February 10, 2008 05:58 pm

Thanks everyone!

Last chance workouts: We had two awesome “last chance” workouts. One with Bryan last Saturday and one with Craig on Wednesday.
Bryan put us through his “Marine” training workout and really pushed us to the limit. We did weights, pushups, jumping and running. Bryan kept us moving the entire time. In fact we even worked longer than our usual one hour training. We also had our first “group” challenge. Bryan divided us up into two teams and had us do a series of relay races. The relay races were a fun way for us to workout. I really enjoy training with different trainers on Saturdays. Thank you Bryan for a great “Last Chance Saturday” Workout.
On Wednesday when we got to the gym, Craig asked us if we were ready to work. Boy did he work us! Craig had us working our legs until they were Jell-O, and then moved to our arms. Half way through the workout, he asked if our whole body felt like Jell-O yet. When we said, “YES!” He said, “Good! now meet me on the track. Craig knows how hard we have worked and how much we would love to be “Kokomo’s Biggest Losers”!
It is hard to believe that our 13 weeks are over. It seems like we just got into the groove of things. If you would have told me that I was going to lose over 20 pounds, I would have just laughed. Jeremy and I have been able to do a lot more things then we ever thought possible. Craig has always been good about giving us personal goals to achieve while going through this process. He has been a great supporter and teacher. We now know we will be able to accomplish any goal, because Craig first believed in us. No matter what happens with this competition, we are all WINNERS! Thanks Craig for all your patience and determination. We would have never made it this far without you. You have given us the desire to make a lifestyle change. You have also given us a good foundation for nutrition and eating healthier. Thanks again Craig for not giving up on us and for pushing us to the end. Now I am going to start working for Disney World Marathon!
I also want to say thank you to our family and friends. I know it has not been easy; you guys have always given us the support and encouragement to make it to the end. Thank you also to everyone for all their kind words and support. It is very encouraging to meet so many people who are cheering us on. Everyone has been Great and I hope we have made you proud!

May 05, 2008 08:11 am

A model challenger

I think I did it! Wednesday night at our church’s Style Show I think I made Mrs. Foye proud and surprised myself at the same time. Nine months ago when we were planning this year’s Style Show, my name came up as one of the models. My first reaction was “I can’t do that. I’m on the committee”. I figured I was able to get out of modeling the last 3 years; surely I could dodge it again. I think my biggest hold back was the fact that I was so big and I was embarrassed. When I couldn’t get myself out of modeling, I figured I should just suck up my pride and not worry about it.
When I first started losing weight, I thought maybe this modeling thing was not going to be too bad. “Maybe I can lose a few pounds before the show”. When I went to Christopher and Banks to try on my clothes, I was very pleased with the size I was able to get into. In fact, I think the clothes I ending up modeling on Wednesday, were a little Too Big! There Mrs. Foye I said it. I think my clothes were a little too big. I even came out on stage with my shirt tucked in and Mrs. Foye did not even have to remind me.
Thank you Craig, Club Fitness 24 and the Kokomo Tribune for giving me the desire to want to tuck my shirt in and for making me look shorter.

April 26, 2008 12:41 pm

Hard work pays off

In this day and age, everything seems to be measured by numbers. The number on the scale, the size of clothes and ones measurements. I am just as guilty as the next woman. I measure my success by the number I see on the scale too. I know I can’t get caught up or depressed by my weight, when Craig has us burning calories as well as building muscle.
I got to taste a little bit of my success when I went shopping on Monday. My church, St. Joan of Arc, is having a spring fashion show and I get to be one of the models. For the first time in years, I got to go into Christopher & Banks and shop for my outfits.
As I was shopping, Mrs. Foye, my co-teacher, came walking into the store. You know we spend a lot of time together, when we show up at the same place without even knowing the other will be there. Children always ask me, “Where’s Mrs. Foye,” when they see me without her, so I guess when people call us “Thelma & Louise,” it fits pretty good.
When I finally found a couple outfits, I started to try them on. Mrs. Foye was being very patient with me, because I was violating every fashion disaster imaginable. When I came out in a skirt and blouse, I thought Mrs. Foye was going to loose it. All she could do was close her eyes and very politely say, “I knew you were not going to come out with that blouse tucked in, it is made to be tucked in.” My response was, “You know I don’t do the whole tucking in thing.”
Mrs. Foye was a good friend to have around. Every time I would pick something out, she was right there giving me my correct size. I have been so use to grabbing the “largest” size that I was swimming in most of the clothes. I finally had to laugh when I came out of the dressing room one time to find the clerk asking me about a jacket. The jacket was way to big, so my response was, “I don’t know.” “I think this one is too big and I need to get a smaller size.” From clear across the store I hear, “Did my ears just hear correctly.” “Did you say that size was too big.” It was just like a kid saying, I told you so.
Now I finally realized that all this hard work is paying off.

