Now that I have completed your 6 month general life and Health program, I wanted to thank you for all of your positive feedback, inspiration, and information. I had goals to lose weight, and generally live a healthier life style. With your encouragement and guidance, I have changed many things in my life for the better:

• I lost 5 lbs and my belly fat
• I stopped drinking coffee
• I read every label of food I might buy
• I have learned many things about healthy eating and how various things affect my body
• Instead of going out to eat 5 days a week, I now cook a healthy meals at home 5 days a week
• At Skyline I order the Greek salad instead of a 3way or cheese coney and skip on the mints.
• I eat organic whenever possible
• Going through the check-out line at the grocery store was always a challenge of deciding which candy bar to eat. Now I laugh at the candy and say NO!!
• I was motivated to join a gym and GO!
• I do about 9-12 miles a week on the tread mill.

Could I have changed all of these things on my own? Maybe, but you gave me that extra motivation that kept me on track, not to mention the educational material on healthy foods and not so healthy foods. Overall a very positive experience. I am sorry it is ending. Last but not least, you practice what you preach! You are the shining example!

Again, much thanks to you!

I want to thank you April for a life changing experience. The journey for the last 6 months has been enlightening, and helped me to again find myself. My sincerest thanks for the time we shared!

We not only answered some inner questions, but also started looking forward again. My health is on a better track, my relationship is at peace, and I have solved some problems, and found answers to questions I had quit asking. I have started cooking at home, and eating cleaner, and greener. I have discovered a dormant interest in cooking, and am back doing what I know I should be doing for my health.

I would look forward to the phone conversations, and the accountability, and sharing they brought into my life. I have never met anyone who is at peace, and walks the walk before. Your optimism and grace are what sets you apart from everyone else. I loved how I would go into a session thinking I hadn’t accomplished enough; only to find out that I had done way more than I had though. (Thanks for seeing the good things in me). After every session I was invigorated, and more positive on what I had done, and could do.

The health information was very useful, and helped me to bring back habits I had long let go of. Your emotional, and spiritual support surpassed any that I have ever had. My changes seemed almost effortless, but you never let any positive step go unnoticed, or unrewarded.

A coach is different than a teacher in that the goal is to guide you down a path that you have inside you. Coaches bring out what you may already know, and get you to initiate that into your life. In the true sense of the word, April is a life coach! She is always positive, never judgmental, and always at peace. She has information to compliment what you need to progress on your path. She has guided me to a better attitude, more inner peace, better health, and given hope to a man who needed it so badly. She is a true joy, and inspiration to work with, and I thank God I have her on my journey through life!

Since beginning this program with April, I feel like I am back in control of my life and starting to regain the me I want to be. I feel calmer and more supported than I ever have. I am looking for ways to improve myself because of what I have learned since beginning this journey. April is there to support me, and is not only a special influence and role model, but is also an inspiration of inner peace and calmness, and direction to achieve my goals. I am really looking forward to the rest of the journey with April on my team!

So far I have lost my first 15 lbs and have established the habit of going to the gym. I have worked very hard with success on changing the attitude to positive.

I have tried, for many years, to incorporate a healthy way of living into my life, but failed miserably. It was overwhelming because I tried to change everything at once. If I attempted to change anything and didn't succeed at changing everything, I would get down on myself and give up.

April helped me break it down and had me only concentrate on a couple changes at a time, so it wasn't so overwhelming. She also didn't let me get down on myself if I failed at a change. She helped me stay positive by pointing out all the things I had accomplished and challenged me to try again, after talking to me and making sure it was still a change I wanted to make at that time.

By scheduling talk time with April every other week, it gave me someone to be accountable to, other than myself. It also forced me to sit down and think about me and what I wanted and come up with a plan to change it. That was the most important part for me. With a busy life and the technology today, it is rare you sit and have a conversation with yourself and have a positive voice guiding you!

I have changed my life with April's guidance, one thing at a time. Everyone's goals and what they need to change are going to be different. For the past 3 years I have been battling breast cancer (chemo twice/radiation/double mastectomy). I wanted to lose weight, incorporate exercise and healthy food into my diet daily. At that time I was eating out every meal and not making healthy choices and had no motivation to exercise. After Aprils help I make routine stops to the grocery store and cook healthy meals daily. If I do eat out I make better decisions. I also work out 3 days a week with my personal trainer. I did it all by learning what works best for me and my body to reach my goals. Thanks for your support April!!

