February 09, 2008 11:28 am

I made it!

The final weigh-in and measuring brought out many emotions. I couldn't believe it was over and I had actually made it through the 13 weeks. When I saw the numbers of 34 pounds and a total of 13.5 inches including over 5 inches lost in my waist I was elated! The results of all of the hard work were right there in front of me.
I also know that I have just completed a small phase of what I have to do in the future. The competition was the motivation to start which had always eluded me in the past. It also provided me so much information and experience as to what is going to be required to complete the job!
I can't thank the Tribune and Powerhose enough for giving me the opportunity to change my life. The measurements and weight loss do not begin to tell the story for me. The health improvements in sugar, cholestorol, sleep and energy levels are exciting to me. I can't wait for my doctor's appointment this week to see if I can get off of some of the seven medications I take daily.
I also can't thank Jacque enough for all of the adjustments she made to fit us into her schedule. She also made an hour of misery as much fun as could be expected by motivating me to take one more step or lift one more time than I thought I could.
There are way too many people than I could possibly mention that encouraged me every step of the way and told me to keep it up, but I couldn't have done it without Della who was my inspiration to keep going no matter what it took. I am counting on this improved health and new attitude to give me another 50 years with her by my side!

May 03, 2008 09:33 am

The end is near

It is hard to believe we are closing in on the end of the Fitness Challenge.... or is that will this Fitness Challenge ever be over! The last couple of weeks have been very difficult because softball is at full throttle and we have games nearly every night. It has caused me to miss a couple of training sessions and I was not looking forward to “the scale” Saturday morning but I lost another 4.6 pounds to bring my total weight loss to 34 pounds.
I have enjoyed the change in weather which has allowed us to get some exercise outside and Jackson Morrow Park is a great place to walk and run.
We have really made it a priority to find a way to get some exercise every day even if we can’t always make it to the gym.
We are down to our last few personal training sessions and we are very appreciative of the effort Jacque has made to accommodate my schedule with softball. There have been several changes, some at the very last minute and she has been wonderful to work with. I will not get to attend the last group session on Saturday due to the big opening day parade for Russiaville’s youth softball and baseball leagues as I have been asked to throw out the first pitch of the season.
I am looking forward to the final weigh-in and measuring as I know the measurements will tell an even greater story than the weight.

April 26, 2008 12:43 pm

Turning back the clock

I was really nervous about the weigh-in this Saturday since we had been on vacation and missed our group session as well as one of our personal training sessions. I knew we had done the right things as far as exercising and eating the right things while we were gone but I was still very concerned. I had also gone three weeks with a total weight gain of 2 pounds which had me pretty discouraged.
When I got on the scales I was shocked to find that I had lost 7 pounds bringing my total weight loss to 29.4 pounds! I had reached one of my major goals to match the lowest weight I had been in over 12 years.
On Sunday we were able to go to Bloomington and visit our son at IU. While we were in the store getting him laundry soap, toothpaste, and other things that seem to only be needed whenever mom and dad are around to pay, I bought a new pair of jeans. For the first time in more than 10 years I was able to buy jeans that were not elastic waist and were purchased somewhere other than a Big & Tall store!
The waist size was the same as the day I got married more than 23 years ago! My next goal is to buy a pair of jeans the same size as I wore in high school although I think the style may be a little different.

April 18, 2008 09:07 am

The man in the mirror

Since we left early Saturday morning for Tennessee, we missed our first group session of the challenge and I know that Chad worked everyone very hard. Although we were disappointed to miss the session, I think we found that we really are taking the need for a lifestyle change seriously. We have never taken a vacation in the past where we actually looked for opportunities to exercise.
When we arrived in Tennessee, we found a walking trail that was 2.5 miles long and we got up every morning and walked/jogged that trail. We also found a motel with a workout room so we would have an option if the weather prohibited us from being outside.
The first day we went looking around for a place to eat lunch and ended up at a little place called the Bluegill Cafe out on a lake. We ordered one meal and split it which I know has never happened in our lives. The food was great and we both got plenty to eat.
That may seem like a small step to many but in the past, I would have insisted on getting two meals and then ate mine and whatever Della didn’t eat of hers. One of the things that I am learning during this competition is that you have to be grateful for small improvements. I didn’t get in the shape I am in over a few weeks and I won’t be in great shape at the end of the challenge but I will be in better shape and moving in the right direction towards a healthier lifestyle.
I always tell my players to look at themselves in the mirror each night and ask themselves “what did I do to get closer to my goals today.”
For the first time in my life, I can look at myself in the mirror each night and answer that question with tangible examples and it is a great feeling!

