In a fast-paced world of multi-tasking, activity overload, and drive-thru meals, our society as a whole has grown more and more overweight. While diet and weight loss programs, videos, books, and supplements are a multi-million dollar industry, most offer only a temporary solution at best. Most people who lose weight on one of those programs gain it back, along with several other unwanted pounds, as soon as they go off the program.

If you are one of those people who have tried every diet and every exercise you can imagine, and you have a busy schedule, but need to lose some weight, then what you need is Holly Wangler! Holly is a Health Fitness Specialist from Sesser, IL. She works with clients at American Fitness in Christopher.

Holly offers a customized plan to help you get fit and lose weight the healthy way. On Holly’s plan, there are no fad diets allowed, only healthy eating and regular exercise. Although she starts the same with each client — calculating body fat percentage, and recording weight and measurements – that’s where the similarities end. When asked why she is so successful with her clients, Holly states “Everybody is different. No two people have bodies that respond the same way, so I individualize their training to meet each client’s goals.”

Holly not only helps her clients set their daily caloric goal, but also offers personal training advice to make sure they are getting the most from their daily routines. Her basic nutritional plan is ‘clean eating.’ This simply means to eat food the way nature created it. “Quality, not only quantity, of calories is important. No boxed or frozen meals.  Nothing man has had his hands on. No preservatives. Fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, eggs, nuts, etc. All the things you can grow yourself,” is the way Holly describes the ideal way to eat. She also recommends weaning yourself off diet soda, simply because it isn’t good for you.

To really get an idea of the success possible with Holly as your trainer, we talked with one of her clients. Missy Montgomery has been a client of Holly’s since May of 2011 and has lost over 70 pounds. Hearing Missy talk about Holly seemed like someone talking about their closest personal friend. It was obvious how she feels about Holly. Missy told us how Holly offered her a personal service that was just for her, not the same canned program that she gives everyone.

The accountability of having Holly as your trainer is one of the keys to success. Missy talked about receiving text messages offering nutrition advice, recommending certain products, and even checking in regarding what she had eaten that day. She stated, “I had not been able to do this on my own in the past. It is wonderful to have Holly as a resource and accountability partner. I have grown to think of her not only as a trainer, but as a friend of mine.” She continued, “It is more about a relationship than a quick fix.”

For more information, or to contact Holly about her services, contact American Fitness at 724-4000.

By Erin Steinsultz

Benton Public Library is joining with 427 libraries in southern Illinois that make up SHARE (Sharing Heartland’s Available Resources Equally), a consortium of libraries that belong to the Illinois Heartland Library System.

On April 9, 2013, SHARE will go live with a new automation software platform known as Polaris, the software system it uses to circulate books, movies, and other materials, and issue library cards to patrons.

“SHARE is made up of four automated systems that currently have their own software platform containing more than two million items,” said Benton Public Library director Erin Steinsultz.

“When all of the systems combine on April 9, there will be almost ten million items, almost two million library users. It’s been quite a feat to get everything combined into one database.”

Several library experts have commented that SHARE is the largest library automation consortium in the country.

“This means Benton Library has access to nearly all of those ten million items from those 427 libraries,” said Steinsultz. “It’s really amazing how much information this will make available so quickly.”

As SHARE libraries prepare to transition to the Polaris software, the library and its users will experience some slightly diminished library service.

“There will be a new online patron access catalog, or PAC, where you can search for items you are interested in, place holds, pay fines, and so on. The new PAC will be available beginning April 9,” said Steinsultz. “It will have some really great search features. In the meantime, the old PAC will be offline for about a week or so.”

“We are learning completely new software that is as different as night and day from our current software,” commented Steinsultz. “We may take just a bit longer than usual to perform a task at the computer. Also, please bring your library card. The new software will only allow us to find your library card record through your card number, so please bring your card with you every visit.”

Users will also experience a short stoppage in some library services. Patrons will also not be able to place holds on items from March 15 to April 9. No new items will be added to the library collections between March 22 and April 9. Items that were on hold but not received by their requestor prior to March 22 will have the hold cancelled. This is necessary to allow the current items to be loaded into the Polaris automation system.

All of the member libraries will be using an offline version of the Polaris software from April 1 through April 8. During that time, library users will be able to return books to their home library, and check out books there as well. Neither patrons nor library staff will be able to place holds or request items until Go Live Day on April 9.

“We have about 48,000 items in house that should offer most users a wide variety to choose from during that time,” said Steinsultz. “We will also gladly assist the patrons with making a list of the items they should place on hold once Polaris goes live.”

Benton Public Library staff is looking forward to the changes.

“This is something I am very excited to be able to offer our patrons. I hope they will enjoy the final product and be just a little patient as we transition over a few weeks,” said Steinsultz.

For more information on the changes happening with the Polaris transition or any library programming, please call 438-7511.