Joe Bruner: Life Transformed

Email from a Cenegenics patient to Cenegenics Dallas-Ft. Worth’s nutrition-exercise counselor

March 1, 2012

Dear Carl,

I want to share with you how my life has been transformed since I met with you.  I am eating protein every 3-4 hours, and my wife, Dr. Rena Graham, has been extremely supportive in her shopping and meal preparations.

I think I told you that I have inserted intervals into my morning runs, and I am also undergoing training for CrossFit.  The end result of this, after one month, is pretty jaw-dropping.

I know that my weight is really pretty irrelevant (most NFL running backs probably weigh 50% more than me, with half the body fat), but I can’t help noticing that although I’m eating a larger volume of food, I continue to lose 1-2# weekly.

The most noticeable change, though, is simply how I look. I’m wearing clothes (especially trousers) that have been languishing in my closet for several years.  I can start to see the outlines of a 6-pack, and I have to admit, I often pause in front of the mirror for a second look.

On days that I’m not going to CrossFit, I’m still lifting free weights in my home gym, and I’ve needed to increase my weights, while keeping my set and rep #s stable.

When I met with you, we estimated my body fat at ~20%.  I’m guessing I’m right around 17%-18% now, and if I continue at this rate, I speculate I’ll be about 15% by summer.  By the way, my VO₂ max has obviously improved markedly.

Carl, I can’t thank you enough for your guidance and support.  I look forward to seeing you again.

—Joe Bruner

Carl Graham is a nutrition/exercise counselor at Cenegenics Dallas-Fort Worth, working with Cenegenics physician partner Dr. Paul D. Thompson.

Carl’s word for the day? “You can’t out exercise bad nutrition!”