DIANA BEHREND

 I used to weigh over 300lbs, however, thanks to kettlebells, now I do triathlons and marathons...I am living the life I love!

Diana's Updates:

August 31, 2010

 

I was diagnosed with "near" vitamin D deficiency last year after battling those stress fractures and now am on track. I also have to take a "water pill" to help my crappy mitral valve work better. Besides a basic multi-vitamin that I take 2-3 times a day, I also take Velvet Antler. WTF is this you ask? I've talked about this a few times over the past 2.5 years since I was lucky to be asked to try taking it. This comes right from the elk's antler. That brings us back to the "real" thing. Back to animals. Back to the fact that EVERYTHING we need to survive is already here for us. Whatever you believe in, you have to admit-that person did good! To read all about the technical lingo of just what velvet antler has in it and what it does for you-please click "HERE" to read. I suggest printing it and keeping it for reference. I just can say this, I've never felt better in my life. It helps me physically and mentally to live my life as I do. I have NO joint pain. I have NO issues with being sick. I have no complaints. Well, so to speak! I get the velvet antler from a local (yay for local businesses!) elk farm just down the road. Feel free to click on their website to read all about them. Diana and Bob Susen are a great couple and I'm forever thankful for meeting them. Velvet antler is great for us athletes! Diana is now supplying the trainer of well known sports figure, Steven Nash of the Poenix Suns! There are so many benefits, besides for athletes, to take velvet antler that I could go on and on .

 

Aug. 28, 2010 Eisenbahn Half Marathon summary  

 This was not a very fast race by any means with the heat and all, but it's over.

   The "official" numbers are this:

Overall:  180/197

Age/division:  27/29

Sex:  119/134

Time:  3:03:12

The Velvet Antler definitely kept my stamina going during the heat of this race.  This race was done on a crushed limestone trail and I never had any issues of pain in any of my joints.  I truly feel the velvet antler played a vital role in my endurance.  I was also quick to recover within a few hours after the race, along with some stretching, I was in very limited amount of pain and stiffness.

 

April 6, 2010

Meadow Creek Elk Farms is proud to announce the sponsorship of Diana Behrend in the Eisenbahn Half Marathon being held in West Bend WI on August 28, 2010. The race is being organized by The Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse of Washington Co. (AODA)

Diana's 2010 schedule

April 24th- The Deer Run-a 10K   in Brown Deer, WI

May 16th-Cellcomm Green Bay 1/2 Marathon in Green Bay, WI

August 28th-AODA, the Council 1/2 Marathon in West Bend, WI September-no date set yet, but the Marinette Triathlon (3rd year in a row)

October-no date set yet, but the Green Bay Duathlon (3rd year in a row)

 

  • Sunday, August 30, 2009

  • On March 13th, 2007 I weighed 304lbs.  Today I weigh 185lbs.  How did I accomplish this task?  Read along and let me tell you my story of how I successfully conquered the disease we know as obesity. 

    (Diana before/after photo)

    In the early part of March of 2007, I seen my reflection in the TV screen as it went black while switching from a show to a commercial.  You know that fast split second of time before the next thing airs?  Well, I had seen someone who looked really unhappy and just plane fat.  I was out of shape, I couldn’t breath normally.  I had aches and pains that I shouldn’t have for my age.  I was at the time 45 years old and felt like 75.  I knew of a co-worker who was also a personal trainer on the side.  I got in touch with her and we worked hard.  We went over diet and nutrition as well as workouts.  We meet once a month at her place and she trained me in different ways.  We used boot camp techniques and then moved on to kettlebells.  Kettlebells are a Russian way of strength workouts.  I easily started to drop some weight and gained huge amounts of confidence, motivation and then determination.  As with any form of working out, I needed a goal to reach besides just losing the weight.  She had suggested some local events like running a 5K.  At that point I had laughed because there was no way I’d ever run.  Well, when I came back with my own goal of actually doing a triathlon instead she was very surprised, to say the least.  I had always loved swimming.  I grew up spending my summers on a lake and swam every day.  I also love to bike, that was my true passion.  So to only have to learn to run, I thought it was do-able.  I started out slow.  ¼ mile at a time.  The day I ran my very first full mile was on January 1, 2008.  I remember sending a voice mail to my trainer telling her the news.  I cried over my achievement.  My miles started to “add up” to 1.5, then 1.75, then 2.0 and so on.  I knew this triathlon was going to happen.  I then met Diana Susen from Meadow Creek Elk Farm.  Once she learned of what I was training for, she mentioned the benefits of using Elk Velvet Antler.  I started taking it approximately 1 month before my triathlon.  Literally, within days, I noticed a huge difference in how I felt.  I had no pain in my knees and my endurance skyrocketed.  My times for each event went down; I was doing them all faster.  I also noticed not only physical benefits but also mental as well.  My moods were good, I went with the flow more, I was able to let the daily grinds just bounce off. 

