Continued from:
"cyfit.com Expert Wins World's
Best Personal Trainer Contest"

Backgrounder on Dolores: Dolores Kornely hired Paul Neville as her personal trainer six years ago, when she was 246 pounds. Today, she weighs 154 pounds, and continues to maintain a healthy, fit lifestyle under Paul's guidance.

Q: Congratulations on winning the Met-Rx contest along with Paul. How did that make you feel?
A: It was overwhelming — beyond my wildest expectations. I can't believe the recognition and acknowledgement I've gotten.

Q: Can you give me a brief history of yourself?
A: I work for JC Penney. I had relocated to Poughkeepsie [N.Y.] to help open a store. I was up there about seven years, and during that time, I had a type A personality, dealing with a lot of pressure, being away from family and friends, and I put all my energy into work. I also put on a lot of weight.

When I moved back to Long Island, I said, "I have to do something." I needed guidance. I saw a brochure for personal training in the gym that is now cyfit.com's East Islip [N.Y.] location.

For the first three years, I faithfully went to Paul and others to exercise. But as far as eating [changes], I wasn't there yet.

Q: So were you kind of discouraged your first three years?
A: Yes. The week before I went on a cruise, I was very unhappy with my body. I said, "That's it." I knew Paul was the right person [to help], and I knew I had to lose weight by changing my lifestyle.

Q: So when do you recall seeing results?
A: Not until my fourth year, until I changed my eating habits. Then we turned everything up a notch.

Q: Why Paul?
A: We connect. We feed off of each other, and our philosophy is the same. I'm always questioning what steps to take next, and Paul provides the knowledge behind them.

Q: What keeps you motivated?
A: My determination. When I set my mind to something, I keep going til I get there. And Paul motivates me. He tells me I can do it when I doubt myself.

Q: What are your eating habits?
A: I eat five to six times a day, at three-hour intervals. And I eat breakfast.

Q: What kinds of food?
A: Fish, chicken or beef, vegetables, a combination of carbs. I also have my "cheat meal" — one meal a week where I eat anything I want from soup to nuts. I don't deprive myself — it's just a better balance [of foods].

Q: You lost almost 100 pounds. What do you think of that?
A: My body fat percentage went down almost 30 percent. That's the big thing — the body fat, not the weight. I've replaced the fat with muscle. I'm healthier and eating more, which is strange to say.

Q: : How has your weight loss affected your life?
A: It's helped me show more of my true self. The package matches the person now — I'm just in a different wrapping.

Q: So people look at you differently?
A: Yes, people do look at you differently and react differently when you're thinner. That's just the way it is. There's so much pressure on your appearance.

Q: What advice can you give others who want to lose weight?
A: There are really no tricks. It's a slow process. There's no easy answer, no quick fix. There are different forms of exercise for different people. But don't start [to work out] til you're ready to do it.

Q: What happens if you're not ready?
A: If you look at working out that way [as a nightmare], you won't be successful. It'll be easier for you to stumble and quit.

Do it for yourself, and become focused on you. It's not a bad thing if you take it in the right light.

Evan Mestman is a registered dietician at cyfit.com.

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