The reception lobby of Painted Boat Resort is dark as T.J., my driver from Sunshine Coast Shuttles, wheels the van up beneath swaying red cedars and kills the engine. How environmentally responsible, I marvel aloud, quite sincerely. They conduct business by natural light to help save energy.
The powers out, apologizes the gal at the front desk, popping the enviro-bubble I floated in on. It wont be out for long.
Ive just spent 40 happy minutes sitting in the sunshine and sipping a latte on the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale, so slowing things down even more doesnt ruin my happy, coastal retreat buzz. But this power outage could be bad news for Charlene SanJenko, the woman Im here to see. What if the Sleek & Sexy fitness transformation shes going to show me relies on electricity? A guaranteed 10 pounds in 90 days must need to be plugged into something.
It turns out it is: its plugged into SanJenko, who runs on mega-watts and wears her heart on her sleeve. Shes a certified fitness professional, a Gibsons municipal council member and my host for a weekend of Ballzy Goal Setting, one of her trademark fitness retreats.
This particular weekend is a womens retreat so it is seven female faces between the ages of 30 and 65 that turn my way as I walk into the breezy, inlet-front condo that will be my happy home for the next 24 hours.
Charlene leads the introductions, asking that we divulge a bit of ourselves when we speak. Most of the women are trying to get back on the fitness wagon, and have sized up this opportunity as a non-threatening way in. Theyre right the atmosphere is supportive and very comfortable. The process reminds me of days at camp as a kid when you meet your cabin mates for the first time, except next were going to hit the weights instead of the craft hut.
Its no secret that Im not much of a gym girl its the whole being inside thing; Id rather be outside. But when youre working out in the fitness facility at Painted Boat, the picture windows letting the sparkling cove in, it feels like you are outside.
Like Christianity and famous bears and Billy Goats Gruff before her, SanJenko has found cohesion in the number three: three sets of three mutii-compound exercises, done three times a week for 30 minutes each; a mix that includes push-ups and pull-downs, squats and deep curtsies the same kind Cameron Diaz is reputed to do to get her hot pins. These moves, SanJenko says, plus some time on the bike or rowing machine, is truly all you need to tone your body.
She simplifies the training, breaking the moves into bite-sized pieces, showing us how to squeeze the last bit out of every flexed muscle. Get your weight back on your heels, she instructs. When youre 80 your knees will thank me.
Two hours in the gym fly by, much to my surprise. In the condo afterwards, we sip on a healthy protein shake that tastes almost like a dessert, and nosh on incredibly clean, fresh, Pacific Rim-inspired bento boxes provided by the resorts on-site restaurant (think smoked salmon, a crisp salad and soft boiled eggs). It makes sense that the conversation turns to food.
SanJenkos big into protein and maintaining blood sugar levels to fight energy dips and cravings throughout the day, and says that the result you see in your body is 80 per cent what goes into your mouth.
If we can control what you eat then you will lose weight. Its a mathematical certainty, she tells the group a fact I think we were all contemplating later the same afternoon as we donned our bikinis and hit the resorts sublime spa grotto in the sunshine.
The next morning, after Ive dragged myself from a gorgeous, deep slumber in a king-size bed with a water view, we sip tea in the sunshine on the balcony of the condo. SanJenko talks about why shes chosen to live on the Sunshine Coast (It felt more me), her work on the Gibsons council and her burning desire to facilitate success for the areas social enterprises and social entrepreneurs. My work must exemplify my values, she says.
Later, on the ferry heading back to Vancouver, I think about that statement and decide that if I wanted to lose 10 pounds in 90 days say, just in time for bikini season the Sleek & Sexy program would be a great bet, because failure is not a value embodied by Charlene SanJenko.
Charlene SanJenkos Sleek & Sexy fitness program is available online at SleekAndSexySuccess.com.