    I had lost just over 100lbs when my triathlon date came.  I was very excited and nervous.  It was a small one up on Northern Wisconsin.  There were only 75 participants.  Perfect for a first timer!  I ended up placing 3rd for my age group bringing home a bronze medal!

    Since that event, I’ve done numerous other 5K’s, some 10K’s and had signed up for my first ½ marathon this past spring in Green Bay.  Training was going well until I had started to realize that this year of 2009 was not going to be a good one!  I had to have gallbladder surgery in March which left me sidelined from any form of training for over 6 weeks.  The velvet antler however, kept my endurance up and helped me heal.  I started to train and do some running by end of April.  Two weeks before the ½ marathon I was stricken with 3 stress fractures in my right foot.  Again it strikes!  Unable to participate was devastating to me.  I was ready and excited for it.  While the foot was healing and I was banned from any kind of running, I hit the bike.  I put on over 1400 miles this year and it’s not over yet!  I conquered my first 50 mile ride.  Then my first 75 mile ride, followed quickly by my first “century” ride.   All personal records for me.  The velvet antler was going strong with my training-even though running was not a part of it.  After all, I still had swimming and biking to train for.  My first triathlon of the year was this past weekend in West Bend.  Another sprint which consisted of ¼ mile swim, 13mile bike, and 5k run.  I had started to increase my dose of velvet antler two weeks ago to find that it helped.  I was starting to feel some knee pain, but quickly gone with the increase.  My times for this triathlon were good.  The weather for this event was horrible.  It was cold, very windy and dreary. 

    In two weeks I go back up north to the same triathlon that was my first last year.  I hope to bring home another medal-this time gold!

    Velvet antler has done so much for me physically and mentally that I don’t ever see a time when I will stop taking it.  It regulated my body functions to that of a 30 year old.  Oh if only we could actually turn back time!

     

    With sincere thanks for meeting up with Diana Susen,

    Respectfully yours,

    Diana Behrend

    Triathlete and Obesity Conqueror

     

Saturday, January 31, 2009

6 months update

I have taken Elk Velvet Antler now for the last six months. I started it about a month before my triathlon last year. I originally came into EVA via a friend, Diana Susen who I have purchased all my elk meat from over the years at her farm, Meadow Creek Elk Farm, here in West Bend, Wisconsin. She found out that I was training for a triathlon and suggested that I give it a try. She has all kinds of other testimonials on her web site which you can look at by clicking on her logo on my sidebar. I am definitely not one to take pills. I only take prescriptions which I am forced to and a daily multi-vitamin. Other "miracle" drugs and pills....I was never one for all the bullshit. I rarely take anything even a Tylenol. Anyways....I started taking 4 capsules a day and increased to 6 which is still where I am at. I take them all at once in the morning and flush them down with my diet mountain dew! I have never felt better, and I noticed a feeling of equalness within the very first few days. I no longer have "highs" and "lows"...so to speak through out my day. I don't need to grab a dt dew to "pump" me up during the middle of a day. I can't remember the last time I got sick, I haven't had a cold, the flu, any sinus issues, nothing and yes...I suppose you could say...."hey, maybe you're just having a good year?" I don't think so. My immune system is rock solid. I am around all kinds of shit at the hospital and seeing others get sick left and right and I am not....well, that to me is more than just good luck.
Sickness is not looked upon as the result of an imbalance of various organs of the body, but also an imbalance of the emotional, mental and environmental factors in ones life. The body needs to be treated as a whole to promote health and prevent illness versus just concentrating on treating a sickness or symptom. If the physiological and spiritual balance of the entire body is achieved, one is far more likely to enjoy a happier, healthier life.
Another area that needs to be explained is the process of obtaining elk antler. The antlers are first removed from the elk during the "velvet" stage of growth. This process is not harmful to the elk and is an annual renewable resource. Much care is always used when handling the elk, as they are very majestic and respected animals. Once the antler is removed, it is then processed at a local plant, sent to a laboratory for analysis, encapsulated, and packaged for the consumer.
My training for the tri went well while on the EVA, my times actually went down for each of the events. I never did my 15 miles on my bike in under an hour until after I started the EVA. It went from 1 hour and 5 minutes down to 55 minutes. I am not by any means stating this is the only thing in the world and you should take it, but I do highly recommend it. It has made me feel great. I have NO pain while running. I have NO joint pain ...anywhere. My cycles are balanced. My hair and skin are great. I have great circulation. I have great energy.... sometimes too much! I am healthier both physicallyAND mentally. One thing I know that I can place credit on is my collar bone. I killed my SC joint on my left side over a year ago and it was in bad shape. I went through the basics of PT and all the stretches and exercises...it was eventually, I thought in great shape. Now it is even better and I have had no relapses of any kind with it. Yes, I learned proper technique with my kb's so as not to injure it again, but I know the EVA also helped in the aid of it's healing.
I look forward to training with it for my first HM this May!
So there ya have it. My 2 cents worth. I am happy with it. I will continue it for as long as I am on this earth. I would recommend it. I hope someone tries. If not....thanks for listening!