April 11, 2008 08:22 pm

It's all worth it

I don't usually blog more than once a week but I thought this is something the readers should hear about, especially those who are wondering if the struggle is worth it. As part of my benefits at Chrysler, I have to get a health screening once a year to check my cholesterol, sugar, etc. Last year all of my numbers relative to cholesterol were in the "health risk" category.
I took my health screenings on Tuesday and the results were as follows: My total cholesterol was 129 (should be less than 200), my good cholesterol was 45 (normal is 40-50) and my ratio was 2.9 (should be less than 4.5). I was so excited I could hardly stand it so I took the results in to show Chad and Jacque. Those numbers may never show up on the scale but I know that my "health" is continuing to improve and I am looking forward to seeing my doctor when this next few weeks is over so I can stop taking so much medicine. Oh, by the way, my sugar was down from 300 (fasting) to 161 (eating).

April 02, 2008 01:03 pm

Learning how to eat

This past week was an interesting one since I was unable to make it to the gym three out of the seven days and missed a training session with Jacque. I was really nervous about getting on the scale Saturday since I had gained three pounds the previous week after working out all seven days. I was very pleased to have lost the three pounds I had gained and I attribute that to having a really good week eating (other than Easter Sunday). I have really learned a lot about the proper way to eat and I am even comfortable going out to eat because I know what choices to make.
I would really like to think this was going to be over in another five or six weeks and I was going to continue to get healthier without all of this hard work but I know I have to live a different lifestyle forever. I have to continue to exercise and be active to stay healthy.
I was able to walk nine holes of golf last week and carry my bag without getting tired which is something I couldn't have done six weeks ago. I love to play golf and being able to play and exercise at the same time is a win - win for me.
I also got to see the results of the Parisi Speed School training that is done at the Powerhouse last week as my daughter Lindsey signed her letter of intent to play college softball at Motlow State College. Her trainer Adrian came to the signing and it was very special to us because they have worked hard to improve her abilities and have developed a relationship that is such a large part of having a personal trainer.

April 02, 2008 01:02 pm

A return to focus

I was really excited about weighing in this past Saturday as I had the best week of workouts so far and I didn't miss a day. When I stepped on the scales, I was shocked that I had actually gained three pounds! I stepped off the scales and tried again but the numbers didn't change. I was devastated and thought about anything that I had eaten that week that might have caused this gain.
I really wanted to give up at that point but I remembered Jacque telling us it can't be about a number on a scale, it is about a look and feel. That really wasn't much consolation at the time but I knew how much better I was feeling and my health was improving every day. In spite of knowing those things, I pretty much pouted all day and whined a little as well.
When I got up to get ready for church on Sunday, I got a great surprise that ended my worry about the scale. I decided to try on my dress slacks that I hadn't been able to wear for quite awhile and when I put them on and snapped them, they just fell to the floor! I was so excited and then I saw the pictures in the paper from our first week compared to our halfway pictures and I knew I was doing the right things.
All of my despair from Saturday was gone and although it is still very important to me to continue losing weight, it isn't my main focus anymore.

March 26, 2008 03:05 pm

What was I thinking?

As I sit in my office this morning trying to move my arms and legs from last nights "100 night," I am trying to think of the reason we signed up for this Fitness Challenge! My first thought was insanity followed by stupidity! After 100 each of squats, step ups, lunges, curls, shoulder presses, rows and push ups and oh yes 50 squat jumps I can't feel most of my muscles.
I know I lost at least three gallons of water last night because everything I wore was soaked. Jacque even celebrated with a resounding "YES" when my shirt was soaked from my neck to my belly button.
In all seriousness, I would have never imagined that I could make it through last nights workout and a few short weeks ago I couldn't have. I am very grateful to Jacque for her persistence and unwillingness to allow me to give up.
I can't say I am happy with her for the 60 minutes during training but I can't thank her enough for being part of a life changing experience for me. I can't wait to go to the doctor after this challenge to see what medications I can stop taking!

March 20, 2008 09:45 am

A pleasant surprise

I was pleasantly surprised this Saturday morning when I weighed in and had lost another 4.6 pounds bringing my five week total to 24.6! I had a very busy week with League meetings, school meetings and IHSAA meetings that I could not miss which cost me three days in the gym. With that in mind I tried to eat even better to make up for the lost gym time and it must have worked.
Later Saturday afternoon we had a group session doing "group power" with Erin. Group power is a series of 10 songs with weight lifting and each song working on a different muscle group. I can still feel most of the muscle groups today in the form of soreness but I am sure Jacque will loosen me right up tonight as we go through our personal training session.
I think my softball players are starting to regret that I was chosen to participate in this challenge as I have been introduced to all sorts of new methods to work them out in practice. I am still saving "the plank" for a special occasion!

March 18, 2008 05:04 pm