April has been a blessing. Her mild approach and listening skills have helped me reach quite a few of my personal goals and overall wellbeing. Her positive influence and recommendations will help me build a positive habits that will help me as the days and years go by. She is very knowledgeable and helps reinforce positive mental and physical attributes that help you reach your goals. I love her positive thoughts and prayers. April is truly a blessing to me.

Specific goals met and improvements made:

• Relaxation and taking things in stride. Do not let stress take over by keeping a positive attitude. Meditation and relaxing the mind and body.
• Starting to lose weight and inches
• Mental well-being improving
• Eating better
• Down 7 pounds

You are a good listener and have helped me look and think about things differently.

April helps me deal with troubled times. She finds positive shifts where I don’t see them and is very encouraging. She helps me focus on myself and find my own path to a healthier, happier me. She does not let me belittle my progress and frames my state of mind to look toward what I can do well in between sessions. I feel more accountable to April than to myself, so that helps, as I do not put myself first. Without April, I would probably get sucked into the fall/winter downward spiral; she keeps me afloat until I find the upward elevator.

Thanks April!

When I met April my average weight was 205lbs. on a 5’11” frame. It wasn’t all fat, but, my hurried life did not leave much room for scheduled exercise, so it was not all muscle either. There were two other areas of concern where April helped me.

I had a scalp condition that caused me to break out with painful acne. The time of season did not matter, nor did it matter if I wore a hat or not, my head was susceptible to the acne. For nine years, I tried to find a remedy/CURE. The doctors couldn’t make it go away. Perhaps briefly with medication, but then again, who wants to have to take an antibiotic forever.

Another condition out of control was how my hands and feet would crack. My hands cracked mostly in the cooler months and occasionally during the summer. My feet were a different story. No lotion, pumice stone or foot soaking made it go away.

Shortly after our initial meeting April had me understanding the importance of healthy diet and the healing powers in that healthy diet. I thought my eating habits were decent. I ate the fast food grilled chicken or the footlong veggie, salad with extra chicken no dressing (a little cheese and croutons, weren’t much) low salt chips, products that say wheat, lots of pretzels, cheese (but only 3 slices a day), organic milk, chicken wings and the boneless kind, miniature candy (like five or six miniature Snickers at a time were better than a candy bar), always a diet soda, etc… The more I looked my food intake, while listening to the suggestions of April, the more I realized: I was not healthy and there is a much better way.

Four months later my scalp was clear. I did not even realize my freedom. One day I touched my scalp out of habit. As I moved my hand across my head it dawned on me… It doesn’t hurt… there is no acne!!!

Six months later the scale in my bedroom read 170lbs. (I bottomed out at 165lbs. and from a 36” waist to a 32”). Not to mention the energy and confidence I gained.

It took longer to realize the freedom I had from my skin cracking. It was around nine months on a new diet.

Today is almost two years since I met April. The changes that she enlightened me to have become a way of life. My weight is maintained. Scalp feels great and I am foot and hand cured.

Thanks for your coaching and support April! You made a huge difference in my life!

I am much more aware of what I am eating, and the ingredients in the food. I watch labels carefully. I have changed from eating everything to cutting portions and choosing types of meat that are lean and more veggies. Healthy snacks are ready all the time which is usually cut up apples and oranges that satisfy me at night and in between meals.

I am more consistent with my exercise, and getting in the habit of 3 times a week at the gym, along with laps in the pool, and then I walk some also. After April suggested I see a personal trainer I have recently started on twice a week. I am trying to be more aware of how foods make me feel.

I can fit into many pants that two months ago were way to tight. Lost over 10 pounds, 2 inches in waist= yea!

All the resources April has sent have been informative and helpful and have tried to use them and look for recipes with all the ingredients healthy.

This is a super program and is speaking to the whole person in all areas of ones life. Thank you April for being a good listener and helping in areas I need help in.

How do I start, what do I say, how do I express my gratitude for you and the time you gave me over the last months? You have made a difference in my life and how I approach life and my self moving forward. You listened and presented thoughtful questions that allowed me to think on myself as a person struggling to make a change, but not knowing exactly how or where to start.

April, you helped me realize the importance of the process to get healthy has to be about more than just a number on a scale. It's about redefining a normal for myself and wanting to make changes for the right reasons. This is much more than a physical process but also a spiritual journey that only grows as I move forward with new dedication.