Enough of that....today I may not workout. Jared is ill, should get him on the EVA! Anyways, there is NOTHING that pulls at your heartstrings more than when your child is sick and you just want to hug him and make it all go away. Any parent can relate to that. Right now he's snoring away on the couch with a blanket and a bucket next to him on the floor! Poor guy! I will probably go out and do some snowshoeing when Jeff gets home from work to get a little peace and quiet before getting back to my "dot" drawing. I worked on that thing for an hour yesterday and had to call it quits. My hand was all cramped up and my eyes were messed up! Can't imagine why??!!

Anyways, have a great weekend!

 

 
Posted by Diana at 8:18 AM 0 comments
 
 

 

Hey, how's things?  I haven't kept in touch too well lately.  I've been busy enjoying winter!  I like to snowshoe, so with all the recent snow I've been over to Pike Lake state park most of the time!

I did want to mention that the velvet antler is still keeping me going strong!  It has helped a lot with my kettlebell training.  I know what it's done for my running and biking, so anxious to see how it helped with the rest of my training.  I've been still running-even went running yesterday morning in the snow!  Definitely a little trickier than running when it's dry, but you get used to it.  I signed up for my half-marathon for May 17th, 2009 in Green Bay.  I can't wait.  I'm off to the pool right now to get a few laps in for the day.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving-I will be in touch soon to get some meat-freezer is starting to get bare again!    Diana

 

 

 

September 12, 2008

Local paper features Diana Behrend >>

 

First Triathlon nets metal for #1 beginner....Diana comes  home with a Bronze            

Read more about Diana on her blog:

www.marinette-lucyfan.blogspot.com

The Fall Fun YMCA Triathlon will be held on September 13, 2008 in Marinette, WI

Triathlon consists of:

3.1 Mile Run

15 Mile Bike

1.4 Mile Swim

 

Learn more about the Triathlon in Marinette:

www.mmymca.org

 

Read:  A Summary of Velvet Antler>>>

 

Diana Behrend, Slinger, WI

I first met Diana Behrend  about a year ago when she visited our farm to purchase our elk meat.  I was immediatelMy Photoy impressed with Diana, not because she had the same first name as mine, not because she was buying our product, but because she was dedicated  in eating healthy, in fact she is devoted  to  eating food that is locally produced. She is not just dedicated to that either, she is committed to being the best she can be.

There is a wonderful story within this beautiful person and we are grateful that Diana is allowing us to share it with you.

This last  August, Diana  told me all about the triathlon she was training for. I introduced her to our velvet antler as I thought it could be effective aid for her performance and aid with quicker recovery.

Now this is a woman with lots of ambition, she has lost over 100 pounds, and now at 46 is training for her first triathlon. 