April 18, 2008 08:45 am

Rest and relaxation. Not.

Ah! Spring Break-A time of rest and relaxation! Not for this teacher. Spring Break means catch-up time. A time to catch up on laundry, cleaning out the garage, working on church Style Show, working on Cub Scout Day Camp, and anything else but resting.
Before the week started, Jeremy and I made a To-Do List, not a Honey-Do List. A joint To-Do List. We were all excited about all the things we were going to accomplish this week and how we had it all figured out. We knew exactly what was going to get done on each day. We had our whole week planned out, including some extra exercising.
Our week started out really good. We got off to a great start on Monday. The weather was wonderful. We were outside cleaning out the garage. My sister and two nephews even came over to help. They were tearing boxes down and carrying recycling to the car.
It was great! We even took a break from cleaning and went for a walk/run. The five of us went for a 2 mile walk/run. We ran for a mile and then walked for a mile. It was a nice warm up for our training with Craig.
We had another pretty productive day on Tuesday. We started Tuesday off by going to the gym first. It was really good to be able to start the day off with exercise. When we were done, I had more energy and was in a better mood to continue cleaning out the garage.
When we got up Wednesday, I was feeling pretty good about the progress we were making on our To-Do list. We loaded up the car with all the items we were going to donate to the St. Vincent De Paul Store, got a little snack and were on our way. When we went to start the car, the battery was dead. Oh, but of course we had to try to start it a hundred time before we could verify that it was truly dead. As I am sitting in the car, I am trying to find where on the To-Do List it says to replace the battery. It doesn’t! This was not part of the plan for Spring Break.
After consulting with my “Jack of all trades” brother-in-law, we jumped the car and headed to Auto Zone. Sure enough, the battery needed to be replaced. So we bought a new battery and were told that we would be able to put a new one in by ourselves. As I see Jeremy carrying out the new battery, with an ever so pleasant look on his face, I’m thinking, “I hope this is as easy as they say”.
Needless to say we did not have time to change the battery at Auto Zone, so we brought the car and the battery home, changed cars and headed to the gym. Going to the gym was the best thing that could have happened to us.
Craig has been telling us that exercise is the best way to fight stress, and we got to witness that first hand. By the time Craig was done with us, we were exhausted. But, we felt great. It was a great way to release all the tension for the day and get our day back on track. Thank you Craig for helping work off that stress so we could get the garage finished. Exercise is definitely the best medicine for stress.

April 11, 2008 08:21 pm

Frustration sets in

Well, frustration set in this week. I have gone almost two weeks without losing a pound. It is so hard to grasp the fact the muscle weighs more than fat. I know Craig has really pushed us hard on the weights, but I have also been doing cardio the other five days.
With only four weeks to go, Craig’s expectations have gotten higher. He has us running, yes I said running, on the treadmill and outside if weather permits. Craig is also increasing the amount of weights we lift and the duration of planks and sideways planks we do.
I know I am getting smaller, because I can feel it in my clothes, but it would still be nice to see it on the scale. Thank you to everyone for their words of encouragement. It is so nice to walk down the hallway at school and hear parents as well as, students who are cheering you on. Just the other day a first grader gave me the biggest complement ever. He said, “Mrs. Burke, you know you don’t really look different. Well, maybe shorter. Yes, you look shorter. I guess you do kind of look skinnier, but that’s all.”
So to all my cheerleaders, thank you for helping me to become healthier as well as shorter!

April 04, 2008 09:08 am

Fun in the torture room

This has got to be the toughest week of training yet. It all started Saturday at group training with Tyson. We spent the morning in the Parisi Speed School. I have always watched those “young” athletes working out on the track, but have never spent much time figuring out what they were doing. Well, I got to find out first hand what those athletes really do. Tyson ran us through the Parisi warm-up and some training exercise for the entire hour. We never lifted a single weight, but we were constantly moving and completely exhausted when we were finished. This was the first good group workout that I have had in a while. Thank you Tyson!
Then on Monday, we meet with Craig. He took us to the “torture” room. We spent the entire training session lifting weights in the “cage.” I am always afraid to enter the exclusive weight room, but some how I feel safer when I have a body guard, I mean a trainer with me. Craig worked us so hard that my whole body was sore.
Tuesday was my usually Step and Biggest Loser Day. I go to the Step Class at 7 p.m. and then walk/run on the treadmill for 45 minutes. The only thing that keeps me on the treadmill is watching Americas Biggest Loser. Maybe someday, I will be one of Kokomo’s Biggest Loser.
Wednesday Night, we returned back to the “torture” room for even more weights. We did squats and rowing exercises until I was going to collapse. I guess that was good, because Trainer Bob says to keep working until your legs are going to fall off.
Oh, but before I had a chance to collapse, my wonderful husband had us doing extra jumping jacks, seal jumps and highland springs. Boy am I glad he’s not afraid to speak his mind.
So need less to say, this has been not only, a tough physical week, but also a very emotional one as well. I know it will pay off in the end!

