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Coaching Interviews:
Cynthia Kirkland Odell

Cynthia Odell is a personal friend of mine – I’ve spent time with her and her husband at their cottage. And on more than one occason she’s fed me great tasting, physique friendly meals.

As she’s also a great client of ours, I decided to let you listen to what she has to say about the coaching program. Cynthia is truly a motivational individual who is showing women of all ages that getting in shape past 50 isn't an impossible task as long as you have the right team supporting you.

Dr Berardi:
How old are you?

Cynthia:
A young 51.

Dr Berardi:
What is your occupation?

Cynthia:
Vice President, Marketing Services for a large office furniture manufacturer.

Dr Berardi:
Before you started coaching with the Science Link Team, how long had you been exercising?

Cynthia:
Off & on for about 15 years, but without any consistency or a results based program. Sometimes I was just sporadic with the exercise, and sometimes I would exercise, but without much intensity

Dr Berardi:
How much physique and performance progress had you made during this time?

Cynthia:
I built some strength, but I didn’t improve my physique. In fact my weight kept going up and down

Dr Berardi:
Did you ever use a personal trainer or nutrition coach in the past?

Cynthia:
I did, but I didn’t really achieve anything. Their philosophy was low weights/high reps, and the same program month after month. I didn’t realize at the time how useless that was. As I read and learned more, I stopped going to the trainer, and started working out on my own with heavier weights. And I signed up with your program.

Dr Berardi:
What kind of results did you get?

Cynthia:
When I worked with my previous Personal Trainer, I am ashamed to say I gained 20 lbs., and it was not muscle. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a results based program; it was a show up and pay your money program. It made me feel righteous for a while, but it was ultimately not worth the money. There was also no focus on nutrition, and I was coming to believe that for me that was a key to my goal to get lean. I decided I needed a more holistic and science based approach.

Dr Berardi:
What convinced you to coach with us?

Cynthia:
I had been reading much of the information on your website and I thought it made a lot of sense. I was frustrated with myself and my eating habits, and wanted a holistic approach (nutrition, exercise and supplements) that would help me learn how to put it all together myself. I haven’t found anyone else with your credentials to put such a comprehensive program together, and that helped me trust the program you provided and ‘just do it’. Most specialists I have found seem to focus on one dimension (exercise or nutrition), and I felt a multi dimensional approach would be the key to success. I also felt the accountability of having to report my progress daily would keep me on track, and it has

Dr Berardi:
Be honest, did you have any reservations before you started working with us? If so, what were they?

Cynthia:
None, I was quite excited and felt this would be the breakthrough I was looking for.

Dr Berardi:
What about the distance-based nature of the program? Did you have a hard time getting your head around that? What made up your mind?

Cynthia:
I wasn’t concerned about the distance based nature, because it was really about the quality of the program, not having someone to look me in the eye. For the first few weeks I was in e-mail conversation with your team several times a week re any questions, so that made it very easy.

Dr Berardi:
While following the Science Link program, what did you like best?

Cynthia:
It was simple and clear. I knew exactly what to do. There is a certain routine that you get into, and once I got my head around that, it became “easy”

Dr Berardi:
Did you find the program hard to follow? Why or why not?

Cynthia:
I found it was hard to keep myself totally on track for the first couple of weeks. I would fall off the wagon. But I think that happens with any major lifestyle change. The point is to keep at it, and get better. Your education series helped to keep me focused, and importantly inspired.

There are a few ‘Berardi quotes’ that I took to heart and they helped me over the rough patches. Loosely, they are:

* “are you a nutritional problem solver?”
* “are you the kind of person who gets it done, or makes excuses”
* “sure it is hard, do it anyway”

Dr Berardi:
What about results?

Pre Program
August 30th
Body Weight 161.4
Body Fat 39.3

Girth Measurements:
Neck 14
Shoulder 45
Bicep 12
Calf 14
Chest 41
Waist 37
Thigh 22
Sub Total 185

Calipers:
Abs 30
Triceps 20
Chest 30
Mid-Ax 20
Subscap. 28
Suprailliac 30
Thigh 25
Sub total: 183

Now
November 20th
Body Weight 151
Body Fat 35.2

Girth Measurements
Neck 13
Shoulder 42
Bicep 11
Calf 13
Chest 38
Waist 31.75
Thigh 20.25
Sub Total 169

Calipers:
Abs 24
Triceps 15
Chest 18
Mid-Ax 17
Subscap. 21
Suprailliac 20
Thigh 12
Sub total: 127

Dr Berardi:
These are amazing! What other improvements have you seen while working with us?

Cynthia:
I gained control of my “addiction” to sugar. It used to really trouble me

Dr Berardi:
Have people noticed your body changing? How have they responded?

Cynthia:
Yes, I have had many comments, and lots of people interested in what I am doing when they see the results. It is to the point now that if I am in a meeting for any length of time or over lunch, my colleagues expect me to bring out my own salad or green drink or yogurt and fruit

Dr Berardi:
What are the top 10 things you learned while following our program?

Cynthia:
1. Be a nutritional problem solver. It isn’t necessarily easy, but it is possible

2. Planning is everything. If you want to succeed, tote your food and/or plan ahead. Impulse eating is what gets you into trouble

3. Sure its hard, but do it anyway

4. It is all about creating the habits that will stay with you for life

5. When in the gym, unleash the beast – go for it. Don’t do a wimpy workout

6. Long cardio stuff is generally worthless, unless it is a top up to a great workout

7. Do intervals

8. You don’t have to be perfect, but you do need to move inexorably towards your goal. It is a life long game

9. Plan your cheat meals, so that you are in control

10. Keep track of what you are doing to stay on track (“you don’t get what you expect, you get what you inspect”)

Dr Berardi:
Describe your total coaching experience to date.

Cynthia:
I am grateful that I took the step and signed up for the Berardi coaching program. It helped me get on track, get results, and feel in control of my eating. I have learned how to exercise “like the boys do” and become strong.

Dr Berardi:
If someone was hesitant about working with us, what advice would you give them?

Cynthia:
Lots of programs can help you make progress, but not all help you keep the gains you have made. You need to evaluate any programs you are considering according to whether they address and give details about nutrition and workouts (both weights and intervals). Dr. Berardi’s programs give you both, and they are founded on science and client results. I don’t think you will find many other potential service providers with his depth of experience and results. I found this program easy to follow because I believed in it, and I started to feel good and strong really quickly

Dr Berardi:
What’s the next step for you with your physique progress?

Cynthia:
I am going to stick with it. I have been slowly changing my palette, and what I consider to be acceptable to put in my body. I now look forward to exercise, and take a lot of pride that I am one of the few females at my gym that is not a “cardio bunny”. I like feeling strong and don’t plan to give that up.