Sabra Gardner :

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About Me

Basic Information
Name
Sabra Gardner
City
Chula Vista
State
California
Zip
91913
Phone
619-616-8243
About Me
I am a published author and fitness specialist that has written three specialty books for the American Council on Exercise for fitness instructors. I have several published articles and have also been involved in writing and developing curriculum both for the YMCA and a web based company called myworkoutplan.com where I developed the exercise protocol for post WLS patients. I have been a fitness instructor of group exercise for 18 years and currently teach spin classes, yoga, step aerobics and group strength training. My non-writing work experience has been in program management and recently operations management running YMCAs in my home town of San Diego. Specifically I have lots of experience developing programs for and working directly with plus sized people, women especially. Personally I was a very obese child from a very obese family. Lots of diets, optifast, lost, gained, lost gained, you know the drill. Finally in 2002 I had gastric bypass surgery. I lost 180 pounds, and 7 years later have kept off 140 of it for good, and am currently a member of weight watchers that alternates between on plan and a lifetime member and off plan struggling to get back to goal. Story of my life, and a 30-40 lb. yo-yo beats 140+ any day! I also still attend a monthly weight loss surgery support group and am grateful to be struggling like the people I always thought of as .normal. when I was at my largest. I got interested in exercise during my first big weight loss effort at age 18 with optifast. I began teaching fitness classes in 1991 and have kept up ever since despite gaining all the weight back and then having surgery.my regulars know the whole story and watched me through the process. I know firsthand that you can be a large fit person, and believe it was for quite some time my role to help those weird skinny exercise addicts to realize this by being their oh so obese exercise instructor and working them very hard. I.m a bit of an anomaly that way I suppose. I.ve never been hush hush about my weight issues and also believe my role has been to help others understand issues, feel better about the struggle, and even learn about surgery as an option. I also have done a lot with programming for large people trying to start and stick with an exercise program, and for quite some time I ran my own support group for WLS that was very exercise and health focused. My education includes an MS degree in exercise physiology, and I love writing and although I am not .in your face. in any way with anyone about weight, body image or WLS, I also do not feel the need to hide the fact that this tool, this procedure has really worked for me and changed my life. It may not be for everyone, but it certainly was the best thing I ever did.
Career
Management
One piece of advice you value most
Every thing you want is on the other side of fear!
Interests
scrapbooking, reading, writing, hanging with hubby, babysitting 3 yr old neice.
Activities
yoga, spinning classes, walking w/ sister
Favorite Movies
Anything positive, uplifiting and fun.
Favorite Quotes
Happiness is the journey, not a destination.