A Transformation in progress...

Jeff's journey will touch, move and inspire you. He is an amazing guy on a mission. We look forward to hearing more from Jeff as he completes his first triathlon!!

From Couch Potato to Triathlete in Training. by Jeff S.

It seems that many people who do triathlons come from some kind of background, whether running, swimming, or cycling. I come from being a couch potato. Over the last half dozen years of my life I have become very lazy. I would watch anywhere from 3-5 hours of TV a day. When my pants went from a 34 inch waist to a 38 inch waist and I found out I have extremely high cholesterol, I finally made the decision to do a triathlon. I had been thinking about doing a triathlon for several years. But I have tried to work out in the past and I always lost motivation 1-2 weeks into my training. Since deciding to do a triathlon I have been able to maintain my motivation with the help of Coach Joe. I met Coach Joe at Life Time Fitness in Romeoville. I have been asking about a triathlon group at Life Time since I joined and Joe arrived just in time for me.

Joe introduced me to his own personal training company, ExperienceTriathlon. After meeting Joe and his positive attitude, coupled with his amazing knowledge of everything triathlon, I signed up immediately. I can't even begin to explain the results I had. Within the first week I went from being able to swim 2 lengths of a pool all the way to 20 laps before burning out. I went from biking for fun, to biking for distance. And my toughest feat... I went from barely being able to run without complete exhaustion to running my first ever 5K race only 5 weeks into my training.

I still have a couple weeks before my very first triathlon but simply because of Joe I feel that I will be able to finish it. Not only will I finish my first tri, I already have plans to move myself up to the next level in 2007. And who knows, I might even do an Ironman someday. Joe has not only helped me physically but mentally. I have always been a positive person but I never had the attitude that I could do anything I put my mind to. Now I KNOW I can do anything I put my mind to.

I talk about and advertise for Joe to anyone who will listen. He has helped me to change my life and make myself healthy and I want to do whatever I can to help others experience the joys that I have found. So far in a little over a month and a half I have lost 15lbs and 5% body fat. I?m sure my cholesterol has gone down also.

Thank you Coach Joe for everything you have done. I could never repay you for what you have done for me.

Jeff S.

"Triathlete in Training"