Personal experiences lead to personal training for busy moms

Sherry Hana knew something was wrong shortly after her second son was born. Call it mother's intuition, but things felt different this time around.

Hana was told her son Daylen had cerebral palsy. She was drained, both emotionally and physically, as she took her son to an array of therapy sessions. "I was sleeping in my car between the sessions. I was burning the candle on both ends," the Lake Barrington mother said. "I was cooked."

The initial diagnosis proved wrong. At the age of 3, Daylen was diagnosed with rare Angelman syndrome. Often referred to as happy puppet syndrome, the neuro-genetic disorder causes seizures, jerky movements (especially hand-flapping), frequent laughter and usually a happy demeanor.

Daylen is now 10 and cannot talk. Mentally, he will be a 3-year-old for the rest of his life.

Reaching to her faith for support, Hana realized she had to fight. She knew she had to stay healthy to do this.

Then came a passion to help other women do the same.

Always enjoying fitness, she went to Harper College to study personal training and then gained certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

In January she launched Shaping By Sherry, a personal training business where she works with women at their homes. She realizes that many are intimidated by health clubs. "My business motto is 'have weights will travel,'" she says with a laugh.

The trainer often works with busy moms who tend to put their own needs on the back burner. "If you give and give and give and don't refill the well - there's nothing left to give," said Hana, 46.

She helps women come up with a workout plan and provides the motivation to stick to it. Also featuring buddy sessions for friends wanting to work out together, she offers a positive and supportive environment for women looking to get back in shape or lose weight.

The cost for services varies depending on the package. A three-month package of two half-hour sessions a week would cost $40 per session.

She attempts to incorporate a faith aspect into the workout session leaving the client with a "point to ponder" at the end.

The trainer has formed business partnerships with Chicago Home Fitness and Jenny Craig. She services homes that are within a 35-minute drive of her Lake Barrington home where she also offers sessions.

Hana says that 85 percent of women have let themselves go, but that 100 percent can get themselves back.

"If you set your mind," she says, "your body will follow."

• For more information, call (847) 341-3369 or check out shapingbysherry.com.

• Drink more water. Drinking ice-cold water causes the body to burn more calories.

• Eat breakfast; include protein and fiber.

• Increase fiber intake. Women require 25 grams a day.

• Eat more fruit and vegetables.

• Get at least seven hours of sleep a night.

• Floss your teeth.

• Find your spiritual self.

• Develop a supportive network of friends. Women need to vent.

• Stop drinking soda. Pop offers empty calories with no nutritional value, and it's high in phosphates, which pulls calcium from bones.

• Kiss your loved ones. Each kiss burns calories.

Source: Sherry Hana