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lti . WM ”(LOU CHRONICLE. . Wednesday, February U, 2008 Local Herbal Magic weight- loss centres celebrate 1 0th anniversary Every client has a story -- that's what Chris Findlay, the owner of the local Herbal Magic centres, has learned during the last 10 years. Like magic One story that stands out for him was when a woman who lost weight through the program told him, "For the first time in my life, I played with my grandson on the floor ... because I can." Ttgit-iii-i-Cir-r-CT, 534mm}.-. 'rtitizglt; i. "Every client has a dream," he said. "For us to be able to make those come true is super fulfilling for my staff. "And it gives us a great sense of pride in our community that we can do those kinds of things." i cm 519-669-5551 'j, '!8uitll2k-utresiirii' Findlay purchased his first Herbal Magic location a decade ago. To celebrate this milestone anniversary. het giving away free year-long weight-loss programs. To enter the contest, visit any one of 1he Kitchener-Waterloo centres and fill in a ballot. Ten years ago, Findlay was look- ing for a lifestyle change. He was a salesman who was always on the road, until the health and wellness industry attracted his attention. His Crrst clinic was on Highland Road in Kitchener, and now he owns five, Two are in Waterloo - one at the Beechwood Plaza, the other in the Glenridge Plaza at the corner of Lincoln Road and Univer- sity Aven ue. -HerbaI Magic weight-loss pro grams artthreerstep, systems. New clients begin with a thor- ough consultation and review of their health history and concerns. They step on the scale and settle on By JENNIFER 0mm»: Chronicle Stuff - - Herbal Magic in Kitchener-Waterloo is celebrating' its 10th anniversary with specials and the chance to win weight-loss programs this month. Owner Chris Findlay and Beechwood store manager Hillary Fitzgerald say they've seen many success stories. a goal weight, The plan assumes clients will lose about two pounds each week by following a modified version of Canada's Food Guide and taking herbal supplements. "You should lose two pounds a week, if not more some weeks, especially if you're working out, which is not required," said Hillary Fitzgerald. the manager of the Beechwood franchise. "If they're never losing weight, then they're BUSINESS The diet doesnt deprive clients of any food groups, but they need to eat less and measure their food if they want to lose weight. not following the program. Ind it's customLed for each client based on her dietary restric- tions and tastes. "(Suppose) you say] absolutely hate broccoli, I won't eat the stuff. Then there's no broccoli in your program," Findlay said. “You could sky I have a wheat (:Immuzu: I allergy or I'm lactose intolerant, we'll build a program around yhat." As for the supplements, they're also prescribed based on the indi- vidual. Someone who doesn't take any pharmaceutical medications, for instance, likely would use prod- ucts that speed up their metabo- lism, control their appetite and give them energy. There are also heart smart, diabetic and youth programs. And protein and snack bars JENNIVER (WINSTON H0070 For the first couple of weeks, clients visit the Herbal Magic clinic every day to weigh-in and get advice. After that, they come in a few times a week for the rest of the year. Appointments are not neces- sary. _ are available. Once clients reach their goal weights, they're onto the stabilizer tion phase -- that's when food por- tion sizes are increased. "We find the ideal balance," Findlay said of this period. when people don't lose any weight, but don't gain either. Th2: final step is maintenance - when the aim is to stay within five pounds of the goal weight. _ "We don't want to see them gaining five, IO, IS (pounds). That's why they're still coming in, bring- ing us the diary and we're still weighing them," Fitzgerald said. In her experience, Herbal Magic does work, And she credits its suc- cess to two factors: the staff and the simplicity of the program. “it's Easy to gair; your weight back if you go back to all your old habits." "hie einpioyeis Ge upbeat, and clients enjoy coming in. she said. "We try to help whenevqr we gag.” As for the irrogram, if you follow it, you will lose weight, she said. "We've had a lot of success stories." This month, Herbal Magic has discounted its programs and prod- ucts. Findlay encourages people to drop by for information about its individualized services, “I think it's important that a client or a potential client gets the opportunity to come in and rind out what it's all about because you can't really describe it in a commer- cial or an ad. It really takes more."