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seems that losing weight is both a woman’s dream and nightmare.
It’s easy for us to make that promise to ourselves, only to get
discouraged a month later and give up completely. That’s where Inches A Weigh steps in. Pam and Roger Hochstetler, co-owners of three Inches A Weigh franchises in the Kansas City area, say many of their customers come there after trying everything else. “These ladies have been up and down on the scale,” Pam says. “They’ve played with the same 50 pounds over and over again. So we aim to make this the last stop on their weight loss journey.” Inches A Weigh was established in 1986 by Scott Simcik, and is specifically geared toward addressing the weight loss and fitness needs of women. These women are typically frustrated with the competitive environment of aerobic classes and have no interest in the weightlifting machines found at regular gyms. Inches A Weigh employs a three-phase approach to weight loss: weight management, which includes nutritional services like menu planning; body sculpting; and cardiovascular fitness—all at one location. Each appointment is just an hour long, which Pam says is great for women who are busy juggling jobs and social activities or are caring for children. Another advantage to the Inches A Weigh unique approach is that its body sculpting machines are low- impact and weightless. Women do isometric exercises similar to yoga. This is a type of strength training that involves contracting the muscle group that is being trained and sculpted. The equipment is motorized and moves while you contract your muscles. Pam says all clients start in basic positions and then later move to intermediate and advanced levels. Each of the seven pieces of equipment is designed to target specific problem areas such as the upper arms, upper back, abdomen, thighs, and rear. “The machines are especially great for ladies who haven’t been able to do physical exercise for a long period of time,” Pam explains. “It improves their flexibility and is therapeutic and rehabilitative for ladies who have bad knees or hips.” Inches A Weigh programs are also customized for each woman, which means plans are based on their individual fitness goals, Body Mass Index, goal weight, and inch loss. Women who qualify may sign up for nutrition-only programs or exercise-only programs. Some ladies may begin at 30 minutes of cardio, while others begin with two to five minutes of it. The ultimate goal, according to Pam, is to work every woman up to 30 minutes of cardio. “We use the ‘FIT’ technique for customizing workouts,” she points out. “We start by increasing frequency of cardio three to five times per week. Once this is reached, we change the intensity to provide an additional resistance and interval-training workout. Then we increase their time.” A typical visit goes like this: You come in for your scheduled appointment and get started on your body sculpting using the figure equipment. You spend five minutes on each piece of equipment for a total of 35 to 40 minutes, depending on how fast the class is moving. During this time, you are coached by a lifestyle counselor on the floor, who instructs you on the proper use of the equipment and how to get the most out of your workout. After you are finished on the figure-shaping equipment, you complete your class in the cardio section. Again, the lifestyle counselor is there to assist you on how to use the equipment and how to get the best cardio workout for your fitness level. “I didn’t think that program would work for me,” states Jacinta, a member of the Shawnee Inches A Weigh location since September 2007. Jacinta says that when she started, she was the biggest she had ever been at 228 pounds. “I’d tried so many programs. The thing is that I need the big picture. I can’t go to a place where they just show me the machines and say, ‘there you go.’ I needed all of it: the exercising and the nutritional information.” Since she joined, Jacinta has dropped from a size 20 to a size 12. “The thing that’s really been great is the support system from other women,” Jacinta points out. “We’re competitive, but it’s good competition. And the camaraderie system is something I’d never seen at any other place. We all root for each other.” Jacinta credits the staff at the Shawnee Inches A Weigh for being so helpful and providing a well-rounded weight loss system. Pam and Roger opened the first Inches A Weigh in Independence, Missouri three-and-a-half years ago. Since then, they’ve opened a center in Liberty, Missouri, and later the Shawnee location in June 2007. In just eight months, the Shawnee location has become the second in the nation in weight loss at all of the Inches A Weigh franchises. Collectively, members have lost 1,175.73 inches and 1,354.5 pounds. “That’s the most rewarding thing for me,” says Pam. “I love seeing the women be successful. It’s inspiring to see women’s journeys and their transformations throughout those journeys.” Pam and Roger employ four staff members focused on helping women lose weight at the location in Shawnee. Two part-time lifestyle counselors and a program manager oversee the fitness center. The center director, Jennifer, who helps with menu planning, has been with Inches A Weigh since June. “We’re here to help keep our clients on track,” states Pam. “We want to keep our clients motivated, not beat them up because they didn’t lose weight that week—women do that just fine themselves. Sometimes things arise and they get derailed, but we want to give the ladies hope and show them that a few mistakes won’t completely throw them off.” The staff intends to teach women tools to use and implement so they can participate in activities like family gatherings and social outings. “We want to make them stronger so when in situations of temptation, they’re able to say the hard work they put into losing weight is more important than that piece of cake.” Classes at the Shawnee location are from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Inches A Weigh also offers a noon class on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday for working women who would like to exercise during their lunch break. For more information or to set up a consultation, call 913-268-1177 or visit the Shawnee location at 10956 W. 74th Terrace. |
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