Operation: Mother of the Bride

That’s what I call this chapter in my life. Yes mums, you can only imagine how proud one is when their only daughter announces their wedding. Lots to plan and memories of your own wedding start comming back. Gosh when you look at the old photos and see how you used to look and how you look now. What happened? Right then I knew I had  to do something about the way I looked and felt about myself so that my daughter would have lots of beautiful photos with her mum so happy in them. Thats right, I have been hiding from cameras for many years now. Hello gym here Icome! Saw the advert on the wall at the gym about a supermarket tour with a Nutrition expert, yes that’s what I need, so booked in and got some great advice. Took it all on board and started to change the way I shopped and cooked. Something was missing. I needed help and support to keep my goal of looking and feeling good about myself . Decided I would give Lifespark Nutrition a try. That was the best thing I did for myself. Kate is true to her promise that we need to eat right to feel right. Healthy eating is so important to good weight loss and not fad dieting . I can’t wait for the wedding and look forward to many great memories . I will not only feel a proud Mother of the Bride but also proud that i made a great decission to get Healthy!

Sue T, 2011

New Wave of confidence

I first meet Kate during the 8 week challenge in 2008.  I weighed in at 102kgs; this was the heaviest I had ever been. I needed help to understand where I was going wrong with my nutrition.   I booked my first consultation, although I was worried about confessing my habits, I found that Kate listened and was understanding.  Together we were able to come up with an eating plan suitable for my busy schedule.  She has given me new ideas for cooking which are both quick and easy to make but also affordable.   Meal times are more enjoyable and everyone in the family can eat to.

Together we have set achievable goals and we meet regularly to discuss progress.  I’m well on my way of hitting my goals, currently weighing 75.4kgs, thanks to Kate’s program and what I have learnt I know I have made a good lifestyle change and will be able to carry on without the worry of putting the weight back on.  I have more energy and confident that I know I will be able to do anything I put my mind to.

Cheers Kate for all your help!

Sharleen Parsons

Before and After

Getting the extra advice

Having already lost over 45kgs at clm Mt Wellington through diet and exercise, I was thrilled with results of my weight loss and new found fitness and strength. But I was still not happy with the annoying bit of extra weight that would not go away no matter how hard I trained.

So I decided to make an appointment with Life Spark Nutrition as I realised that my exercise routine was very good, so it had to be the diet. When you talk to Kate Gray from Life Spark Nutrition you soon realise you have allot to learn about nutrition. But with years of fast foods and a lack of knowledge of healthy and variety of food choices, it was like going to nutritional school and learning the basics.

Although my diet was not bad it wasn’t as good as it could be, for me to go to the next level of health and fitness. Kate will sift out the potential foods that my slow your weight loss goals, and also help you with ideas to maintain the lifestyle you may wish to live.

Since I have been seeing Kate I have dropped another 10-12kgs with body fat going from 22% to 15%, I will continue to see Kate as I have new goals to achieve and I’m confident with Kate’s support and knowledge I will achieve these new goals.

I can 100% recommend Kate to anyone who is thinking of seeing her to achieve their weight loss goals.

Desmond

Before and then after an exercise routine with CLM Health and Fitness

After Lifespark Nutrition

Getting the support you need

Dear Kate,

I felt that I just had to write this because I can’t believe how you’ve changed my life.

When I came to see you, I was not particularly overweight or unhealthy or even unfit, and to be honest I wasn’t sure what you’d be able to do for me, as I thought my nutrition and health knowledge was pretty good.

I guess I wanted someone that I would have to ‘answer to’ so if I slipped up there would be… well, not so much ramifications but at least a stern word from your good self.

I gained so much more.

I learned the importance of sleep, (still working on that) and how coffee was affecting my life, and just a few more bad habits that became glaringly obvious through the implementation of a daily food diary… OMG!! What a revelation!

Within 2 weeks I was sleeping better, my energy levels were better and I had reached most of my goals in the first 6 weeks.

You have given me some fantastic information and new knowledge to help me understand that what I put into my body can either reap the benefits or suffer the consequences.

