Marie Macuda-D'Ortenzios' Testimonial

Marie Macuda-D'Ortenzio has given up her quest of being a perfect size 2. What she wants now, is to be healthy, to have energy, to be proud of who and what she is. And with Gloria Ponziano always a close step behind her, she's well on her way! "Gloria is my personal cheerleader. … I need her! … She has helped me put my goals and objectives into perspective. … She has helped me to realize that, I too, can be healthy! … "

Marie came to Gloria after having given birth to her child. "I felt like a snail," says Marie. "I had imagined that after having my child I would simply slip into my pre-pregnancy clothes. But was I mistaken! Those extra 10-15 pounds wouldn't come off. I was obsessed, worried, preoccupied. It consumed me; it became half of who I was." Marie tried gyms, but soon found that a gym's schedule must be your schedule. "The whole gym setting was not conducive to my life," comments Marie. Marie was at a loss. Her hopes of resuming her shapely figure seemed farther away than ever. Her self-esteem plummeted. At this point she decided to give personal training a try. It was a last resort. "I am an open person, and I was open with the trainers I consulted. I let them into my concerns and preoccupations with my body image, and told them of my struggles. What I repeatedly heard was, 'You just haven't been doing it right up until now!' And as if this weren't humiliating enough, there was always the presence of a discerning eye," says Marie. But Gloria was different.

Marie came across Gloria's business cards at the local GNC. What she remembers distinctly was a caption on the card that states, ' … transforming bodies in as little as twelve weeks. … ' This was enough to have her bolt to the phone. "I remember thinking," says Marie, "this could be it!" "But at the same time, I felt that it could also just be another gamble at a quick weight-loss fix; just more wasted money!" Marie saw Gloria that very same day. "I was so impressed," says Marie. "I guess she could sense the preoccupation in my voice. She told me that she had some time free, and would be more than happy to talk today. I took her up on the offer. And I thank God that I did!"

When Gloria arrived at Marie's home, Marie surprised herself talking openly about her difficulties while Gloria listened. "One thing that I will never forget is something Gloria said to me that day. I felt hope for the first time in a very long while. She said, 'It has nothing to do with doing it right, or for that matter, doing it wrong. The only thing that matters is turning it around and making work for you!'" Gloria has taught Marie the basics of getting-fit and staying-fit. She has given Marie hope, and a positive attitude to accompany it. In addition, Gloria has educated Marie on the basics of nutrition, and has taught her how to not give-in when she reaches a plateau. "

Gloria has taught me a very important lesson. I have learned that being healthy is a sort of all-inclusive package: it entails both feeling good and looking good, in addition to always knowing that you are doing the very best that you can do." Marie says that she has learned to be "accountable" for her health. Upon coming to Gloria she was on medication due to blood pressure irregularity. Gloria continues to monitor her blood pressure three times within a typical workout and for the past four months it has remained stable. Marie continues to wake at 6:30 a.m. for her morning workouts; something that she never imagined she would be able to do. Her energy level has dramatically increased due to her scheduled workouts, Gloria's guidance, supplements prescribed by Gloria, and a new, nutritious and balanced way of eating (again orchestrated by Gloria). So it seems that Gloria has once again worked her magic, instilling hope where it had been lost.