Home > Get Out! > Archives > New Year, New You Challenge category
New Year, New You Challenge
April 29, 2008
Update: New Year, New You Challenge
It’s time once again to check in with the four folks taking part in our New Year, New You Challenge.
Trainer Kyle Golden sent in this update:
Joy: Joy’s weight is currently 205. There were a couple of setbacks but she is still committed and still looking forward to meeting her goal. Joy has noticed changes in her waistline and sides. While the scale may not show significant loss, she has noticed changes in her body. She has kept a great journal of her food and is going to work on getting a few more calories in each day. Joy decided she would take on the Danskin Triathlon again this year. (She participated a few years ago.) To help her prepare for the challenge, I have included running and stationary biking segments into her resistance circuit routine. Joy has joined a gym where she can practice her swimming. This is exciting for her and I am thrilled to help her with this challenge.
Sandy: Sandy’s current weight is 218. Sandy also had a couple of setbacks, being out ill a couple of times. She is well now and back into the workout groove. Sandy is continuing to work on her diet and eat the right amounts of foods at the right times and intervals to improve her metabolism. She has done a fantastic job with making healthier diet choices over the past couple of months, and she has a positive attitude and knows she will start dropping the pounds soon. She already says her clothes are much looser and is looking forward to shopping for some new outfits. Sandy and Holly are working a circuit of light to medium resistance with greater reps combined with brief cardio periods between super sets of resistance exercises.
Holly: Holly has had the greatest loss so far and is currently at 197 — that’s 15 pounds! Way to go Holly! Holly was overjoyed to be able to put on a pair of jeans a size smaller for her birthday. Holly has made dramatic changes in her diet and is still working to tweak her diet a little at a time. Having lost 15 pounds she knows it is possible to keep losing more and she is even more driven than when she started this challenge. Holly is also deep into planning her wedding and just chose her dress the other day. She is looking forward to having a fantastic new figure to fit into it. As stated in Sandy’s update, Holly and Sandy are working a circuit of light to medium resistance with greater reps combined with brief cardio periods between super sets of resistance exercises.
Trainer Christina Muller sent in this update on Stuart:
Stuart’s weight is now 238, down from 250 pounds. He was truly excited about getting under 240. Regardless of the weight, he has toned up a lot with his new lean muscle mass. Lately he has been having salads instead of enchiladas. Also he has been drinking whey protein shakes for a healthy, protein driven snack. Protein is essential for muscle tissue growth.
Our training consists of interval training. That means that he switches from strength training to cardiovascular constantly throughout the workout to keep his heart rate up to burn more calories. Fortunately he loves the elliptical. As an added assignment for him, he can ride his newly tuned up bicycle at the Veloway, where there are no cars and the scenery is picturesque.
For the month of April, Kyle and I created a game that whoever drops a minimum 10 pounds gets an extra special gift: a trip to the spa. Massages and self pampering are important for body and mind.
Lastly, I am going to have a sit-down with Stuart to review his goals and create a new strategy to drop 12 more pounds.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: New Year, New You Challenge
February 21, 2008
Update: New Year, New You Challenge
The four participants in our New Year, New You Challenge are off and running.
Trainer Christina Muller offered this update on Stuart:
Stuart has lost 6.6 pounds! He was unable to start training until Jan. 8 due to illness, so he accomplished this in just three weeks. He’s on schedule because it’s recommended to only drop 2 pounds a week for health reasons. He has gotten a chef for dinners, we toured the grocery store to learn about label reading and healthy choices, and he and all the participants will be meeting with our nutritionist soon. This is quite an accomplishment, especially since Stuart really likes Mexican food.