I thought a free radical, was a French student with an attitude, now I know what they are and how they affect me.

Thankyou Kate, I haven’t finished with you yet, I think you’ll be a part of my life for a long time to come.

Yours in health

Domenica 12.12.10

Controlling IBS

Kate has been wonderful with her nutritional tips and ideas about being creative with food. The great thing is that she is always encouraging and she tweaked my eating plan to suit my needs as I deal with controlling my Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). I learnt a lot with regards to eating regular meals and in my case eating the right amount of carbs to balance the amount of protein I consumed to keep my energy levels up as I tended to fatigue at times during the day. She also put me on a course of probiotics to ease my IBS and prescribed me the Essential multis which definitely gives me a great energy boost.

As a result of her help with nutrition and going to the gym on a regular basis after more than 3 months  I managed to lose 5.5cm around the abdominal area and also lower my metabolic age by 6 years. Even now Kate continues to offer me assistance via emails and through our follow-up appointments. Keep up the awesome work Kate!! J

Patrick- Auckland 3.12.10

Stefanie lost 25 kilos with Lifespark

I first met Kate in April 2009 when I was really struggling with my weight.  I am 165cm tall and weighed in at that time at 80kg.  A friend recommended her to me as although I had started to lose weight before seeing her I didn’t really understand food and my diet consisted of bad food.  Instead of changing my diet to make my health better and aid my new fitness, I only cut back on the rubbish food and this combined with all the work I was doing in the gym was making me exhausted.  I didn’t understand food, I didn’t even like food that much…until I met Kate.

She was very approachable and friendly which was just what I needed with my low confidence at that time.  Her knowledge of food is fantastic and she explained to me how the different food groups work and why we need them in our bodies.  Not only has she been fantastic in all the sessions I have seen her in but she is also supportive over the phone and by e-mail and I never feel that I am a burden for her, she really cares about her clients.

I now weigh in at 55 / 56kg and am the healthiest I have ever been.  I understand food, I love food and she has even inspired me to complete a course in Food and Nutrition myself.

I am still a regular visitor to Kate’s office as she helps me with my food menu when I am training for the many half marathons that I run and a full marathon later in the year.

I would confidently recommend her to anyone whether it be weight loss, weight gain, training for an event of even muscle building.

Stefanie Wood

Stefanie Before Lifespark

Stefanie After – losing 25 kg with Lifespark

Testimonial : Kate Gray

I have consulted Kate Gray in her professional capacity as a Nutritionist over the past 18 months.    I went to Kate to gain the `tools’ for successful long term weight loss and increased fitness level.   Kate has a commonsense approach based on good nutrition and achievable, sustainable goals.  As I have been reasonably successful in reaching my goals I am a testament to Kate’s expertise.

In a lot of ways a `glowing’ testimonial for Kate is actually all about ME. I have been self motivating and Kate has been a great `tool’ in my toolbox which has resulted in weight loss, drop in clothing size(s) and has also seen me gain back a level of fitness that I have not had for a number of years.

Healthy eating is not about `doing without’ and I personally found I had to eat far more regularly and often more than I had been to get my metabolism working for me instead of against me. Kate has encouraged me to swop bad habits for healthier options. At times I am sure I have been a bit of a challenge – I am not a `fussy’ eater but I do have fairly strong likes & dislikes and using the framework provided by Kate I have come up with a long term plan that suits me and my lifestyle.

I know a Nutritionist with the name of Kate

Who I consulted about all things I ate

I wanted to be thinner without missing out on dinner

And here I am looking and feeling just great

-Enid Service  (April 2010)

Tania lost 16 kilos with Lifespark

Starting bootcamp at CLM early in 2008 I decided it was timely to also check out my eating (with a bit of encouragement from CLM staff). I thought I ate quite well but knew I needed to lose some kilos so I booked an appointment with Kate and haven’t looked back.  I’m now 16 kilos lighter (with a few still to go) and am feeling great and even healthier.  Seeing Kate has highlighted the correct portion sizes I should be eating as well as some foods I could easily swap for a better option.  Other than keeping my sweet tooth in check it hasn’t
been too drastic, and I really appreciated Kate’s practical approach and helpful suggestions to enable you to still live life and enjoy your food.  I can’t imagine going back to my old ways now and have an entirely different approach to food.  Kate is enthusiastic about “our” results too!  So definitely a big thanks to Kate for her support and encouragement.
Tania

