Progress: More Than Just A Number

Written by: Kassandre Harper-Cotton

Taken from my online journal beginning March 7, 2007:
“3/07-posting the [progress] pictures publicly

5/07-seeing my legs get firmer and stronger and actually LIKING the way they look; being consistent with the workouts (5-6 times per week); with the help of this site, finding a diet plan that works for me

6/1-Ten pounds down and six inches off; twenty to go

6/11-sprinting @ 7 mph on the treadmill

6/27-back to pre-pregnancy weight of 173 lbs.

7/18-Hit the 160's!

7/28-Wore a swimsuit and felt good in it.

9/22-Hit the low 160's!

9/24-Got a personal trainer.

10/21-25 pounds off!

10/28-Wearing a size 8!”

Many articles have been written about the numbers not being used as the sole measure of our progress. Yet, we can still hinge our feelings, hopes, and dreams on whether or not that digital reading climbs just a bit too high. We can walk away feeling like a champion or feeling like our efforts were for naught. Progress can, and should be measured in many ways.

As I began taken care of my body, my changes were not only physical. They were mental, emotional, and even spiritual. Improvement in one area led to improvements in others. And I would not have been able to appreciate that if I had not made the conscious decision to ‘make it all count’. I knew there were going to be times that I faltered and made mistakes. But, I also wanted to highlight the positive choices that I was determined to make outweigh those times.

Omni-Fit Interviews Chantayn Winner

Hey everyone, hope you're having a fantastic day!  Earlier this week I had the privilege of interviewing figure competitor Chantayn Winner when she stopped by Omni-Fit to check the place out and to talk fitness, you can see the interview at the below link:

Omni-Fit Chantayn Winner Interview


Chantayn's success has led to her becoming well known in the community not only for her success on stage but also for her commitment to health and fitness.  If you didn't know, figure competition isn't Chantayn's full-time pursuit, she's also a wife, a mother, and a professional, serving as Relationship Banking Officer for Bank of the Cascades in Boise.  That makes Chantayn one of "us" in that she must work gym time and diet management into her already busy schedule. And Chantayn's results, including taking first place in her division two years in a row at the Northwest Naturals, prove that her approach works.

We all know how things like our workouts and our diets can get squeezed by our real priorities in life, and Chantayn is no different than the rest of us.  She manages her commitment to fitness through planning, organization and by getting up early for her workouts. This is a sterling example for anyone seeking a healthier life; that it doesn't always come easily, that no quick-fix solutions exist, and that results are only achieved through hard work in the gym and through disciplined adherence to our diets.

You may or may not aspire to compete, but people like Chantayn play in important role in inspiring people to lead a healthier life through fitness, and providing and example that discipline and commitment are the keys to any successful fitness plan.

For more on Chantayn, go to her website at:

http://www.chantayn.com/