To better understand the beginning of The Ideal Weigh, Inc., please take a moment to read Kathy’s biography. Her personal life journey is the start to this humbly successful company. Thank you for your interest in The Ideal Weigh. Blessings to you all!
(Sioux Falls)
I am humbly grateful to be able to say that I am the first person in South Dakota to start the diet and start a center. I am especially grateful when I think about the fact that I almost missed the opportunity to bring hundreds of people along with me!
The story of The Ideal Weigh begins with my life’s journey. It is a spiritual and health journey combined. Many factors over the years led up to me finding myself 45 pounds overweight and ready for a few miracles in the fall of 2007. My dear friend, Mike Ciell Rph, (better known now as the Chief Science Officer of Ideal Protein) had been calling often and leaving me messages about ‘this new weight loss program.’ He didn’t know that I had gained an extra 20 plus pounds since he had seen me last. His MO was, “You’re a nurse. You will get this and you could help a lot of people with this”, and, “this could really help Gary”, (my husband who is a Type 1 Diabetic). Even though I normally think everything Mike says is ‘gospel’, I was not ready yet and I erased his messages. I had gone to the fitness center and was weighed and measured by Jaime Erger (now my head coach) so that I could start ‘something ‘. I just had no idea what. I thought if I just exercised that would do it, but I felt embarrassed to be in the locker room and my knees hurt. In other words, lots of excuses! I felt terrible about myself. I was four sizes bigger than ever. I didn’t want to shop for new clothes. I was determined to wear the clothes I had in the back of my closet. I wore sweats most of the time, to my daughters’ embarrassment.
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CPT, Head Coach (Sioux Falls)
My journey with The Ideal Weigh began as I watched and learned along with Kathy Bertsch as she did this diet. At the time I was working as a personal trainer at a fitness center in Sioux Falls. Kathy came to me to get her weight, measurements, and body fat assessment periodically during her time on the diet, and I was amazed by her quick results! Not only was I impressed with her progress on the diet, I was also impressed that she was losing the right kind of weight, felt great, had more energy, and was seeing many improvements in her health! After learning along with Kathy I was excited to join her on our mission to bring this wonderful program to as many people as we can! Our journey has been an incredible and rewarding one so far, and I am excited to continue to help bless others with the freedom and hope this program provides!
- Jaime Erger
Business Leader (Sioux Falls)
“Every day I am so thankful and blessed for having The Ideal Weigh Inc literally fall into my lap”. It was the answer she was unexpectantly looking for when she was called by us to help with our Business Office of The Ideal Weigh Inc. She started the program and lost 44 pounds in 3 months AND has made The Ideal Weigh Inc. her new work home. “Losing weight is not an easy thing to do, but through support and proper guidance, you can feel better, get healthy and get off those meds!” Marsha keeps busy with her 10 year old son, two step-children, ages 16 and 18 years and has been married 13 years. Sioux Falls has been her home since 1994 where she enjoys reading, watching stupid movies and prides herself on stupid movie quotes.
- Marsha Jaros
Reception Leader (Sioux Falls)
I came to The Ideal Weigh a year and a half ago after moving to Sioux Falls for my husband’s job change. I was looking for office work, and I met the wonderful folks at The Ideal Weigh. I went on the diet and lost 30 lbs and my husband lost 40 lbs. Working in the office and with our clients has been a real blessing to me. What a great job to help people on their journey to better health.
- Mary McCullough
Communications & Systems Leader (Sioux Falls)
My name is Katherine Narigon. I am the Communication & Systems Leader here at The Ideal Weigh. I joined The Ideal Weigh in October of 2009 after having lost an amazing amount of weight and improving my health. I wasn’t looking for a new job but couldn’t resist the chance to help others reach their goals of becoming healthy. The Ideal Weigh has given me so much more than a job. I am blessed to be here working alongside this wonderful team of people all striving to help others!
- Katherine Narigon
CPT, Coach (Sioux Falls)
I began my relationship with The Ideal Weigh in February of 2011. I came from a career in personal training, and have always enjoyed seeing folks improve their health through exercise. It was not long before I came to The Ideal Weigh that I began to see that proper nutrition was invaluable for maintaining good health. I gave the diet a test run when I joined the crew here and was most impressed with the positive impact that getting off of the carbohydrate rollercoaster had on both my energy level and chronic inflammation. It is a joy to see others achieve their weight loss goals and the added wellness benefits that go along with that. When I’m not at the office, I enjoy playing tennis, running, hiking, reading, and knitting/crocheting with friends over a good cup of coffee
- Janny Sunde
Wellness Coach (Hartford)
Hi my name Jean Wenk! I am a coach and a consultant for Ideal Weigh. For years, I was an unsuccessful dieter. But, I was very successful with the Ideal Protein diet! A lot of people ask me, “Was it was easy?” I can truthfully say I didn’t cheat; so, yes it was easy! Life is full of temptations. But, if you want to succeed… don‘t cheat! I feel like I have found my Fountain of Youth! In fact I know I have! Life is fun.
- Jean Wenk
Wellness Coach (Yankton)
I am Shari Frerk, CMA, Coach, Consultant and Team Leader at The Ideal Weigh Center, Yankton SD. I started my journey with The Ideal Weigh as a client. I started the amazing diet in Oct 2010 and lost 45lbs and 49 inches by Dec 2010. During that time, I knew God had a greater calling for me and that is when I joined The Ideal Weigh team in Oct 2010. My passion is helping client’s claim their health back and to receive the same joy that I did when I could see the weight and inches melt away each week. The Ideal Protein diet has given me my freedom back to do the things I love. I am married to Jim, he is a Certified Physician Assistant at the Yankton Medical Clinic we have two boys, Sean (25 yrs) and Jeremy (22 yrs). I enjoy spending time with family and friends, hiking, camping, long walks outside, reading, scrapbooking and just sitting outside on the porch relaxing with a great cup of coffee.
Blessings,
- Shari Frerk
Wellness Coach (Sioux Falls)
My name is Chrystelle Thovson. I came to Ideal Weigh in February of 2011 desperate for a solution to my addiction for carbohydrates and sugar. I had tried several diets in the past and they would work for a while but eventually I’d stop losing weight or gain weight back and each time my addiction to carbohydrates and sugar would remain. With the help of my coach and Ideal Weigh I was able to not only lose weight and maintain my weight, but I was also able to finally kick my addiction to carbohydrates and sugar! I was so happy to be asked to join the Ideal Weigh team as a coach after the success I experienced. I realize everyone’s journey of weight gain and loss is different and I look forward to helping others find success with Ideal Weigh. I feel so blessed to be part of such an amazing team who is not only dedicated to seeing its clients succeed but is also truly concerned with helping clients improve their heath. In my free time I enjoy working out, scrapbooking/card making, and spending time with my family and two Morkies. I look forward to meeting you and helping you succeed in reaching your goals too!!
- Chrystelle Thovson
Wellness Coach (Sioux Falls)
I have worked as part of The Ideal Weigh Team since January 2010, after completing the diet in December of 2009. My husband also completed our program and has been on maintenance for over 1 year. I have 5 grown children and 11+ grandchildren. I really enjoy working with people and helping them to reach their goal for better health and well-being.
- Dee Boos
