Sue Velott

Sue has been a client for the past year, and came to me with goals similar to many clients. However, in early April, she ruptured her Achilles tendon, and her goals changed drastically. For those who don’t know, the Achilles tendon is the thick cord in your ankle that runs into your calf muscle and attaches to your heel. It is generally one of the most difficult injuries to recover from, sometimes taking up to 18 months.

Sue is used to being active. A collegiate volleyball player, she is currently a coach for the boy’s team at Moorestown High School (where she was injured), and still competitively plays beach volleyball. With this background, she was determined to hasten the recovery process as much as possible. Within 48 hours of surgery (fully casted,) Sue was already doing leg exercises on a stability ball! She learned to safely push herself every step of the way, getting a little more out of each step of the recovery process. As soon as the cast came off, Sue pushed her body to get the most out of her therapy and work outs. Constantly in motion, she was able to avoid many common setbacks in recovery. Despite a few personal issues that may have slowed others (including myself), Sue managed to stay on track. At exactly 4 months after the surgery, Sue was able to lightly practice volleyball.

All of this hard work culminated in mid-August. She was given the green light by her doctors and physical therapists. Keep in mind that despite the tendon’s relative health, Sue’s leg and ankle had been relatively inactive despite all the rehab work, and it will be months before she is completely pain free. However, in that first week, we went out and ran/walked a little over 3 miles in under 45 minutes! Despite being a little sore, she entered a semi-pro beach volleyball tournament against athletes that have not only been healthy all summer, but have also been practicing for the last five months. Despite virtually no practice, and a newly “healthy” ankle, Sue managed to take 3rd place in the tournament, a mere 4½ months after the injury! To put this in perspective, Todd Pinkston of the Philadelphia Eagles suffered the same injury last August, and has yet to play football again.

I would like to congratulate Sue Velott on persevering through all the obstacles, and coming back from a severe injury successfully faster than anyone I have ever seen!

  • Tip of the Month

    January 2012

    Smart Starbucks and Steakhouse Choices

    Starbucks Choices
    • Peppermint Choc Mocha- 520cals, 20g fat
    • Pumpkin Frappuccino- 420cals, 13g fat
    • Flavored Latte- 360clas, 16g fat
    • Latte- 220cals, 15g fat
    • Coffee w/cream and sugar 180 calories
    • Cappuccino- 120cals, 4g fat
    • Coffee w/sugar 90 calories
    • Coffee w/cream 90 calories
    • Coffee w/whole milk 60 calories
    • Coffee w/skim milk 30-50 calories

    Order a coffee with cream and sugar every work day?  Add 900 calories per week to your diet.  That is over 13 pounds in one year.

    Enjoy a cappuccino every day instead, and you save 300 calories per week, and cut 4 pounds per year from the above diet.

    Go to coffee with skim milk and Splenda?  Now you are only adding 250 calories per week, and under 4 pounds per year in coffee weight.

    Enjoy a flavored frappucino or latte once per week?  That could add up to 26,000 calories, and another 7.5 pounds per year.

    Just your coffee could account for 20 pounds of caloric intake annually!

    Steakhouse Choices
    • Caesars Salad- 800cals
    • Chopped Salad, 320cals
    • Spinach Salad, 170cals click here for more »

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  • Recipe of the Month

    January 2012

    Drink alcohol a little more wisely!

    Drink Choices
    • Eggnog, 350cals
    • White Russian, 260cals
    • Riesling, 160-200cals
    • Shot of liquor, 70-125cals
    • Tonic or Soda, 100cals
    • Winter Beer, 150-200cals
    • Beer, 150cals
    • Bloody Mary, 130cals
    • Wine, 120cals
    • Light Beer, 55-85cals
    • Champagne, 85cals
    Enjoy a small glass of eggnog and two gin and tonics, and you have drank 750 worthless calories.
    Or, start with some champagne, and enjoy two glasses of wine and you only have drank 330 calories, less than half of your first choices.