LEARN Testimonials

LEARN TELEPHONE WEIGHT LOSS CLASS RESULTS WITH CHERE BORK, MS RD LN
“I got my $150.00 worth right away by developing my vision, as you recommended. The visualization of what I want to do when I am 75 years old really gave me a strong since of what I need to do today to be there in later years to enjoy my family. I listed my current age and the ages of my wife, kids and grandkids and projected 5 to 30 years out. It gives me motivation for what I need to do today to be in great shape in the future. As you can see from the attached chart, when I am 75 years old my kids will be in their 50's and 40's....and my grand kids will be in their 20's with the youngest at 16....I may even have GREAT grand kids by that time! My goal is to be as healthy as possible at that time. By preparing this chart it is clear to me that I need to keep focused on my health TODAY so I can preserve my health for the future. I keep this chart post in my bathroom and my office....never to loose sight of my "vision".” Thanks for the vision idea! “
Bill Bodily, MA, MBA Sr. Finance Manager, Medtronic, Inc. - Heart Valves, Santa Ana, CA

“My wins are:
I have reached my weight goal and been stable at 125 pounds for the last three weeks now. (Hurray!)
I have given myself permission at feel that I look GREAT at 125, and to not be perfect about my diet. I am continuing to love my regular exercise. My almost-six year old son and I had a wonderful time exercising together last weekend--he rode his bike along side me while I ran. He's still talking about our special "date." Also, my father, a marathon runner, and I are signed up to run the State Fair 5K Milk Run together in about a month. So, those are my wins. I'm still working on my "challenges" like doing better at controlling my snacking in the evening and my sweet tooth. I'm trying to use my new skills, like breaking down the issue into parts and working on breaking the chain of events. I've concluded that not keeping busy and having tempting foods around the house are triggers for behavior that does not support what I want to do and be. So, I know what to do: keep busy and get that food out of the house!”
By the way my whole family is eating better. My kids have begun to accept vegetables and whole wheat breads and cereals without question. My husband buys whole wheat tortillas and pasta without asking me asking him to, and eats them without complaint.
Betsy W. Van Hecke Senior Legal Counsel, CRM Medtronic, Inc.

“I’ve been losing steadily 1-2 pounds a week and 6 inches (just in the last 2 months). My goal is to not be embarrassed when I go on a cruise to Cancun in June. I’m so excited about what I’m doing. My blood pressure is down to 128 over 78; that’s the lowest it’s been in 20 years. I’ve found a personal trainer who works me with weights 3 days a week, then I do cardiovascular on my own 3 days a week. And I feel great.”
Mary Talton, Medtronic, Inc.

"What has LEARN has helped establish firmly in my brain is that small changes (in exercise and food choices) insidiously caused my weight gain. Small changes over time take the weight off in the same way. I feel a permanent change in my attitude that I know came directly from you!”
Marilee Olson, Neuro Patient Services, Medtronic

-I learned how to put together a lot of nutritional facts into a practical context of behavioral change. For example, I have learned to eat soup early in a meal to fill up and to shoot for filling half my plate with veggies/fruit. I have reinforced a regular habit of eating small fruit snacks to carry me between meals.
-I learned how to eat better in restaurants - food with dressing/sauce on the side, to ignore the bread basket and to order fish as a lower calorie alternative to meat.
-I learned to avoid the deprivation mentality. When I need a hit of chocolate, I can have a teaspoon of hot fudge. I can eat smaller quantities of starches.
-I learned the practical tradeoffs of increasing the number of aerobic exercise sessions in a week - I can eat more calories and still lose weight.
-The telephone format with email follow-up worked really well for me. I never would have signed up for an in-person weekly meeting - it would be impossible with my schedule. I called in for the calls when I wasn't traveling and kept up with the book and practical email suggestions on my own time.

