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Point Edward weight loss centre expands

Cathy Dobson There came a point when Stephanie Purdy knew she was ready to venture out on her own and leave the family business.
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Stephanie Purdy, owner of Purdy Ideal You, outside the centre’s infrared sauna. Cathy Dobson

Cathy Dobson

There came a point when Stephanie Purdy knew she was ready to venture out on her own and leave the family business.

She’d found a product she really liked, she had the marketing and coaching skills to sell it and support her clients, and owning her own business really appealed.

After 12 years managing Purdy’s Fisheries, she established Purdy Ideal You, built on the strength of The Ideal Protein weight loss method.

Two years later, she has expanded, doubled the space of her centre at 911 Michigan Ave., and added three new services aimed at improving health and getting in shape.

“I’ve never been someone who wants to put all my eggs in one basket, so I am looking at overall wellness services,” said Purdy.

Purdy discovered Ideal Protein in 2011 when she talked to a friend in Ajax who lost 35 pounds in 13 weeks on the program.

When she tried it herself, she lost 45 pounds in 14 weeks.

But the clinic in Sarnia where she purchased her high protein foods and received coaching, shut down a few months into her program.

Six months after she started losing weight, Purdy decided to sell the product herself while still at the family fishery.

Since then, the business has evolved, moved a few times to larger offices and now employs three staff. After two years of research, she made a $15,000 investment in new equipment for additional services to complement the weight loss program.

The Purdy Ideal You Centre now offers an infrared sauna that reaches 55 C.

Not only do “dry” saunas relieve arthritic pain, they can be effective in improving heart health, boosting immune function and relieving chronic pain, said Purdy.

“We are conditioned to think we can only deal with certain health challenges in a certain way, but there are alternatives worth exploring.”

She also purchased a Nex Neuro Relaxation Bed, which moves to the sound of therapeutic music. As the bed moves, the literature says the relaxation value can assist with everything from high blood pressure to increased blood flow and lymph drainage.

Purdy’s centre also has a Hypervibe machine that stimulates and exercises the body. Purdy said it is capable of improving balance, circulating blood and building muscle.

“I use it to when my lower back pain is bothering me,” she said.

Operating her own business is giving her a lot of personal satisfaction,” Purdy added. In December, she donated $50 for every new customer to St. Clair Children and Youth.  The cheque she handed over was for $1,000.

To date, the biggest loser at Purdy Ideal You lost 128 pounds in seven months.

For more information, visit purdyidealyou.com or call 519-312-0599.

Got an interesting business story? Contact Cathy Dobson at [email protected] or 226-932-0985.


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