I was healthy, or so I thought. I would usually go to the gym once or twice a week… on a good week. I would take a sabbatical from working out for a month or two, and then hit it again “strong” for another two or three weeks. This cycle has been relatively consistent for most of my adult life. I would gage my level of intensity and frequency of the gym by my weight. I’m typically a 190-200 pounder, but when I started to creep to the 205 lb. mark, I would hit the gym. I took great pride in my “healthy diet” as well. On average, I would drink 5-6 Diet Cokes a day. Zero fat, Zero Carbs and tastes so good. My early morning ritual for work never afforded me the time to fool with breakfast, but the Diet Cokes would keep my hunger at bay until I could dash out for my fast food lunch. I felt that I looked healthier than most people my age. Soon I would learn that my Vanity approach to fitness, and life for that matter, were misguided.

I met April in May of 2012. Positive Energy…Extreme Positive Energy… Infectious Positive Energy is the best way to describe my first impression of April. Beyond that, her knowledge of fitness and nutrition and how it all ties together with a healthy mind amazed me.

I had no real way to tie this all together before I met April. It always seemed that something was missing in my approach to a Healthy Life. April’s approach is my way of bridging it all together. I think the answer lies within all of us. April’s Holistic Approach enabled me to find my own answers as to what works for me. Our bodies are amazing creations. Society had a way of brainwashing me on how I treat my most precious possession. Through April, I learned the importance of Real Food. It really is that easy. We are what we eat…. the sugars, the chemicals, the processed foods all had negative effects on me. The food I ate is what shaped my attitude, feelings, hunger, moods etc.

Exercise was something else that April coached me on. Consistent exercise is what I needed. I began to increase my level of cardio work through running. I also began to swim every day at lunch, and in many cases a work out again after work. I developed a routine and made it a priority in my life. This coupled with a natural food diet, I began to feel good on a daily basis.

For me, the most important piece to this magnificent puzzle is spirituality. I needed to find some outlet, some way to connect. This would be the critical piece that DOES tie it all together. Yoga and Meditation has helped me considerably. To date, I would like to increase my frequency of both, but I truly believe I have found an inner peace. This inner peace has made me a better Father, Son, Brother, Partner, Friend and overall better person. People that are important to me notice a change… I notice a change. April inspires me to want to be a better person and to be all that I can be in all facets of life.

What I have learned with April’s help will continue to shape my life for the better, for the rest of my life.

In August of 2013 I found myself in a very interesting place in my life journey. I was doing just ok, after a series of life events. Although I was attending church to grow in spirit, working on my health and weight and beginning to reach for the stars in my efforts with my job, I was missing something. Seemed like there was no flow in my life. I seemed to be scattered. I had a schedule and made every effort to stay on track and be regimented as the Army had taught me, but I felt so ineffective with my efforts. I had been reading posts from a facebook friend that I had only met one time several years earlier. I really didn’t know her, but her posts were about her trip to India and she seemed to be discovering the harmony that I had been missing for so long. I contacted her to ask about her trip and she shared a little about her journey. I was inspired and wanted to learn more about her and her Abundance Springs program. The cool part about our discussion is that she wasn't suggesting for me to try the program, she was only answering my questions.

I was kind of skeptical at first because I was capable of accomplishing anything I wanted to in life on my own and with God’s help, however I had a good feeling in my gut. I couldn't determine if it was simply April or the program she offered. So, I decided to take a leap of faith, being mindful that I was missing something that she seemed to have; harmony. After beginning the program, I decided to take a trip of my own. It wasn't India, but a solo cross country trip on my Harley. Just me and my horse and what a journey it was. I was gone for nearly three weeks and I learned much about myself and more importantly, the things I had been missing.

I stayed in contact with April and looked forward to our sessions every two weeks. The first thing I noticed about her coaching was accountability. As we discussed the things I really wanted from life, she asked me how I intended to accomplish these things and I didn't have an answer. My first thought was along the lines of why wasn't she telling me the answer, as she was the coach! But, then I started to see the clearer picture as our sessions continued. I explained many personal things about myself and what I wanted to accomplish. Her technique of probing for my wants and needs then assisting me in discovering the natural process of how I could cause these things to become real in my life was so simple; yet without her guidance I would have never had the clarity to accomplish this on my own. Kinda weird, but I felt like throwing the day planner, the scales and the alarm clock out the window as they had been ruling my life and preventing me from finding the flow I had been so desperately seeking. They were the tools I had been relying on to guide me and they were also the things that were ruling my journey. I learned they were actually blocking the natural flow. An interesting part of this process, is that she didn't tell me any of this, these are my discoveries. I still have the tools like the day planner and such, however there seems to be a flow.

