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Coaching Interviews:
Kerry Simpson

Kerry Simpson is a 24-year old Olympic long track speed skater and a student at the University of Calgary. Kerry is a current client of mine and as she’s achieved fantastic results with our program, she was excited to do the following interview.

Dr Berardi:
Before you started coaching with my team, how long had you been exercising?

Kerry:
I have been exercising my whole life and seriously training for speed skating for 5yrs now.

Dr Berardi:
How much physique and performance progress had you made during this time?

Kerry:
Through the past 5 yrs I have become healthier, stronger and fitter

Dr Berardi:
Did you ever use a personal trainer or nutrition coach in the past?

Kerry:
Yes

Dr Berardi:
What kind of results did you get?

Kerry:
Good at first, but really hit a plateau. Some of their advice and my frustration lead to some mild eating disorders. I was always trying to eat less, skipping meals, etc. This then lead to binging. Not a good cycle to get into.

Dr Berardi:
What convinced you to coach with us?

Kerry:
I heard good things and I really needed help

Dr Berardi:
Be honest, did you have any reservations before you started working with us? If so, what were they?

Kerry:
I thought it was going to be the hardest thing I ever did. I thought I would fail like I have before and that wasn’t an encouraging prospect.

Dr Berardi:
What about the distance-based nature of the program? Did you have a hard time getting your head around that? What made up your mind?

Kerry:
Not really – I was motivated and I wanted it to happen right away. Some things did, like recovering faster from workouts and having more energy. The weight loss is a slower process because I am in my racing season right now. Yet I have faith in you because everything he tells me makes a lot of sense. I know that this is continuing to work because I’ve seen great results so far.

Dr Berardi:
While following the program, what did you like best?

Kerry:
The thing I liked best was the fact that I had to lose weight but I got to eat a lot in doing so. I had been starving myself for a few years and it was hurting my training and making me feel discouraged. With this program I get to eat several times a day. I never feel starved and I even get a night snack!

Dr Berardi:
Did you find the program hard to follow? Why or why not?

Kerry:
I thought it was surprisingly easy. I was eating more and eating a lot of the foods I like. The only thing that was hard was getting used to the shakes. They were good, but I was used to chewing my food. Turns out that they satisfy me even more than other foods.

Dr Berardi:
So what were your physical stats before starting the program?

Kerry:
5'7", 74kg, 24%fat, ~8000ml muscle volume in each leg. (Muscle volume is an important correlate with skating performance – the higher the better).

Dr Berardi:
How about now?

Kerry:
71 kg, 21% fat, ~9000ml muscle volume in each leg.

Dr Berardi:
What other improvements have you seen while working with us?

Kerry:
The biggest improvement is with my recovery between workouts. I work out twice a day and I used to fade a lot before the second workout. Our hardest on ice training is in the fall. I have broken down on the ice before because of fatigue. Since starting with you, I made it through every program this fall. I even feel energized to get to the next program.

Dr Berardi:
Have people noticed your body changing? How have they responded?

Kerry:
My teammates and my coaches have noticed that I have changed. We're in spandex everyday so they notice when things change! They have also noticed that my attitude has changed. I'm in better spirits for training. My coaches act differently to me now. They know that I am trying to improve my diet and take me more seriously.

Dr Berardi:
What are the top things you learned while following our program?

Kerry:
1. Eat immediately after training

2. Don't skip meals

3. It's okay to eat some "bad" foods - 10% of the time.

4. Supplement with good oils

5. It's okay to eat before bed as long as it's the right food choices

6. Eating more frequently through the day revs your metabolism, while skipping meals can put you in starvation mode and store fat.

Dr Berardi:
Describe your total coaching experience to date.

Kerry:
You’re one of the most personable individuals I’ve ever met. A lot of different things haven't worked for me in the past. I thought that this was going to be grueling and that my nutritionist would be disappointed again. I didn't want to fail again. But instead, every week it got a bit better. You were always there supporting me. I couldn't believe how positive you were! It was a welcome change to how I was feeling with other plans. You definitely motivated me to keep working on it and stay positive.

Dr Berardi:
If someone was hesitant about working with us, what advice would you give them?

Kerry:
If you're worried about failing at this eating plan, don't be. John is extremely supportive and he makes it easier than you can imagine. You don't have to starve yourself on this plan. It's definitely do-able.

Dr Berardi:
What’s the next step for you with your physique progress?

Kerry: Since I'm in my racing season right now, I'm looking to competing in the 2006 Games in Torino Italy. Then, next off-season, getting into the absolute best shape of my life.

Dr Berardi:
Any parting words?

Kerry:
I think you're doing a really good thing John. There is a lot of pressure in sport to be lean. It's hard for some people and some just don't know what they are doing. You've helped to take some pressure off. Thanks!