As far back as she can remember, Holly Troychak has always had a problem being overweight. In fact, it seems that a lot of other people also had a problem with her weight. At age 11, her mom pushed her to start on a Weight Watchers diet. But it didn’t take. By 14, she was crying to her mom about the kids teasing her.
More Weight Watchers meetings followed, as did more disappointments. And, after each failed diet, she returned to her safe zone, eating snacks and comfort food. At the time of her high school graduation, the five-footfive senior had ballooned up to 250 pounds. As a young adult, however, she would become committed to being more healthy.
Through a regimen of diet and exercise, the Eastwood resident lost 120 pounds and is now helping others as a part-time fitness trainer. But she can’t forget what it was like to be a young girl in the hyperactive world of teenage angst — and fat. “I felt like it kept me from expressing my personality. It was debilitating,” she said. Doctors described her condition “morbidly obese.”
She also vividly recalls the terms used by her high school classmates. “I’m still affected. All the name-calling, all the discrimination, all the heartache,” she said. “I’m very sensitive because of that. Just because the body adjusts, the mind doesn’t or it takes longer.” Finally, at the age of 19, Troychak hit rock bottom.
“My breaking point came at Michigan State. I had a hard time finding a group of friends. I was never asked by the other girls to go out. I was never asked to go out on a date,” she said. “It was difficult to shop, difficult to find a date.” Away at college, alone and lonely, and her weight peaking at 260 pounds, she called home crying, again.
This time, however, her dad set her straight. “He said, ‘The real reason you’re unhappy is because you’re overweight.’ I was so hurt, but it was true,” she said. “The next morning I joined Weight Watchers again for the third and final time.
I made up my mind I was going to do this.” What followed was seven years of diet and exercise, during which time she lost 80 pounds. But all of her hard work was done privately, almost secretively. ‘You couldn’t pay me to go to a fitness center,” she said, still self-conscious about her body image.
“It was very discouraging. I was the perfect student and nothing was making me feel better.” She wanted more. “I wanted that look and feel of an athlete. I wanted that confidence, that selfcontrol, that came with being an athlete,” she said.
So, two years ago, she took the next step. She researched and found a diet that was tailored for her goals — a more balanced and varied diet, with less carbohydrates and more protein, fruits and vegetables.
And she started lifting weights. “I added weight training to my life, which was incredibly intimidating. That was the guys’ section,” she said of her initial trip to the gym. “The first time I was shaking. All I was thinking was how stupid I looked. But once I got going I learned how physically strong I was. I went from the girl who never would go to a gym to… ‘I own this gym.’”
Now, at age 28, Troychak has the body that she always wanted. Her weight — not the lightest she’s ever been due to added muscle — is 160. Her training, which includes free weights, resistance equipment and cardiovascular work, is intense. She works out five days a week, waking up at 5 a.m. She is even helping others achieve their health goals by writing up fitness and diet programs based on individual goals, abilities and medical histories.
A partner to push
Kasia Radziwilko of East Orlando already had lost 40 pounds — on her own. But now she wants to tone and add definition. Meeting up last week at Steel Mill Gym, the two women went over the fitness regimen that Troychak specially designed for her. The personalized schedule calls for three days of lifting weights and two days of cardio work.
The weight-training program is similar to circuit training in that Radziwilko will proceed from Less is more Weight training helps woman overcome lifelong struggle with obesity, then turn and train others one exercise to the next, with little time off in between.
The goal is to both gain strength and lose fat. As part of a balanced program that addresses overall body conditioning, the same muscle group will not be worked on consecutive days. Moreover, the fitness program will change every six weeks to offer more variety, and avoid boredom as well.
In addition, Troychak presented her client with an individualized dietary program, consisting of a shopping list of healthy foods. Because Radziwilko’s job does not always permit a lunch hour, snacks such as protein bars, nuts and tuna salad are also included. Radziwilko appreciates the attention to detail being given her workouts, including specific weights, exercises and proper form as prescribed by Troychak.
“She’s definitely great about about making sure I’m doing the right exercises, the right way,” she said. “My mind-set is different since I started working with Holly. Initially I just wanted to focus on my stomach and thighs, but now my approach is to sculpt my whole body.” In turn, Troychak has good things to say about her pupil.
“She is disciplined enough to do the work on her own. Not everyone is like that,” she said. Due to this extra diligence that they share, there is one unofficial allowance in the workout schedule — a “cheat day” — for both protegee and mentor. “I really think that, coming from my background of weight loss, deprivation can backfire,” Troychak said. “I allow myself a day off from my diet every so often. I see that as my reward.”
To Radziwilko, the concept sounds good, but she pledges, “I won’t have cheat days, just cheat moments.” Armed with two bachelor’s degrees from Michigan State, including one in human biology with a minor in chemistry, Troychak has long been a student of the body, a natural lead-in to her role as health consultant (holly@ anafit.com). In the summer she will take the exam to become a certified strength and conditioning specialist. “It’s very important to have someone to talk to, to vent to,” she said.
“It’s important to have someone with the knowledge to help guide you to make a difference.” Troychak carries this message to her daytime job as a teacher at Glenridge Middle School. In her eighth-grade science class, she has even established a Twinkie Lab. “I teach the difference between real food and processed food.
You should enjoy what you want to eat, but be a food snob, be picky about it. Check out the ingredients on the package,” she said. She also teaches her students to respect others. “Fat is the new F word. I’ve been on the receiving end of nasty comments, but it’s even tougher today.
Even now, when I hear someone call a person fat, I’m offended,” she said. “I’m a woman on a mission. I’m an advocate against bullying, and I won’t tolerate it.”
