It was my husband’s idea to begin the Bonfire Health Program. I was open to idea, however, was overwhelmed with what this would mean as far as our already over-scheduled, hectic lifestyle with our three sons. Life had transformed into rushed breakfasts, processed school/work lunches and on the road dinner routines because of sports schedules. My husband does travel for work and this complicated the situation further. I often found myself stressed about how I would juggle these elements while he was out of town. He desperately wanted to make a change as he saw his own parents’ health failing.
We decided to take on the Bonfire Health Program and do the best job that we could. We quickly adopted some healthy eating habits. We no longer skipped meals and did not eat the morning meal on the go. We starting doing the workouts and really began to see physical changes in our bodies. With the food changes and exercise combined we also gained a lot more energy to spend enjoying with our family and friends.
We now have a more positive outlook on how we see our responsibility for taking care of ourselves in order to be there for our loved ones for years to come. We cannot reduplicate the patterns that we have witnessed our own family members getting into because we understand the consequences we will face when we reach their ages in 30 years if we continued to live the lifestyle that we were once accustomed to. I feel that the program has given us a positive boost to make our lives better as well as the how-to for integrating wellness into our everyday life that will keep us fit and healthy forever, and allow us to be role models for our three sons.
Ellen N.
When I started this program, I had been attending Weight Watchers for approximately 7 months, with a good deal of success. I invited my sister Leslie to participate in the Bonfire Health Program, with my primary reason for joining to implement an exercise program to accelerate my results. I was lacking motivation and by enlisting my sister’s support, I thought that if I had to be accountable to someone besides myself that I might actually be able to make exercise part of a lifestyle change that I desperately needed. Little did I know that The Bonfire Health Program was about a lot more than exercise and it would change my life completely.
This program takes a commitment to oneself. There will likely be many junctures where you will think "This is too hard...I can’t do it," but with the right encouragement, if you keep at it, it will change your life for the better, forever. I had thought about quitting several times, but every time I noticed that I was making progress with my health and my weight, and that kept me coming back for more. With each passing accomplishment, I acknowledged myself and took great pride in what I was doing for myself.
I could never have imagined where this journey would take me. I am deeply grateful for the obvious and not so obvious ways it has changed my life. At this point my body craves the things that make me feel better. The education I have received about nutrition, movement, attitude and commitment help me to stay on track and make me want to be an example for my friends and family. As with everything worthwhile, there comes a level of responsibility to live your life with integrity and to put yourself first, for if you are the best you can be, you will have so much more to give others.
Lesae B.
I lost 20 lbs. I am the best shape in years. The program has changed my way of thinking about myself. I like the way I feel and look. I am healthier because of it. It was not hard to do. You just need determination. Look in the mirror...do you like what you see? I didn’t, so I took action and followed the Bonfire Health Program and now the results speak for themselves.
Tom D.
I was terrified at the beginning of The Bonfire Health Program. I wanted to avoid any program that would involve people in spandex, publicly weighing in, the way the weight loss shows do on television. Quickly, I realized that this program is none of that, and that I was in for a motivating, inspiring and educated journey.
As someone who has decades of struggling with an eating disorder, I felt it was better for me to stay the course and avoid focusing on aggressive weight loss. The structure of the program helped me do this with ease. My intuition told me that feeling restricted would lead me back to binge mode, yet I was surprised that I liked a lot of the recipe ideas and I never felt really hungry. This program really helped me up the amount of fresh, fibrous foods, increase my protein consumption, and focus on hydration. I eat a good breakfast, make lunch the biggest meal of my day, have a smaller dinner and snack on healthy foods. My energy is improved and I no longer eat mindlessly. Cravings have decreased significantly.
Thirteen weeks ago, I liked to sleep until 7 or 7:30 every morning, then rely on caffeine and food to fuel my day. I avoided activity and the thought of joining a gym was enough to send me back to bed! I had to walk through a lot of fear to go to embark on the exercise part of the program. By the end of the first workout, I realized that I was stronger than I thought. Despite my size, I was not the “worst” at everything. I realized that thin does not necessarily mean fit, and this realization gave me a sense of equanimity. This made me even more committed. Now I am stronger, have greater endurance and plenty of energy to get through a crazy day with my 2 small children. If I can do it, so can you - and you with be so thankful that you did!
Susie L.
As a 62 year old male, I have been diagnosed with hypertension, high cholesterol (LDL) and low HDL levels. I was having pain and numbness in my left thigh. An MRI showed I have 2 herniated discs in my lower lumbar area of my back. So to say I was “apprehensive” about this undertaking is an understatement.
I knew that changing a lifetime of eating habits was not going to be easy, but the program gradually adjusts your eating “habits” into foods that will make you healthy rather than those that help make you sick.
It was not easy, but nothing worth having ever is. As soon as I fully committed, I was astounded by the results. At the beginning it was a lot for me. But as I kept going, it got easier and easier, and something I really started to look forward to each day. Once you decide that you want a better life for yourself as well as those important to you, the Bonfire Health program is the answer. You stick to this program and you can’t help but feel better physically and mentally.
For anyone who may be thinking about partaking in the future, all I can say is go for it! You will never know what you are capable of unless you are willing to find out. You might just surprise yourself. I sure did.
Bill D.
I was very weak at the beginning and had eaten horribly for 2 years while my mom was in the nursing home. I did not care about much except her. I never thought I would get a normal life or feel good again. My mom died during the first 2 weeks of my journey beginning on the Bonfire Health Program. I was more of a mess, but the exercise and structure of the program really helped me through this. I joined with my husband, Bill, who also needed desperately to lose weight and tone up. Those 2 years had been debilitating for him. I wanted badly to support him, despite the challenges we both were facing. In supporting him, I found myself improving as well. There were times when depression and anger took over, when I fought every step of the way – yet I found myself wanting to try again because the program kept me going down the path to greater health and wellness that I was seeking so I could live my life fully.
I needed to become stronger, and sticking to the program has helped me do this with ease. My eating habits have improved with the addition of fruits and vegetables and cutting down on simple carbs and fats. I did not always agree with everything, but I would at least try it and often was surprised by the results. It is a positive program in that you do the best you can - and by giving it your best, that’s simply good enough. The physical movement often helped motivate me to work through sobbing sessions when I would not have moved off the couch. The think portion of the program really helped me get in touch with my feelings. Regardless of what is going on in your life, I believe this program will help you get through it, and you will be better because of it. Give it a try you won’t be disappointed.
Marty M.
When I started hearing about the Bonfire Health Program, I was a bit apprehensive. I focused on how much work it was going to take to change some of my old, unhealthy habits! I thought I would be starving and bored. Well, I was pleased to find that this was absolutely not true! This is the best program I have ever done!
The way it is designed not only gave me a custom program designed to work into my current lifestyle, but helped me build a foundation for me to adapt into a wellness lifestyle. I realized that diets or any temporary fix just won’t work for the long term. Forcing yourself to work out at the gym on machines won’t last forever. But learning new ways to appreciate food, to exercise, and to connect with my emotions will lead to a lifetime of good health. I have felt better than I have in years, and the education I have received from the program will empower me to make better choices when it comes to my health that will last a lifetime.
Arlene D.
