Bethany Gillam is the Area Director of Human Resources for Omni Hotels and Resorts, based out of the Omni Dallas Hotel. She lives you Coppell and has been with GYIS since January 2016.
Q: Where were you at in your life before the Get You In Shape? What did your life look like?
I had just moved to Texas in August 2015 for my job – relocating from Wisconsin. My family stayed behind for the first few months and I was living in the hotel. During this time, I had access to unlimited room service and ate that or in the restaurants every night, as I did not have a kitchen. I was working long hours and indulging. When the family finally moved down, my focus became on getting the kids acclimated to their new environment, school, and the transition. I did not put any focus on myself or my health.
Q: Why did you decide to join Get You In Shape?
My baby had just turned a year old (she’s my third) and this pregnancy really did a number on my body. Back in Wisconsin I had participated in a boot camp and really enjoyed the group dynamic, the outdoors so I wanted to do something similar to that. I knew I needed to lose the baby weight and get back to my former self and when I saw the GYIS boot camp on Facebook I thought it looked to be just what I needed.
And in all honesty, my new job is full of beautiful people. I am very good at what I do, but I personally felt like my outer appearance was not matching my skills or abilities and the environment I was in.
Q: What was your first experience with or first impression of Get You In Shape?
5:30 a.m. on January morning – it was crazy cold! Cynthia was fabulous and welcomed me to the session, helping with form and answering questions. Everyone was so nice. I was really impressed at the number of people there, of so many varying stages of life and fitness, and all were working hard and having fun. The first few workouts were definitely tough, but I knew that I wanted to continue on.
I also thought it was really amazing to have the benefit of so many great trainers, all of which are committed to helping us become the best version of us we can be.
Q: What are some of the tools from the Get You In Shape program you have used that has helped you?
I started out with the Total Transformation Challenge and think that, coupled with boot camp, was the best way to make progress! I am slightly obsessed with MFP and am up to 310 days of logging as of today! I have continued on using the MNS supplements this year and the meal replacement shakes have become my breakfast of choice each morning.
Q: What do you like most about the Get You In Shape Program?
I love the positive vibe that comes along with GYIS! Through this community, I have met some amazing people and made some really great friends. The support and motivation that comes from both the boot campers and the trainers is worth getting up at 5:30 a.m. for!
Q: How has the Get You In Shape program helped change your life?
Obviously inches and pounds lost, smaller clothing sizes, etc. But it has also changed my perspective. Initially my “so that” was very physically driven and focused on my clothing and outward appearance. But as I started achieving and surpassing those initial goals, my outlook started to change. It wasn’t just about me anymore – it evolved into what type of message I was given to my children – especially my two daughters. I want them to understand, and truly believe, that it’s not about the number on the scale or the size of your clothes. Strong is beautiful, healthy is beautiful. And I want them to know that it is ok to make YOU a priority.
Q: What is your proudest moment or result from the Get You in Shape program?
A few: first, when I got below that 200 pound mark was pretty great! Secondly, when I was able to buy, and wear in public, clothes in a size medium when previously it would have been an XL. And I was also pretty proud of our initial plank challenge. I went from 45 seconds to 2 minutes in one month – totally proved to myself that it’s mind over matter!
Q: How has the Get You In Shape Program impacted other areas of your life?
My work family had no idea when I started this journey that they were going to go on it with me. I needed to make sure I stayed on track, so I implemented a wellness challenge. For three months, two ways to participate: “maintain don’t gain” tracking or total fat mass lost. Enlisting the assistance of our healthy coach, we recruited over 40 participants and as a group we lost 143.5 lbs. of pure fat mass in those three months!
Q: What are the results that you have achieved from the Get You In Shape program and how has Get You In Shape played a role in your results?
Since joining GYIS 11 months ago, I have lost 24 lbs. (of which 16 were pure fat mass!) and 29 inches.
GYIS has given me the tools necessary for me to be successful at this long term. It has made me realize that while working out is great and necessary, that nutrition is truly where a lot of the solution lies and that tracking is an essential tool. GYIS has also helped me to realize my own potential – I now know that it is possible for me to make this change and for it to be a forever change.
For a girl new to a city, GYIS has been a key component to my feeling like this community is my home. I’m grateful to have found it and look forward to being a part of it for a long time.
