Kevin's challenge

In this challenge there were 8 disciplines that the challengers had to go thru. They were, Leg Curls (men had to curl 70 pounds, ladies 40 pounds), Olympic Bench (men had to lift 135 pounds, ladies 65 pounds), Chair Squats, Bend Over rows (men had row 95 pounds and Ladies 65 pounds), Single leg kneel downs, Triceps pull down (men had to do 70 pounds and ladies 40 pounds), Leg Press(men had to do 230 pounds and the ladies 160 pounds, and finally Biceps curl(men had to curl 20 pounds and the ladies 10 pounds.

Each event was 5 minutes long and each person was paired up with another person for support. You could take as long or as short as you needed but no more than 5 minutes combined per team. What you will see are the reps that each person did in each discipline. They are impressive.

Rick A: Leg Curls 102 reps, Olympic Bench 44 reps, Chair Squats 45 reps, Bend Over rows 62 reps, Kneel-downs 19 reps, Triceps Pull Down 110 reps, Leg Press 30 reps, Biceps curl 66 reps. total reps completed 478

Kay H: Leg curls 79 reps, Olympic Bench 45 reps, Chair squats 30 reps, kneel-downs 9, Triceps pull down 74 reps, Leg Press 56 reps Biceps curls 30 reps. Total reps completed 317

James B: Leg curls 104 reps, Olympic Bench 40 reps, Chair squats 50 reps, Bend over rows 43 reps, kneel-downs 40, Triceps pull down 50 reps, leg press 45 reps, Biceps curl 30 reps. Total reps completed 408.

Gina S: Leg Curls 80, Olympic Bench 30, Chair squats 50, Bend over-rows 43, kneel-downs 40, Triceps pull down 75, leg press, 56 and biceps curl 45. Total reps completed 407

Vicki D: Leg Curls 111, Olympic Bench 31, Chair squats 38, Bend over rows 65, kneel downs 26, triceps pull down 95, Leg press 44, Biceps curl 39. total reps completed 449

Jayne S: Leg curls 106, Olympic Bench 50, Chair squats 42, Bend over rows 70, kneel downs 33, triceps curls 75, leg press 55, biceps curl 50. Total reps completed 478.

Lynn D: Leg curls 134, Olympic Bench 23, Chair squats 42, Bend over rows 55, kneel downs 28, Triceps pull down 175, Leg press 104, Biceps curl 71. Total reps complete 632.

Bill W: Leg Curls 8, Olympic bench 6, Bend over rows 63, Kneel downs 35, Triceps pull down 94, Leg Press 100, Biceps curl 41. Total reps completed 347.

Christy D: Leg Curls 53, Olympic Bench 45, Chair squats 62, Bend Over rows 60, kneel downs 34, Triceps pull downs 67, Leg Press 57, Biceps curls 85. Total reps completed 463.

Ann S: Leg Curls 50, Olympic Bench 37, Chair squats 46, Bend over rows 50, kneel downs 33, Triceps pull downs 44, Leg press 33, biceps curl 50. Total reps completed 343.

*Sue I: Leg curls 120, Olympic bench 73, chair squats 161, Bend over rows 95, kneel downs 29, Triceps pull downs 81, Leg press 63, Biceps curls 92. Total reps complete 714

Michelle M: Leg curls 90, Olympic Bench 60, chair squats 155, Bend over rows 61, kneel downs 24, triceps pull down 60, Leg press 50, biceps curl 120. Total reps completed 620

Amy R: Leg curls 73, Olympic bench 55, chair squats 55, Bend over rows 75, kneel downs 21, Triceps pull down 65, leg press 70, biceps curl 63. Total reps completed 477.

Cindi Z: Leg Curl 110, Olympic Bench 31, Chair squats 60, Bend over rows 44, kneel downs 24, triceps pulled down 66, Leg press 46, Biceps curl 60. Total reps completed 441.

This is very good. I know afterwards they were very tired. Good job guys keep up the good work.

After 5 total weeks of weign-ins

(not all the challengers are in this picture)
Well after 5 weeks of weigh-ins and the challengers are doing really well... here are their numbers.

Cindi Z. started at 230.6 and after 5 weeks 211.2 total loss 19.4lbs (8.41%)
Sue I. started at 246.8 and after 5 weeks 234.8 total loss 12lbs (7.52%)
Vicki D. started at 208.0 and after 5 weeks 193.2 total loss 14.8lbs (7.12%)
James B. started at 389.2 and after 5 week 362.6 total loss 26.6lbs (6.83%)
Dawn S. started at 299.0 and after 5 weeks 278.6 total loss 20.4lbs (6.82%)
Rick A. started at 340.6 and after 5 weeks 318.2 total loss 22.4lbs (6.58%)
Bill W. started at 256.8 and after 5 weeks 241 total loss 15.8lbs (6.15%)
Ann S. started at 205.4 and after 5 weeks 193 total loss 12.4lbs (6.04%)
Jayne S. started at 211.4 and after 5 weeks 198.8 total loss 12.6lbs (5.96%)
Donna H. started at 197.4 and after 5 weeks 186.2 total loss 11.2lbs (5.67%)
Lynn D. started at 249.2 and after 5 weeks 235.6 total loss 13.6lbs (5.46%)
Amy R. started at 211.6 and after 5 weeks 201.2 total loss 10.4lbs (4.91%)
Sue I. started at 246.8 and after 5 weeks 234.8 total loss 12.0lbs (4.86%)
Gina S. started at 244.8 and after 5 weeks 234.2 total loss 10.6lbs (4.33%)
Christy D. started at 196.0 and after 5 weeks 189.6 total loss 6.4lbs (3.27%
Michelle M. started at 238.2 and after 5 weeks 230.6 total loss 7.6lbs (3.19%)
Kay H. started at 256.8 and after 5 weeks 253.4 total loss 3.4lbs (1.32%)

They are all making great lifestyle adjustments. As I have told them... Take one day at a time and each day make it a good healthy one. My goal for them is to remember these days and at the end of 26 weeks to continue on their new life journey.

the weigh-in

Well here are the numbers.