As our sessions continued through the holidays and into the first of the year, I continued to learn and grow from within myself, yet in an outward way. April didn't have all the answers to every question, however her insight and the way she caused me to experience my own challenges provided the perspective I needed to confront those challenges. Instead of offering easy advice, opinions or quick answers she helped me find my own answers, my own truth. It seemed I was learning this approach through discussions and contact in an unconventional way of learning, much different than the traditional instruction or classroom method. The perspective and harmony I have developed while working with April through Abundance Springs are those that will be with me for life; by far not just something I learned or experienced.

As the world continues to swirl around me every day, it seems that everyone wants a quick fix or a canned answer. That’s OK, because there are plenty of quicks and cans on the shelf, but this has not been one of them for me. This has assisted me in having a different perspective on so many areas of life. It has caused me to grow and more importantly allowed me to learn about myself and the necessary tools that I already possess, but just didn't realize. April also provided tons of sources that assisted me in learning and growing. From website links to readable materials, concerning meditation to, my ongoing joke, the tongue scraper, LOL. So much that I haven't even accessed all of the information.

My development while working with April has also allowed me to pay it forward, as I have always tried to do. There have been many instances in which someone in my path has been faced with life challenges and needed a little guidance. I refer back to my sessions and the techniques I have learned and offer them forward. What a great feeling it is to help. I just mentioned the word learned, however it’s not really a learned behavior with AS, it’s really a developed behavior, not a minor difference, A huge difference.

I still have life challenges and probably will have; as we all do. The one thing that is much different for me after working with April is the new perspective and the knowledge of the necessary tools from within that I will use to approach life in general.

Thank you April and Abundance Springs for all that you are and all that you have offered to make a difference in my life and the lives I have and will encounter.

The past three months you have deeply listened to me as I have shared all of my emotional clutter (the good and the bad). I'm so thankful for this. Your deep listening has brought me so much healing. My peace of mind has greatly improved.

I recently completed a 4-Week “Core” program with April Shereda. She is very talented and skilled health coach. She finds a unique way to encourage while remaining professional and challenging. Her true caring and concern for her clients is evident in every interaction yet she never forgets to remind clients how to stay on track.

April has a calm presence and is a gifted listener. She is able to distill so much of what she hears into distinct goals and achievements that can be used later to guide her clients and remind them of how far they have come.

During my 4-week time with April, I made the following changes:

• Reduced my soda intake by 80%
• Increased water intake by 70%
• Increased my physical activity
• Improved my sleep habits
• Completed 1st 5K walk/run in 12 years
• Improved my ability to see the positive things I accomplish
• Started writing in a journal daily

I am on my way to a healthier lifestyle and have learned a great deal from April.

Thank you, April, for your guidance, support, friendship, and training. You are a gift.

I recently had the pleasure of partaking in April's 4 to CORE program on health/wellness, and eating better. I must say the positive thoughts as well as good reinforcement and shared experiences from other members proved to be very helpful in this endeavor. We covered a wide variety of topics and interests which opened new doors to things I would never have otherwise thought of. Through April's guidance and the group's shared support, I was able to introduce new and effective sleep aids, understand food labels more clearly, reduce negative thinking, and tweek my dietary needs to fit my goal. Although the program is only 4 weeks, I feel it is worthwhile if one is looking to experiment with overall health and eating alternatives and create a more positive place for the mind, body, and soul.

April Shereda is a wealth of information about wholesome eating with real foods. She is a life changer. Today I enjoy a cup of hot lemon-water with organic ginger, honey, and turmeric. I have never felt better. She has educated me to help me make great choices at the grocery store and these decision will help my future health and wellness. April lives what she teaches. She is a true inspiration. She is a life saver.

I want you to know how very much I appreciated being a part of Eating 101. I thank you for helping me to better understand nutrition and how I can interpret labels; all of which will make me a healthier "Senior. "

April is very knowledgeable on the topic of nutrition and helps you find ways to make small changes that impact, not only how you eat, but also how you view food.

Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and resources on nutrition. I have been well fed! Even Jesus in Mark 6:37 told his disciples to "give them something to eat." Thank you for showing me what that "something" is. I enjoyed the class.