Diana makes daily entries on her  blog   September 01, 08 

I feel like a million bucks this week. I have to attribute this endurance and stamina to the velvet antler. I can't explain it any other way. I biked my fastest 15 miles ever this week, I ran 3 miles in 31 minutes-another PR, I was able to run 3 miles and bike another 25 right after the run. I have NO pain in my knees or hip.

I first started taking velvet antler after speaking with Diana Susen about my training for my first triathlon.  Once she new of my task at hand, she suggested taking velvet antler to see how it would help my training.  Within days of starting it, I noticed a nice increase in my metabolism.  The aching I was starting to have in my knees stopped and they have not bothered me since.  My training went well and I have since completed my triathlon-bringing home a third place finish!  My times for each of the three events I would be doing had decreased nicely.  I had a 15 mile bike ride to do during the triathlon and I had tried feverishly to get my time for that under an hour.  I had no luck.  After about a week on the velvet antler, my time had dropped from my fastest being 1 hour and 2 minutes down to 54 minutes!  My running was more comfortable, my swimming was smooth, it all came together.  Now that the triathlon is over, I have done other events, one being a duathlon in Green Bay.  That is a 3 mile run/32 mile bike/1 mile run.  I also did well with that even though I was suffering from a bad cold.  The velvet antler gives me an all day "comfort and ease" feeling.  I do not get any "up" and "down" moments like slamming a red bull would do.  It's a great product and I will continue on it as long as I am here!  I look forward to next year and all the events I have planned.  More triathlons for sure!  I also have my big goal of doing my first half-marathon run on May 17th, 2009! Diana Behrend, Triathlete, Slinger Wisconsin, September, 2008

 

 

Read more about Diana Behrend on her blog:
 www.marinette-lucyfan.blogspot.com

 

A

FROM DIANA'S BLOG http://www.marinette-lucyfan.blogspot.com

April 6, 2010 UPING THE ANTLER It's been awhile since I've talked about Velvet Antler. It is a supplement that I take on a daily basis. I started taking it back in August of 2008, right before what was to be my very first triathlon. I used to pick up elk meat at a local butcher shop, but it started to get frustrating since every time I would go there to get some, they would be out of it. I noticed that the "label" on the elk meat was from a elk farm just down the road a few miles. I dialed the phone number to ask if it was OK that I just came and got the meat right from the "source". I spoke to a very friendly lady and drove out a few days later to pick up burgers. I met the owner of the farm; Diana Susen. We've been friends ever since. Once she learned of my weight loss and my endeavor to compete in a triathlon, she spoke of the velvet antler and how it's great for athletes. I am NOT a pill taker of any sort. I rarely take Tylenol, so this was asking a lot. Within days, I felt more energy. I felt a calmness to my moods. I felt no pain in any joint. I felt great. As the training went up to higher levels, I increased the VA. I was up to 12 a day and feeling great. My times for each of the 3 triathlon events went down. My very first triathlon, I brought home silver for my AG. There are so many benefits from taking velvet antler that I really can't list them all. I encourage you to click on their website to read all the info. There are other testimonials, other reasons for it, it's history and so on. I don't like to use anything that is "man-made". I don't take any powders or bars or drinks or pills. This comes right from the animal. NO harm is done to the animal, this is a natural process when their antlers come off. The only harm done to the animal is when we grill it and put it on a bun with a fried egg on top! DELICIOUS!
I backed down on the VA during the "off" seasons and have just in the last 2 weeks gone back up from 6 to 10 and will more than likely hit 12 again a month before the RKC. I have 3 grueling days and I know I will have the stamina, the metabolism and the right frame of mind to do it!
I had the pleasure to be "sponsored" by my good friends Diana and Bob Susen for a triathlon I did last fall. It was a great time and all the athletes were fed free elk burgers at the end! A lot of work for the Susen family to go through, but we athletes truly appreciated it! This coming late August, I'm being sponsored again by Meadow Creek Elk Farm at a inaugural 1/2 marathon also held just down the road. It's actually being run on the Eisenbahn trail which is a "rail-to-trail" that I've done most of my bike riding on! I've posted many of blogs about that trail-it's the one that always has all the damn snakes on it! I know, I know.....and now I'm going to run on it! Hell yeah, I thought about all them slimy bastards just waiting for me. I'm already thinking (worrying) about it! No matter what, it should be a great time and I look forward to wearing my Meadow Creek Elk Farm shirt with pride as I run this race.
That now makes two 1/2 marathons that I am "officially" signed up for this year! Woo-hoo. I have a 10K on the 24th of this month. It's the same 10K I did last year where it ended in a major thunder storm with pouring rain! Then the 1/2 on May 16th through Lambeau Field. I will be doing (for the 3rd year in a row) the Marinette triathlon this September, no exact date set yet. I will also be doing my favorite duathlon-the Green Bay Duathlon (also my 3rd year in a row) in October, again, no exact date set yet. Plus as we all know the BIG ONE OF THEM ALL.................RKC is also in there!
The training is going well with the kettlebells. I love those little bastards just a little more each time I work with them. The harder the workout gets, the harder it is for me to quit!

