, I just stopped eating, and the weight loss came to a screeching halt. I gained three pounds in a couple of days even though I was eating less than 1,000 calories a day. After consulting with John, we learned that we must maintain the right amount of calories in order to effectively lose weight. So our goal for the next few months is to get creative and eat the proper amount of calories.

Everyone has been so supportive. We are very comfortable working out at Gold’s Gym, and John is the greatest trainer ever. I am doing a lot more than I could in January, and Kevin is a working machine. We have never been bored or tired of our workouts — John always has new and exciting things for us to do. We can do this!

JOHN GIBSON · gold’s gym · 801-636-4277 · www.goldsgym.com
FITNESS TIP
A mistake people make is eating too few calories or poor quality calories. To ensure proper nourishment for your weight loss, have a handful of vegetables and a protein with every meal, and fruit with most meals. To learn more about the eating habits I teach my clientele, go to www.doperformance.com.

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Erin Olson has modeling down to a tee. She’s worked in the industry from all of its angles —
including strutting her stuff on the catwalk, styling models for photo shoots and even trying her hand at designing clothes. Now, as founder of ShapeCandy, a girls-only style camp, Erin teaches girls what it takes to be truly beautiful. She’s also director of Pulse Model Management, where Erin finds beautiful people and helps them make it in the modeling world.

Look at a picture of the oh-so fashionable Erin today and you’d never guess she started out as a tomboy. But even though she was wearing sweatshirts and tennis shoes and playing sports as a kid, Erin always dreamed of being a model. Her foster sister, a model, taught Erin how to walk the catwalk by sticking a long piece of tape on the ground. When she was 19, Utah’s Eastman Agency recognized Erin’s potential for modeling and sent her to Italy.

“I couldn’t believe my dream was coming true and that I was actually modeling in Italy,” she says. “It was an amazing experience.”

Erin’s dream was put on hold when she got into a skiing accident.

“It was a disaster. I didn’t think I would ever model again,” she says.

But Erin couldn’t resist trying to get back into it. She independently modeled in Shanghai and Bombay and then became an apprentice designer in Germany for Aldo Franco, head of Sasch Europe (The “Gap” of Europe). She also worked with Luciano Barnetto in Lecce, Italy, where some of the top designers in the world manufacture their clothes.

Even though Erin walked on the hottest catwalks in the fashion world and appeared in magazines and billboards, she knows beauty is not just skin deep.

“When I first started modeling, I tried so hard to be like the models I saw in magazines,” she says. “But then I realized that wasn’t realistic. I was more than just a face in a magazine or a body on a runway. I had more to offer than that, and I wanted to teach other girls to be themselves and not waste their lives trying to be like someone else.”

After seeing too many girls sacrifice their morals in order to gain popularity and become top models, Erin started a company called ShapeCandy, which holds style camps for girls and teaches them how to be models — from the inside out.

“A lot of girls today just focus on their outer beauty,” she says. “They have the misconception that physical beauty will make them loved and happy. But if you look beautiful and lack a sense of civility and concern for people, you won’t be perceived as truly beautiful.”

In Erin’s style camps, she teaches manners, etiquette, social graces, fashion secrets of the modeling industry, runway walk, photo movement techniques, hair and make-up tips, and fashion predictions.

One of Erin’s mottos is: “It’s not what you wear, but how you wear it.”

“You don’t have to be a supermodel to be fashionable,” Erin says. “You just have to get creative with what you have. That has made all the difference to me when it comes to getting dressed in the morning. I also believe it’s possible to find modest clothes from name brands; it just takes a little creativity to make it work.”

Erin recently teamed up with Michele Ashman Bell, author of “A Modest Proposal” and Danni Nappi of Nappi Clothing to put on a fashion show with “real” girls instead of professional models, because she believes that any girl who wants to be on the runway deserves to be.

“When the girls first started practicing for the show they were nervous,” Erin says. “But once I taught them some runway tips, styled outfits for them and got them out on the runway, they just lit up.”

While Erin does help girls become professional models, she says it’s not the be-all-end-all.

“Beauty isn’t about becoming a top model,” she says. “It’s about civility. It’s about being aware of the community around you and being service oriented. That’s where true beauty comes from. It starts from your core and affects your whole being.”

Erin looks for models wherever she goes.

“Most of the time, the people I find never even thought of modeling — they are just naturals,” she says.

While Erin is scouting for models, her husband, Bart, is drumming for Utah Valley-based group Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand. In fact, Erin often looks for models at Bart’s concerts. The two lovebirds met online when Bart made this fitting comment on Erin’s picture:

“Nice shoes.”

Erin replied, “Nice hair.”

“When I first met Erin, I was completely impressed,” Bart says. “She was wearing a stylish green jacket with ‘Italia’ written across the front and she had on these heels that made her taller than me — I thought there was no way she’d be interested.”

But she certainly was.

“He made me feel like I could be myself, and that was really refreshing,” Erin says. “I could tell early on that he had a genuine heart and a peaceful presence — that was really appealing to me.”

Erin and Bart’s first date consisted of Bart’s car not starting, a nice walk to a local restaurant, a Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand concert and a riveting game of Scrabble. After six months of dating, Bart showed up on Erin’s doorstep with “will you marry me” spelled out on a Scrabble board.
Erin and Bart are the parents of a 1-year-old son, Vander, and a newborn daughter, Zoe.

“My initial attraction to Erin was that her beauty wasn’t only on the outside — she genuinely cares about people,” Bart says. “A little after we got married, she went to pick up pizza and she saw a guy stumbling down the alley who had obviously had too much to drink. Erin brought him into the pizza place, bought him food and sat down and talked with him to try and help him out. The owner was so impressed that he now gives us free pizza all the time. There are so many stories like that about Erin.”

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