Rick A total loss 22.8 pounds 6.69%
James B total loss 20.2 pounds 5.19%
Vicki D total loss 13.4 pounds 6.44%
Lynn D total loss 7.6 pounds 3.05%
Christy D total loss 7.4 pounds 3.78%
Donna H total loss 12 pounds 6.08%
Kay H no weigh-in
Sue I total loss 12.6 pounds 5.11%
Barb J total loss 14.4 pounds 6.22%
Michelle M total loss 5 pounds 2.10%
Amy R total loss 8.2 pounds 3.88%
Dawn S total loss 20.4 pounds 6.82%
Jayne S total loss 9.6 pounds 4.54%
Gina S total loss 5 pounds 2.04%
Ann S total loss 9.6 pounds 4.67%
Bill W total loss 14.2 pounds 5.53%
Cindi Z total loss 13.4 pounds 5.81%

All this in 5 weeks... Keep it up now and get focused. It is about life style changes and you all are doing it.

MTV and Parkers Place

Over the last month I have seen how a program is put together and I have also seen how dedicated some trainers can be to really helping others achieve their goals. Thanks again to MTV for doing this project in Oconomowoc and using Parkers Place as the workout facility of choice. Ashley did well on the slopes and I know she learned a lot about goals and goal setting.

I have always known that for you to be at the top of your game you need to always look for oppertunities to improve your trade. Excuses should not be present in your world. It is a hard lesson to learn but one that a true athlete needs to understand. You play thru the pain and hurt all the while keeping your eye on the prize what ever that prize is. Congrats Ashley, I hope this was a good learnign experience for you.

Rob (shown in the picture above), me and you have a lot in common. Great meeting you all. Keep up the good work and thanks for the advise. I am looking forward to working with you guys in the future when I come out to your place.

The Cold Challenge

How many of us when asked to do something that we were a little afraid of would not do it if that other person promised to pay you 1 million dollars? How many of us have allowed our fears get in the way of us achieving certain things in life that could have gotten us to another level in some way? How many of us have allowed other peoples fears dictate to us how we feel about something or someone?

Well this weeks challenge dealt with just that. I know it may seem simple at first but when you think about it, it wasn't as simple for some as it seemed in the end. When I met with the Challengers Saturday I told them that they were going to walk around Silver Lake, on the lake. I walk I wanted was 1.5miles around. Simple? Of course but now add in frozen water and in some parts after about 12 inches of ice 30 feet of water. It got more difficult for some. While I was talking I even saw some of their demeanor's changed from this should be fun to, heck no I can't do that.

Here was the spin though... Everyone had to do it together and everyone had to finish together. If someone fell they were to be helped up. If someone lagged they were to be helped along. In the end everyone finished and everyone enjoyed it.

What type of athlete are you?

I was speaking to another trainer the other day and we were discussing sports and defining what an athlete is. He stated to me that there are really two types of athletes. Those that are just in it for the fun and don't really care about the win and then those that do care about the win and don't see fun in coming in second. One is a recreational athlete and the other is serious athlete.

Websters define an athlete as a person trained to compete in sports. If we really look at the finer details of that statement the question that come to my mind is, Are you considered an athlete if you compete in a sport and have done minimal training for the event? This is where the separation occurs between the recreational athlete and the serious athlete.

The serious athlete is one that takes his sport serious and trains to be the best at it. They, if necessary gets a coach or reads a book, will dedicate much time to perfecting his sport and they do not settle for second best in any way. If they really masters their sport, at whatever age they are at, than have the potential to become an elite athlete. Whereas the recreational athlete just does that sport for the fun of it and really has no desire to get better in it. If this person becomes a little more serious about their sport(s) then they have the potential of becoming a serious athlete.

What is the difference between a serious athlete and one who is not? The answer is simple determination, drive, and discipline. The three D'S. What type of athlete are you?

Saturdays workout what a blast

Working out, while doing it, should not be fun but afterwards it benefits make you forget about the pain that you went thru. If you are having fun exercising then... you are really not exercising. The purpose of exercise is to get your body back in better condition than it was in or to maintain a high level of fitness. But anyway you look at it, it should hurt. For the next 26 weeks these challengers are going to go thru a lot but in the end it will pay off. Ask anyone that has been thru the program... they will tell you... they hates it but now, no medication, they can wear a bathing suit on the beach and not look like a beached whale, no more big and tall cloths, no more sleep apnea, better self esteem, marriages saved, able to do much more than they thought they could ever do... I could go on. There is no bad benefit to working out and working hard at it. now take their example and just do it!