“I just wanted to let you know that I completed the 29 mile bike trip on Saturday in 90+ degree heat! The Sparta-Elroy bike trail was the first in the U.S. of the "rails to trails" conversions and features 3 long tunnels where you must walk your bike through. I felt good during the ride, kept up with my 10 years younger friends. . While I was tired yesterday, I still put in a couple of hours weeding in the garden.
My conclusion: it's a good thing I'm keeping my riding up during the week and that I lost the weight - I'd do even better if I lost some more. Thanks again for your support during the class
Kathy Lewis Director, Paceart and Clinic Practice Management Solutions, Medtronic CRM,

“Thank you Classy Crazy Chere (the other C cubed!) and all you other Skinny ladies!
This class was such a wonderful experience! I really do hope we can all converge on MN and have a face to face meeting. I learned a lot of new things and it was a good refresher of other things I already knew, but stubbornly refused to do (the rebel in me!). Just knowing I had other buddies out there going through it with me kept me on track (most of the time!). When I ride my bike in Healdsburg, CA I will think of M riding hers in Switzerland-sans snow, of course!
Cheers, Charismatic California Catherine!!!

“What a positive experience.
• I thought work was the "most important" to have a more balanced approach to life; work is still important but so is life
• Didn't say NO to say no more often and value my yes more
• I would try to make everyone happy to now I have a choice to say no
• 3 meals a day to 6 or 7 little meals which helps my full schedule and gives me a lot more energy

I had many very good habits and hade traveled a distance on the journey...but the class provided additional thoughts, information and BEST of all REINFORCEMENT of the journey and positive habits.
An additional item or change is surrounding myself with positive, change oriented, action oriented people. I celebrate life. I leave for vacation on Friday....another opportunity to explore life!”
Linda M. Page, Pharm.D., Senior Scientist, Medtronic Neurological

“Saturday afternoon went shopping and guess what (?) bought a pair of pants “ONE SIZE SMALLER” than I use to buy !!! Chere you have to be proud of yourself --YOU put me on the right track and Linda’s support did the rest – What an outstanding team.”
M - Switzerland

“Thank you for the last 12 weeks. I feel like I have many new tools and information to propel me to the next level of health eating and living. Interesting story, this morning I was at Caribou getting a Skim Latte and asked about the new Skinny Bou. The Atkins fans get 1300 calories, mostly of fat, so they can have lower carbs. That sounds absolutely crazy to me. It reminded me it is not my skim latte in the morning that has gotten me to my increased weight it is my empty calories in candy or chips on a bad day or whatever other comfort food or mindless eating I do. More reinforcement that it is about a lifetime changes and each step counts not about losing weight using the Atkins diet and then gaining it back when I reintroduce carbs. So yes, you have helped me make progress and I appreciate that.
BV

MY RESULTS FROM THE 12 WEEK LEARN CLASS
1. I eat at least 6 servings of fruits/veggies a day.
2. I park at the far end of the parking lot.
3. I use the stairs instead of the elevator whenever reasonably possible.
4. I drink a cup of soy milk most days.
5. I consume alcohol minimally.
6. I examine food labels for calorie and fat content before purchasing food products.
7. I plan ahead for social events and other foreseeable obstacles.
8. I choose whole grain products whenever possible.
9. I lose 1-2 pounds per week.
10. I walk to the store to buy clothes that are a size smaller!

In the past three months I have lost approximately 22 pounds...and am feeling great! The Old Jamie thought that losing weight was an "All or Nothing" deal... the New Jamie thinks that losing weight is about making healthy choices, and about living mindfully. Choices lie on a continuum...with un-healthy choices and healthy choices on opposite ends. My choices create a bell curve on this continuum...and over the past three months, my bell curve has slid significantly to the healthy choices side of the continuum!