We are still training four days a week, with no cancellations. He originally hired me so that it would get him to the gym and now he has asked to keep the workouts intense because he feels a significant difference and enjoys the sessions. Those words are music to my ears. Also his partner is now interested in hiring a trainer. Stuart is an influence just by making the commitment and sticking to it. Stay tuned …
Here’s trainer Kyle Golden’s update on Holly, Joy and Sandy:
All of my participants agreed to go to the Fitness Institute of Texas, part of UT’s Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, for body composition testing. FIT has a state-of-the-art body composition analysis called DEXA, which is currently the most reliable method for determining a person’s body mass, body fat and muscle mass. The DEXA procedure is an easy, six-minute scan that is similar to an X-ray. Joy and Holly have completely their scans; Sandy has hers scheduled. Results from the DEXA scan will be updated at the six-month point and at the end of the year to more scientifically measure the results from their efforts over this challenge. All of the challenge participants will be meeting with a nutritionist as a group very soon.
Joy has lost 3 pounds since the beginning of January. Unfortunately she had unexpected surgery in mid-January and was unable to workout for two weeks. Joy was back to cardio by month’s end and we will start adding light resistance in February. While her surgery set her back a little, she is very enthusiastic and ready to get back into the routine. She is keeping great logs of her food and has been very disciplined; however, we are working on tweaking her diet to limit the indulgences and include healthy choices. Joy will continue her sessions three times a week and get in 45 minutes of cardio about four days a week. Joy’s DEXA scan reported 47.8 percent body fat.
Holly has lost 5 pounds since the beginning of January. She has made significant changes to her diet and is keeping up well with her food journal. While Holly has made significant, positive changes in her diet, she still needs to work on sticking to healthy food choices. Holly has been to every scheduled session so far; she has perfect attendance! She has a great attitude and looks forward to each session. Having lost 5 pounds in the first month is great encouragement that she is on the right path. Holly and Sandy have moved from “break-in” circuit training to resistance training with brief cardio segments between resistance sets. Holly is getting in 45 minutes of cardio three to four times a week. Holly’s DEXA scan reported 47.1 percent body fat.
Sandy has lost 1 pound since the beginning of January. She has been absent from our scheduled sessions quite often due to illness and work-related travel. Admittedly, Sandy was not disciplined with her diet for most of January, but she has started to make healthier choices and is recommitting herself to the challenge. Sandy is ready to see changes in herself for good! Along with Holly, Sandy has moved from “break-in” circuit training to resistance training with brief cardio segments between resistance sets. She is getting in 45 minutes of cardio three to four times a week. Sandy has scheduled her DEXA scan for this month.
Up next: Look for another update in early March.
Permalink | | Categories: New Year, New You Challenge
December 14, 2007
New Year, New You Challenge: Meet our personal trainers
New Year’s resolutions.
We all make them, but few of us will keep them.
Most center — big surprise! — around getting in better shape during the coming year.
With the help of personal trainers Kyle Golden and Christina Muller, we’ve tracked down four Austinites bound and determined to get fit in 2008. All year long, we’ll follow their progress as they work to tone up and slim down.
Before we meet the participants, let’s introduce you to Kyle and Christina.
Meet Kyle Golden
Kyle was born and raised in San Antonio. He moved to Austin where he attended St. Edward’s University and graduated with a psychology degree. After working in the financial services industry for many years, Kyle decided he wanted to build a career around his passion for fitness. Now he’s a certified fitness trainer and has his own company, Work It Personal Training. Being “fitness challenged” as a child and teenager, Kyle understands the determination and hard work it takes to overcome the obstacles that can stand in the way of being healthy and fit. He enjoys working with people and helping them set goals. Most of all he is thrilled to see how meeting those goals can positively change a person’s life.
Kyle’s plan for Holly, Joy and Sandy: “For the first couple of weeks, we will be circuit training using very light free weights and body weight. This is to start to build endurance and some strength before moving into slightly heavier resistance training later. For example, they will be doing push-ups, walking lunges, light bicep curls, shoulder presses, abdominal crunches on a stability ball and tricep kickbacks. We will also focus on adjusting diets, making lean protein and complex carbohydrates a majority of their daily diet and greatly reducing the fat and alcohol calories they consume. They have all committed to keeping a journal of their daily diet; I hope this will be done through a Web service. I also plan on having a nutritionist speak with them as a group in the first couple of weeks.”
