"In the first 4 weeks of training with Maurice, I lost 17 pounds. In the first 2 weeks of training with Maurice, people where coming up to me and asking what I was doing to lose the weight. Maurice has created a diet for me that is satisfying and doesn't leave me hungry all the time."     
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Mike Montgomery Kernersville, NC

"From a gym manager’s point of view, Maurice Crocker is the perfect example of what every personal trainer should strive to become. He is knowledgeable in all aspects of nutrition, muscular development and proper exercise technique. "     
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Jeff-Sportsplex Kernersville, NC

"When I retired, I decided that one of the first good things that I would do for my self would be to stop smoking. I successfully stopped smoking in a very short period of time, but much to my dismay I immediately began to gain weight and could not seem to stop. I was so frustrated with my escalating weight that for a brief time I actually considered starting to smoke again. Fortunately, I talked with my doctor about the feasibility of my joining a gym instead. He thought that joining a gym was a splendid idea but he also thought I should work with a certified trainer. "     
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Pauline R. Fulton, BA, M.Ed., Ph.D.

“A Dream Deferred”
One Woman’s Life Long Battle With Emotional Eating
And How She Turned A Dream of loosing 100 Pounds Into Reality

By Maurice Crocker, owner Showtime Physique Personal Training Studio

As we anticipate the new season of NBC”s hit reality show The Biggest Loser, many of us will watch in amazement as the contestants loose 50, 60 even 100 pounds.  As a Personal Trainer and fitness professional, I often listen as people express their dreams of loosing weight.  For one Winston-Salem woman that dream is now a reality. 

Martha Wall, 46 recently reached a pivotal milestone in her journey to re-claim her life, by loosing 100 pounds.   “I don’t ever see myself being completely done with loosing weight.”  Wall said.  “Once I reach my final goal then I’ll have to focus on maintaining the weight.” She added.

 

Wall, who is a Pharmacist by profession, is a native of Winston-Salem.  She remembers that her battles with weight gain began at an early age.  “I would say my trouble began when I was eight, because it was just after my father had a serious Heart Attack.” She said. 

According to Wall, it was the fear and uncertainty of her father’s health that caused her to use food for comfort and emotional relief.  Wall says she remembers hiding from other family members while eating potato chips and drinking Cokes. 

After several years of emotional eating, Wall began to realize she had a problem around the seventh grade.  “At the age of 12, I weighed 208 pounds.” “That’s when the other kids began to tease and my friends began to fade.”

As with most overweight teens and adults, Wall ostracized herself and devoted all her time and energy into education.  Wall says this was her life through middle and junior-senior high school. 

“As a senior in high school I was weighing 240 pounds, and decided to do something, so I joined Weight Watchers with my mom.” she said. 

According to Wall, she was successful in loosing 40 pounds.   

However, because of low self-esteem decided to defer going to college for fear of being ridiculed, not accepted and unsure if she could handle the physical demands.  “I thought about things most people didn’t like, would I be able to walk across campus, and climb stairs in buildings.”  “I wasn’t sure if I could handle all that.” Wall said.

Six years later at the age of 24 and a weight of 280 pounds, Wall decided it was time to give college a try and enrolled at the University Of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.  This decision proved to be a wise one.  Ironically, the physical demands she once feared, helped with an immediate weight loss of 60 pounds her first year. 

“Because you couldn’t have a car as a freshman, I had to walk every. It was funny the one thing I feared, ended up being the very thing I need to help me loose the weight.”

Although the walking and the active lifestyle were helping, Wall continued to find comfort in food and would binge when her roommate was away.   Upon graduation, at the end of the six year pharmacy program, Wall weighed 285 pounds and began working full time as a Pharmacist. 

“After I graduated, and began working, it was like a license to eat anything,” she said.  “I had my own apartment and no roommate, so I didn’t have to sneak around to eat all the junk I liked.” 

  In 1994 Wall’s weight was 300 pounds,  a critical time in her life and she knew some serious decisions had to be made. 
“I figured Weight Watchers worked for me in the past, so I tried it again,” she said.  Only this time the program did not work,  because Wall had become very dependent on food for comfort.