My husband ate veggie pizza with me last night, instead of his usual 3-meat pizza. We both saved over 150 calories, and 8+grams of saturated fat! As I explained to him (since we both enjoy meat on our pizza)...it's not an All or Nothing thing, it's about mindful choices.”
Jamie Boettcher, Payroll Specialist, Medtronic

“I loved learning about what good foods to bring to work each day and that I can run up and down stairs on my breaks and still get my exercise in. I have a new habit of going to work out 3 times each week and truly enjoy the way that I feel. I have so much well being and energy at age 67 and love the choices I continue to make each day. The LEARN class is such a great tool. I lost weight just thinking about it the first class.”
Mary Regnier, Founder of Brilliant Living www.brilliantliving.com

“Where do I begin.....I have learned so much from you and would encourage everyone to take this class whether they have weight to lose or not, it's all about eating habits and learning how to eat during stressful time, holidays, parties, etc. I looked forward to spending an hour each with you and the class and always came out of class feeling better about myself.
Thank you for all of your encouragement.
Lisa Sager, Administrative Assistant | CRM Patient Management| Medtronic, Inc
“The LEARN class is much bigger than just weight management. About halfway through the class I realized that the coaching was changing the shape of my beliefs, attitudes and ultimately my behavior in work, personal life as well as my health. The course has equipped me with tools to set realistic goals and fulfill them. Now I know I can accomplish goals I set for myself because I have succeeded for twelve weeks in a row. Julie
“Was a great way to look at healthy ways to create a new lifestyle without feeling that you’re giving up everything. It is something that you can do for yourself to move your life in a more positive direction. “ KF

“I liked the LEARN class! And also the idea of having a buddy and Chere’s ideas, insight, and motivating & positive personality”

“The LEARN class provides current up-to-date information on how to change your life, you’re total fitness and health. If you are just getting started, it tells you what you should know and what you should do. Once you have started, it offers encouragement, empowerment and support.” MB

“Loved the interactive group format and focusing on positive self-talk, positive results and positive steps for change.”

“LEARN gave me the encouragement to develop a food and exercise plan I can follow.”

“LEARN was a great way to look at healthy ways to create a new lifestyle without feeling that you’re giving up everything. It is something that you can do for yourself to move our life in a more positive direction.”
“I miss the class and I will miss your chipper and positive spirit. I had an extra 30 minutes at lunch today. I went back to my desk to begin work when I heard myself say for the first time in my life, ‘It’s all about ME.” I relished that thought as I walked outside for the next 30 minutes. Thanks for the tools!” JS
“The LEARN class taught me how to realistically incorporate better eating and exercise habits into my life; not just for a short time, like a diet program but for a lifelong change. Chere’s knowledge and enthusiasm made this the most helpful and enthusiasm made this the most helpful life management class I have ever taken.” Pam Goux
“The best thing is that I started to exercise and eat healthy again. It happened gradually and painlessly. The class helped me lose inches and weight and I feel terrific.”
“Thank you for giving me tools to keep on track. I can do this! The biggest gift you have given me is the realization that setbacks don’t have to turn into a return to bad habits. I used to see setbacks as failures and would just stop trying. I don’t do that anymore and feel a great deal of freedom because of it. I can’t thank you enough.” P

“The LEARN class is awesome. It changed the way I think about food and health. I even got through the holidays (post classes) without any guilt and I still got to enjoy my favorite foods..it’s all about moderation! I would take the class again in a heartbeat..Abisola”

“Chere is a perceptive, enthusiastic and supportive coach who provided the practical tools and emotional support I needed. I highly recommend her. This class is the best class I’ve taken and the format of conference calls and email has worked much better for me than Weight Watchers. Kathy Lewis

“The LEARN class……taught me how to eat “mindfully”, and plan my meals and activity. The emphasis is not on how much weight you have lost but more on identifying the perceived obstacles to weight loss and planning how to overcome them. Chere is a registered dietician and really knows what she is talking about. The atmosphere is supportive and non-threatening. I was pre-diabetic and very obese. I have lost 40 pounds and feel I have the tools to continue to lose weight and make healthy choices. My blood pressure and cholesterol levels have improved and I feel much better. I visited my doctor yesterday and she was so pleased with my weight loss that she said, “you’ve made my day!” L