Diets don’t work! We’ve established that. But what does work? We’ll, as Denise Fiacco has discovered, creating a new lifestyle that leads to health is where the answer truly is found. A single mom with a young daughter, she decided to take control and change their lives! Hers is a story of success and now of inspiration for you!
I’ve known Denise for quite some time now and she has always been driven for all things health, fitness, nutrition and wellness during that time. So, when I asked her to join me in the Inner Circle of Simply Good Health, I wasn’t thinking so much that she had a big transformation to make but that, yes, she could learn but more so that her real life spirit, drive and ambition would be a source of great encouragement to other members. And that has certainly been true. But Denise is one who takes the “bull by the horns”. She soaks things up like a dry sponge and she fearlessly applies what she is learning. I LOVE that about her. And her membership in the Inner Circle has been no different!
She has made a transformation in her life and today she gives me the honor of sharing that with you. Here is how she answered a few simple interview questions.
What motivated your initial health and fitness journey?
When my daughter’s teacher gave me a picture of her and me at a holiday cookie party – I really saw how much weight I was gaining. The buttons on my shirt were pressed against my skin and were ready to pop. I also noticed that my daughter was gaining weight as well.
I remembered when I looked at that picture; that day while choosing what clothes to wear – I chose that shirt because it would cover my growing stomach.
I remember thinking that I was going to have to buy new – larger – clothes soon as my clothes were NOT fitting me anymore.
What was your beginning goal?
My beginning goal was just to look good in a bikini for my first ever trip to Florida and to lose a few pounds. I didn’t want to have to buy new larger sized clothes. I thought I could exercise for a bit, get in better shape and then I wouldn’t have to worry about it anymore.
What were your first steps toward achieving your goals?
I started by taking a Zumba class and eliminating soda from my daily intake. I also encouraged my daughter to participate in the Zumba with me sometimes too. We started walking a lot more as well. I watched what I ate and learned a little bit about nutrition. I also did some exercise DVD’s.
How did you discover the Inner Circle of Simply Good Health?
I started following Carl’s posts on Elements of Wellness and totally fell in love with his story of natural healing. I started incorporating his coaching’s into my new life style – commenting and asking questions along the way. Carl invited me to the group and I excitedly accepted as I knew this was going to be PRIME for incorporating ultimate health into our lives.
How did your participation in the Inner Circle change your approach to health and fitness?
I started incorporating changes to the foods we ate. I have learned that food is a tool for internal health; and there are so many ways to use it for ultimate health. A person must be healthy from the inside in order to be healthy on the outside in regards to their fitness goals. I used to think I was eating healthy and mindfully until I became educated through the Inner Circle on real food and learned that many ingredients that we are taught are “healthy” simply are not. I changed the foods we consumed, and prepared. Now I know my insides are healthier than they have ever been.
I approach new things like meditation……I had never really considered whole being health before. The Inner Circle and the guest speakers have introduced a wide array of healthy topics. From those topics I am now more open and willing to try other avenues of mental health as well because they all go hand in hand to better and healthier person.
Carl also provides fitness challenges through the week that are simple enough to do anywhere and usually in less than a half hour. I wasn’t familiar with HIIT or HIRT workouts before the Inner Circle. While these are challenging, I found that I wanted the challenges and was excited to see new workouts added.
I have pushed myself further than I ever have to accomplish the challenges and then to add challenges from myself.
What have you achieved since beginning your membership?
There are so many things that I have achieved…I have tried many new and wonderful foods. I am no longer afraid to try new foods that I never paid attention to before. I spend more time ensuring that what I am choosing is the best that I can get for myself and my family. I share some of my own personal knowledge with others in the group so they can also be the healthiest they can be.
I have learned how to incorporate and change my workouts with HIIT and HIRT. I put more into my workouts now, because it is a WHOLE body entity – from the inside out. I know that the nutrition is key to my successful workouts as well.
I feel so much healthier, and more energetic from the inside out.
I have learned about many different types of foods and how those same foods can be used as prevention from illnesses. It is so reassuring knowing that I, and many others, have Carl as our mentor and coach to offer advice for a healthy lifestyle. I am like a sponge and I soak it in, changing my life and in turn teaching my daughter how to be more mindful in decisions in her life.
How has your lifestyle changed?
I eat so much better now and really take into account what real food will do for my health. I rarely purchase fast foods; and am completely conscious about what ingredients are in our food. I am learning an empowerment as well. This is MY life and I am in complete control from how I feed both my body and my mind. I spend time each week determining our meals and what real eats will be part of it. I am aware of the good eats and am continuing to learn more.
There are two particulars that come to mind as well – migraines and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). Since beginning this group and getting away from bleached and white flours and sugars I am not having the migraines. Many years I have taken pain medications for my migraines trying to manage through medicine alone. With the change to ingredient based choices my migraines are completely under control and I do not suffer from them anymore.
Also, my IBS symptoms have lessened a great deal and I rarely have flare ups.
I have also been re-introducing nuts and seeds into my diet and so far have been successful that they are not causing flare ups. It is quite nice not having to worry about the flare ups while out and about. This is embarrassing and now it is under control due to dietary changes.
How has your new lifestyle impacted your daughter’s health and wellness?
My daughter is implementing the good eating habits and fitness into her life. Many times she also reads the labels and nutrition information on items that she wants to have. She will base her decisions on what she learns from the label reading. What 11 year old does that? She is consuming the information and I know this will help her be healthy adult; and in turn teach her children the same. She helps me in the kitchen – learning to cook and what to chose is going to be key in her life as she becomes an adult. Also through a couple of “sneaks” she has been slowly acquiring new tastes as well and improved health including her environmental allergies.
She said to me the other day after being at a friend’s house, “They have nothing healthy to eat. Do we have some pineapple?” The point being is she realized the unhealthy eating and then she comes home and will WANT to eat healthier alternatives to make up for the time she couldn’t.
She sees the physical rewards to exercising too. She created her own calendar of workouts. She
understands it isn’t about weight but about being healthier through exercise. That is key and not many adults understand that concept.
What are your present goals?
I would like to become a certified nutritionists and also fitness coach. Combining these two together would allow me to help so many people be more fit and healthy. When I apply what I learn and someone else is successful in obtaining a goal – that is the biggest reward.
I am also aiming towards becoming stronger and have a mental image of what I would like to work towards as far as toning my body. I want to be able to continue to keep up with my daughter and ultimately grandchildren.
What advice would you give for those beginning their own journey?
Don’t stop! Even if you take one step more each day than the past day it is progress. Become educated by using tools available such as the Inner Circle, join groups that have similar interests and offer motivation, friends to obtain the knowledge you need to be successful from the inside out.
Being part of the Inner Circle is one of the best decisions I have made in regards to my health.
I highly recommend the Inner Circle because it has so many tools available to teach people the necessary information about your foods and what they do or don’t do for you, and have coaches for your mind, body and spirit and real people who care.
Teach your children as well. Give them a jump start to being a healthy adult. NEVER stop EVER.
Denise is creating a new lifestyle that leads to health. And just like she has, you can too! It doesn’t have to begin with a 100 pound weight loss goal. It just has to begin where you are. It begins by discovering the resources to empower you and applying the tools provided just as she has done. So, no excuses, no rhymes or reasons why you can’t do it. There are none because the resource is there for your success!
Oh, and Denise now leads our first fitness tribe: Amaz’in Fit-N-Sexy Tribe. You really must join her. She runs it like a pro and challenges the participants to rise to heights they’ve not thought possible. She’ll kick your butt but you’ll love her and the results! So, start creating a new lifestyle that leads to health today with Denise on your team! You’ll succeed if you do!
