San Jose resident Claire Ballard enrolled
in Club One's Lite N' Up program to help
reach her fitness resolution: 30 pounds and
a Sprint-Distance Triathlon.  Photo:Stephanie
Lewis

“It’s not that I don’t like myself the way I am,” says 42-year-old Claire Ballard.

“I’d just like to be more fit and meet people who like to do the things I like. Plus, I’m hoping that if I’m more fit some of the aches and pains that come with knee problems and age will go away."

To reach her goals, Claire joined the Lite N' Up program at  Club One's Santana Row location in December, 2009.  

Read more about Club One's Lite N' Up program.

It's not will power  that's sabotaged Claire's past efforts: the South Beach diet, the Weight Watchers program, marathon prep with Team and Training and an outdoor boot camp.    

It's been knee injuries and surgeries. Pain, treatments and recovery efforts.

Of course, some folks would have just grumbled and packed on the pounds.

Not Claire.   After her surgery she cautiously increased  her workouts and  in October, 2009 completed the Nike Women's Half-Marathon.

I didn't set any land speed records," she says "but I did finish and it was so fun, I thought I could keep this up."

Now she's looking to increase her fitness program, and to that end she took a friend's advice and stopped by Club One.

"Everyone at Club One is so friendly and supportive," says Claire. As a Physician Assistant, she especially liked the nutrition aspects of the Lite N' Up  program.  Trainer, nutritionist and Lite N' Up coach Lauren Walker is "terrific... a great support and help in reaching my goals. We meet, go over my food journals, she gives me feedback and ideas for menus and shopping. Later in January I'll also be starting the Lose to Win part of Lite N' Up."

Claire's goals are ambitious:   Go from 160 to 130 pounds  and finish a Sprint-Distance Triathlon (750 m swim, 20 km bike, 5 km run).

Support is important too: in addition to  Lauren (who Claire reiterates has “been great"),  her daughters Stephanie, age 23, and Tate, age 21, and boyfriend John, have all been a great encouragement. Of course, there’s also Harriet, her always-understanding Bernese Mountain Dog (shown in the picture).

Yes, there are ample reasons to fail at a  New Year's Resolution.  But Claire Ballard seems to have the pieces in place.  For her, the Lite N'Up program is a great way to meet people in a supportive and friendly environment, and, as she adds, " I think being accountable to others will help keep me on track."

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