Tania Before Lifespark

Tania After – losing 16 kg with Lifespark

How Lifespark helped Leo to lose 9.5kg

When I first booked the appointment to see Kate I did not know what to expect as I had been trying my best to lose the extra weight that I had gained since 2007. To be honest I have never met anyone who is as dedicated to eating right and living well as Kate Gray herself. Without moments to spare we had found I had been trying to loose the weight with all the wrong foods possible; but hey! There is always a solution. Kate’s daily 5 meal plan + gym time I have lost an incredible 9.5 kg in the space of 6 weeks. I have kept with the programme reducing my clothing size from XXL to L wohoooo. Friends do not have to comment but cannot help themselves to ask on what my secret was. It is no secret, Just follow Kate’s time table, persevere with hard work and you will be smiling all day everyday. Thanks to Kate’s patience I have gained a new lease on life. My new found diet has changed not only my lifestyle but also my family and friends. So thank you Kate:)

Getting my life back on track-

I decided to see Kate about trying to lose weight and get my cholestrol under control. I found out through her eating plans and good advice that’s what made the difference. I have now lost 12kgs with a significant drop in my cholestrol levels and an increase in energy and sleep quality.

A. Beeson

A new me!

I came to visit Kate in November 2009 after a friend of mine had excellent results.

I had always followed an exercise program and considered myself ‘healthy enough’ but a few bad habits had caused excess weight to creep on over about 2 years.  I joined a gym to try and shift the weight, it helped with my fitness, but the scales weren’t moving – I was probably eating worse than before!  I knew I needed some help.

At the initial consultation Kate reviewed my current diet, took my measurements and put me on an eating plan.  This eating plan was easy to follow and consisted of so many delicious foods, and I was surprised at how frequently I was allowed to eat.  Kate explained that eating every 2 -3 hours was to get your metabolism revved up.  Boy was she right, after only two weeks following Kate’s eating plan, and doing the usual activity I would at the gym, I had lost almost 3 kilos in weight and a total of 13 cm from my hips, waist and stomach.

After a few personal unrelated ups and downs, I met my goals in May 2010.  The whole time Kate helped me to remain focused and kick those bad habits and gave excellent advice to help expel emotional eating.

Kate is friendly, professional, and understanding.  Most importantly she is a nice person, but will definitely give you a kick up the butt when you need it.  After my first consultation with Kate I was motivated like never before and this was always the case after every visit to her.  I always look forward to our monthly updates, her consultations are so valuable, she has so many ideas – you definitely need to take a notebook with you when you see her to write down the awesome advice she gives.

Kate has educated me and healthy eating is now my lifestyle, I don’t even have to think about it anymore.  The bad habits very rarely pay a visit and I now think about food differently.  Treats are treats, as simple as that.  Something I will always remember Kate telling me is to think before you eat something, ask yourself “how will this help me achieve my target?”

I lost 6 kilos, gained muscle mass, lost body fat, increased my metabolic rate and managed to get down to a size 10, (I haven’t been a size 10 since I was 14 years old!) and it’s all thanks to Kate – thank you so much Kate for setting me free!

-Susan

Feeling Great!

“I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU for all your help and support, between you and Jaye the results have been amazing…. it was a very cool feeling to ask the shop assistant for a size 10 because the size 12 was to big!!! I was a size 14 before I started getting serious about my diet and exercise and I just feel so good!!!
I have promised myself I will never go back to the old me and are really committed to a lifestyle change for good”

Leanne Cook

“Nutrition proved to be the missing link and Kate was able to show me how to institutionalize healthy eating as part of my new lifestyle”

Mike Mulholland