AVON — Beth Thompson has built and grown her business during one of the worst economies in U.S. history. The company has three locations and will soon begin to franchise.
“As a business owner, I want to be mindful of how hard it is and be sensitive to other local business owners,” she said. “But I am so proud of our success and I know that we have never strayed from our original purpose — to help people lose weight.”
Thompson is the founder and president of Target Metabolism, which first opened in 2006 in Avon. The company its celebrating its fifth year in business.
Thompson said she developed the program because she was becoming increasingly frustrated with the weight loss industry.
Target Metabolism is a teaching facility where the staff educates each client on how to systematically change life habits that cause weight gain.
“We want to arm our clients with knowledge,” Thompson said. “I wanted to get dietitians out from behind closed doors and make them available.”
Target Metabolism has completed two scientific studies through Ball State University that have measured the success of the programming. Studies have been looked at by the American Society of Nutrition and the Indiana Dietetic Association.
“And we are learning that 100 percent of the weight that is being lost is fat,” Thompson said.
She has now opened facilities in Carmel and Greenwood. And in 2012, she will be able to franchise.
“I am beyond stoked,” she said. “These two studies have fueled my fire and proven what we have known all along. Weight loss is a challenge. This program is not super quick or effortless. That does not work.”
She said that all the weight loss studies show that calories trump exercise.
“Exercise is important to overall health, but it is not the way to weight loss,” she said.
Thompson said that people often allow themselves to eat unhealthy items because they are working out. As if giving themselves a “free pass” for the day.
“When people workout with the sole intention of weight loss, it fails,” Thompson said.
The company has a pretty basic four step program:
The first step is to measure a client’s metabolism, which changes over time due to age, medial conditions, and hormonal fluctuations. The staff is trained to recognize when a client’s metabolism changes.
Secondly, the staff conducts body composition through the use of the BodPod, which measures fat and lean mass.
During the process, the program offers massage therapy every two weeks as an incentive to keep going.
There is also a registered dietitian on staff to help each client develop an eating program. The dietitian makes recommendations based on the metabolism and body composition of each client.
Thompson said the plan is simple, but it works.
“We now have 25 employees and three centers,” she said. “I feel so fortunate since we see so many small businesses struggle.”
She gives her husband, Josh Thompson, much of the credit for her success in business.
“He has always been my sounding board, or sometimes what he calls my ‘scratching post,’” Thompson said. “I could not have done it without him and our committed clients.”
brenda.holmes@flyergroup.com
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