March 28, 2008 09:03 am

Reunited and it feels so good

Last week even though Craig was out of town, he did not let us slack off. Craig had arranged for Travis to torment, I mean work with us. Not knowing who Travis was, we were not sure what to expect.
Travis may look like a softy with his big friendly smile, but he was far from it. At first I felt sorry for Travis. Every time he told us to do something, Jeremy was right there trying to talk him out of it. I’m sure Craig left Travis with full instructions on how to deal with him, I mean us. By the end of the first night, Travis was beginning to figure out Jeremy’s game.
When we got to our training session on Wednesday, Travis was ready for us. He worked us so hard. We spent 90 percent of the evening just on arms. Don’t get me wrong, my arms need a lot of work.
I left the gym with my arms burning. I was not sure if I was going to be able to drive home with my arms in so much pain. Thank you, Travis. You really pushed us and were able to put up with Jeremy for two hours.
This week when we were reunited with Craig, I could tell that he really missed us. The poor guy wasted his whole vacation, sitting on the beach thinking of new ways to torture us. He pushed us so hard on this week, that we were extremely exhausted when he was done.
The nice thing about having a personal trainer is that he gets to know your personal needs. He knows how hard to push us and what areas we need the most help. I am very grateful for all the weight we have lost and life changing habits he has built in us. But I am still waiting on his grand plan to adjust my wonderful husband’s attitude!

March 21, 2008 02:41 pm

Time for new clothes

As the weeks have gone by, people have been telling me they can tell I am losing weight. But as I look at myself, I can only see the weight loss in my face. I know the scale is telling me that I am losing pounds, but I just don’t see it like I thought I would. I know some of my pants have been a little baggy, so I have to keep telling myself that it is working.
Well, Sunday as I was looking for something to wear to church, I finally got my answer. I picked a skirt out of the closet and put it on. I didn’t get very far though before it fell to my knees. Now I know that I am not only losing pounds, but also inches. I have never been more excited about trying on clothes then I was on Sunday. The more I tried on, the more I found I could not wear any more. I guess I just have to go shopping for some new clothes.
I did not have to go very far to go shopping. All I had to do was go to our guest bedroom closet and look thru some of the clothes that I have not been able to wear in more than two years. It was so good to be able to fit into some “new”, but yet old clothes again. I am now able to fit back into my jumpers! Being an early childhood teacher, I have enough jumpers to wear a different one everyday for about two weeks. I even found one with the tag still on it.
I just want to thank everyone for their kind words of encouragement. It keeps us going and helps keep our spirits up. Even if we do not “win” this competition, Jeremy and I are already winners because we are living a healthier life.

March 14, 2008 10:43 am

Mrs. Burke won't let you down

Well, my biggest fear about this competition became a reality last Saturday. After being in the gym everyday last week and sweating like a pig, I got on the scale only to reveal that I was only 1 pound lighter.
Now I know what the contestants on the Biggest Loser are going through. It breaks my heart to see those contestants work as hard as they do and only lose a pound or two and now I know what it feels like.
I felt worse standing on that scale looking at that one pound, then all the workouts Craig has put us through. It was difficult not wanting to give up and the temptation to call it quits was right there, but I decided that I was not a quitter. I am a fighter and I want to win this competition.
After blowing off steam to Craig about my one pound loss, he reassured me that it is OK and I will get it next week. After discussing my eating schedule, Craig figured out that I am not eating frequent enough and believe it or not, I am not eating enough.
He also told me to get more sleep, but I don’t know where I can get more sleep. Mrs. Foye and I are always trying to get the children in our classes to add nap time, but somehow playing with the toys always wins out.
I just want to thank everyone for their words of encouragement. It is nice to have all the support from our family and friends, and students, too!
Mrs. Burke is not going to let you down.

March 06, 2008 08:51 am