Today's WOD:
MaxVO2 snatches w/12kg
36 seconds on/36 seconds off
18 reps per set x 20 sets.......total snatches: 360
Not bad for having a nasty ass head cold.

What a great 2010 this is turning out to be! I won't aim for success, I just know that since I want it I will continue to do what I love and believe in, therefore it will come naturally!

Hope you all have a great day!

 

What a "stinger" of a race!

Sunday, September 14, 2008  I GOT A DAMN MEDAL IN MY FIRST TRIATHLON!!!! As I walked up to receive my medal, it was the same lady who painted my number "1" on my arm. She had announced to all that this was my first triathlon. Lots of people congratulated me! A few seconds after that I had to walk down the hall and let it all sink in! In other words, I had to go have my victory cry!!!! (read more on Diana's blog) http://www.marinette-lucyfan.blogspot.com 


 DIANA'S LAST WEEK OF TRAINING

Thursday, September 11, 2008 Today and tomorrow I do no workouts-just walking. I can't completely sit still-I'd hurt myself somehow! I've pretty much kept to myself this week. I haven't talked with anyone, I haven't emailed anyone, I haven't text'd anyone. I just am trying to collect my thoughts and get ready. What a GREAT ride this has been getting here. What an emotional ride. I've conquered obesity!
 

Wednesday, September 10, 2008 I did a bike/run/bike brick. I biked 26miles, ran 2miles, biked 7miles without taking any break in between each thing. I finished it in 2 hours and 45 minutes. Is that good? I don't know. Never did it before. But that's the key-never did it before. I don't try to outdo others, only myself. (read more on Diana's blog) http://www.marinette-lucyfan.blogspot.com

Tuesday, September 9, 2008 Today I ran 6.5 miles! That is 1/2 of a 1/2 marathon. Holy crap! I was a little hesitant to run at all so early in the day because it was 46 degrees when I left and my asthma only bothers me with sucking in cold air, so wasn't too excited to go because of that. I felt good otherwise and Tuesdays seem to be my good "running" day. I had it in my mind that I was going to do 5 for sure. (read more on Diana's blog) http://www.marinette-lucyfan.blogspot.com

Sunday, September 7, 2008 I ran 5 miles this past Saturday and felt great throughout the entire run and after all night at work, I biked 20 miles this morning and felt great during it and after at work again. I have had NO, absolutely NONE, pain in my knees or my hip. I do not like to take pills of any sorts if at all possible, in fact, I rarely take a Tylenol, but I will continue with the velvet antler! (read more on Diana's blog) http://www.marinette-lucyfan.blogspot.com

A HAPPY ENDING

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.

I didn't want to live my life fat and miserable anymore, I didn't want to die early of an obesity-related disease. I wanted to learn how to run and become the best runner I knew how. I wanted to ride my bike for miles and enjoy this great country I live in. I wanted to become the best person I could. Basically....I want a happy ending, not a sad one.

So regardless of how I got fat or how long I've been fat, I've changed my ending. Everyday I'm out there proving my strength to myself and the world.

I am thankful for the opportunity to do so. What an amazing gift. So many go through life wondering whether they're strong or not-I know I am, I've proved it!

I will never be the fat and unhappy person I was 2 years ago, I may fall off the wagon here or there, but tomorrow never comes-all we have is today and I've become the healthiest and happiest person I could have ever imagined. I can hardly wait to become the "triathlete" I've craved for months and then to do what ever comes next in my life!   By Diana Behrend