health & nutrition
Paddle Away
the
Pounds!
Weight loss success stories from
By Brandi Givens, RDN
the pickleball court.
I
once believed that simply providing education to
clients struggling with weight would help them. I
soon learned that no matter what nutritional ATP
equivalents I would try, my information was often
blocked by resistance. On the other hand, some patients
would charge into the office, paddles up and determined
to change—and they did!
What causes a person to become so determined? Here
are three outstanding pickleball players who have agreed
to share their stories of struggle and success in hopes to
help others.
The Trainer/Coach: Jeff “Cobra Kai” Cederna
Jeff is a
personal
trainer and
pickleball
coach in
Michigan
who lost 135
pounds in
eight months.
While he
realizes people
may judge him
as a health
professional,
he’s raising
awareness
that no one
is immune to
underlying
problems like
injury and
depression,
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which often contribute to being overweight. His
message to those who need it: “You can do this. You are
not alone.”
He adds, “It’s sad but people look down on you and
talk about you. The worst is when you join in—I was
my biggest hater and was physically, emotionally and
spiritually exhausted.”
Motivation to lose weight came when Jeff decided he
wanted to feel better, play pickleball better, and be able
to live longer. His friend, professional player KaSandra
Gehrke, was also a huge influence when he saw how her
performance was elevated by her own weight loss.
Jeff admits that before he lost weight, he
ate food with little nutritional value—eating
whatever, whenever. Now he eats five to
six servings of vegetables, three servings
of fruit, lots of lean protein, and healthier
carbohydrates, such as sweet potatoes and
whole grains. He knows his body burns
calories while digesting, so he takes advantage
of that by eating smaller portions every 2 to
4 hours. The accountability of weighing in
with someone every week and keeping a food
journal are other tools that help keep him
on track.
To stay motivated, Jeff looks to his faith
and to his inner circle of family and friends.
He is grateful and says, “Man, I couldn’t do it
without all of their love and support.”
The Center Director: Richard
Kahalioumi
Richard is the director at the Holua Racquet
and Paddle Center in Hawaii, head high
school tennis coach, high school counselor,