“I figured if I had a bad day with the customers, I deserved to eat that candy bar or that bag of M&M’s,” said Wall.
In addition, to the sweets, fast food had become Wall’s main source of nutrition. 

“What really cracks me up is I would go to wherever and order my meal deals and other junk, then drink a diet coke.” Said Wall.

According to Wall, she knew that ordering and eating these foods were bad nutritional choices, but used the Diet Coke to justify her choices. 
The weight had begun to cause internal struggles for Wall and her interactions with customers.

“The only time my size bothered me was when people would ask me questions about weight loss and various products,”  “ Here I was over 300 pounds, how could I tell someone they shouldn’t take a diet pill.” She said. 

During this time the weight also began to affect Wall’s health.  Shortly after reaching 300 pounds, her doctor placed her on medications for high blood pressure as well as high cholesterol.   The idea of being on medication for the rest of her, in addition to her current physical condition, caused Wall to suffer from depression. 

“When the depression began, I became more sedentary.  I did not go anywhere except work and home.” Wall said.
Wall also began to ostracize herself, just as she had at the age of 12 in middle school. 
“I cut everybody off except for my family, “she said. 

The profession she loved was also now in jeopardy, because of her weight and size.  Wall says it is customary for Pharmacist to stand 10-12 hours a day, with very little time for sitting. 

“My bosses were not happy with me, because I sat down all the time.  I couldn’t stand for long periods of time, physically I just could not support the weight.” She added.

In addition, not being able to handle the physical demands, Wall says the depression began taking it’s affecting her mentally. 
“I was calling in sick all the time, and when I was at work, I would cry a lot.” Wall said.

According to Wall, in March 2007 her weight and depression cost her the profession she loved so much. 
“I was fired. But I would have fired me too.” Wall said. “I had become one of those employees that I did not want to deal with.”

The devastation of losing her job and physical limitation caused Wall to be hospitalized for depression.  Upon entering the hospital, Wall was dealt another blow.   During the intake process Wall was informed she now weighed 420 pounds. 

Wall was place on disability and realized that something had to be done. 

“I knew I had to put the food down and make a change in my life.” She said. 
In addition to watching her diet, she also began to walk twice a day for exercise and joined a local support group to help with her relationship with food. 

Wall says one of the members in the support group approached her and suggested she try a personal trainer.  Skeptical and apprehensive Wall decided to take a chance and meet with a trainer.

Wall met Maurice Crocker, owner of SHOWTIME PHYSIQUE Personal Training Studios.  “Once I met with Maurice I had the confidence that it would be possible for me to lose the weight.” She said.

“I started to join several other facilities, but I was just too embarrassed.  There’s no way I could’ve went  to a regular gym and do a group class, the one on one concept works well for me.” Says Wall.

Wall began training with Crocker in January 2008.  In the beginning Wall worked-out two days a week, quickly increasing to three days week.  In May of 2008 Wall had lost a total of 80 pounds and wanted to increase her training sessions from three to five days a week, in order to reach her 100 pound goal.  

On July 8, 2008 Wall reached her goal of 100 pounds.  Yet another milestone in her battle with weight, except this time it was a victorious milestone. 

“The cool thing is, I found that I really like to do this,”  “If I would have known years ago what exercise and discipline could do for me; I would have done this a long time ago.”  Wall said.

According to Wall, exercise has not only help her physically, and decreased her battles with depression.  “The depression has not gone away, but the exercise has help tremendously and my confidence has grown.” Wall noted.

Wall says, if she had to give any advice to others who are dealing with the same issues she has, it would be to find someone who is a professional and can work with your limitations. 

“I know it’s scary, but find someone who will be able to support you and serve as a rock in your corner, and whatever you do; don’t be afraid of exercise.” Wall said.

Wall suggests, you have exercise and get moving.  Wall says unless you exercise you may loose the weight, but it will come back. 
Although Wall has lost 100 pounds, she is not done by any means.  According to Wall, her ultimate goal is to weigh  between 160-165 pounds  and be able to sport a pair of patent-leather Jimmy Choo’s with a stiletto heel. 

“My best friend and I have already planned the shopping trip when I reach my ultimate goal. We are going to New York City,” Wall said as she blushed with excitement.