Despite re-election bid, fitness is a priority for Sen. Nicole Poore

State Sen. Nicole Saville Poore represents the 12th District in New Castle. When she wanted to get in shape, she willingly drove to Sussex County to get the job done. She began training with me six months ago, participating in my 12-week transformation program. Despite the fact that she is up for re-election in November, she is now starting the transformation for the third time, leaving no doubt that fitness is still a priority. 

"I heard about the 12-week transformation because my brother Steve and his wife Barbara did it and had great success. I wanted to go into this year’s campaign season in the best physical and mental shape I possibly could, so I signed up,” Nicole said. Nicole recruited her friend Lea to join the program, and for six months they commuted down to the beach to train to get their new workouts for the next month until they were due to come back again. 

During this time, Nicole lost 15 pounds and a large amount of body fat, but as she explains, “It wasn’t about the weight, it more was about toning and being in the best shape I could be. I have a child with special needs and I need to be able to lift him, and I have two other children, so being in peak performance for my children and job was what I really needed.”

In addition to being a first-term state senator, Nicole is president of a nonprofit for at-risk students called Jobs for Delaware Graduates, so she is constantly on the go in order to balance all of her daily responsibilities. There are community meetings, constituent calls, visits and then factor in time with family and things can get pretty busy. “My husband likes to say there is no senators in this house, which means I have to clean, do laundry and all the other things that everyone else has to do, but add in both jobs and I sometimes work between 14 to 18 hours a day or until the work is done. The bottom line is staying in shape is about making the right choices and picking the best foods to fuel your body, but with my schedule I began to miss meals and somewhere along the way I lost it and needed to get back on track.”

During the first two transformations, Nicole followed a strict diet of lean proteins, vegetables and good complex carbohydrates. She lifted weights three times a week and did cardio frequently and often found herself at the gym after a long day of work – missing workouts was never an option. “I wanted to be better for my family and constituents, and the way I figured it, working out was a big part of the solution.” Shortly after finishing the program, Nicole was offered a rare chance to share her passion for fitness with her son. Nick Eecaire of Fusion Racing asked if she would be interested in running a race with a special chair that would allow Nicole to push Nicholas, giving him the experience of running a race with his mom. It was the perfect way to end the program and both mom and son had an awesome time. “It was a great workout, and I felt I could show that people with or without disabilities can all work out together.”

Nicole will be running for re-election Nov. 8 and she has already started her third transformation program, which means she will be making several trips to Sussex County to train with me again. I look forward to seeing the great results she will accomplish this time around, and I wish her luck in her re-election bid this November.