Meet Christina Muller
Christina is incredibly passionate about health and fitness, and she finds great joy in sharing it with others. She believes it is pertinent to decreasing disease risk and builds confidence and happiness. Christina has been an award-winning athlete since age 10 and enjoys basketball, softball, tennis, cycling, and running. She is straightforward and compassionate and encourages everyone to start working out today.
Christina’s plan for Stuart: “I met with Stuart and gave him, on paper, the do’s and don’ts for food. I have lined him up a nutritionist and he is considering hiring a chef. He will keep a mandatory food journal for me to view. Also we scheduled a trip to the grocery store so I can show him excellent food choices and teach label reading. He and I will train four days a week for an hour and 15 minutes. All workouts include cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training. I have requested as a bonus for him to walk his dog, Buddy, one mile everyday. Stuart also is going to get his bicycle tuned up for biking. The ultimate goal with major weight loss is to teach him to have a love affair with VERY healthy food and genuinely enjoy fitness!”
Permalink | | Categories: New Year, New You Challenge
New Year, New You Challenge: Meet Sandy
Name: Sandy K.
Age: 35.
Where I live: Northwest Austin.
Occupation: Managing partner of Identity Austin.
Married: No.
Kids: No.
Current weight: 220.
Target weight: 145.
Why I want to lose weight: I want to improve my health and self image.
How long I’ve been trying to lose weight: Eight years.
Tried dieting/working out before?: Yes.
How successful?: Not successful enough.
The biggest obstacle in my way: Keeping up with it and having someone to push me.
Something interesting about me: I have been a managing partner of Identity Austin, a woman-owned business, for three years. It is important to me that our company supports local non-profits and other small businesses throughout Austin.
Permalink | | Categories: New Year, New You Challenge
New Year, New You Challenge: Meet Joy
Name: Joy M.
Age: 33.
Where I live: Leander.
Occupation: Legal secretary.
Married: Yes.
Kids: 17-year-old son.
Current weight: 207.
Target weight: Somewhere between 135 and 140 pounds
Why I want to lose weight: I want to lose weight to be healthier, live longer, and of course, look better.
How long I’ve been trying to lose weight: I’ve been on the weight loss wagon for about five years.
Tried dieting/working out before? I’ve been dieting for the last five years.
How successful was it? I’ve lost about 45-50 pounds on my own and have managed to keep it off.
The biggest obstacle in my way: At times during the year I start working out. I would say I work out from January through April or May, and then it goes down hill from there. I think my biggest obstacle is staying motivated. I start the year out strong and lose weight, but about halfway through the year I stop losing weight, I stop working out and I start maintaining or gaining the weight back. I want to push through that this year and keep the momentum going.
Something interesting about me: Well, I don’t feel like I am at all interesting. A few years ago I participated in the Danskin Triathlon. It was a huge challenge for me, but I put my mind to it and completed it. I like having a challenge to work for.
Permalink | | Categories: New Year, New You Challenge
New Year, New You Challenge: Meet Holly
Name: Holly W.
Age: 26.
Where I live: Northwest Austin, across from The Domain.
Occupation: Student at the Lauterstien-Conway School of Massage and planning other entrepreneurial ventures in my spare time.
Married: My fiance Cory and I are getting married in mid-October in Austin.
Kids: The babies will be on their way in the near future!
Current weight: 212.
Target weight: I would be happy to reach 160. My main goal is to change my habits, health, and my overall lifestyle so that I can continue to be healthy into old age.
Why I want to lose weight: I’ve gained at least 20 pounds since I graduated from college because of an increasingly lethargic lifestyle. I want to get back to a manageable weight for all of the usual reasons, but also because I want to be in good shape for my future children and be able to raise them with a healthy lifestyle.
How long I’ve been trying to lose weight: I haven’t. I’ve just slowly slacked off of watching what I eat and getting regular exercise in the past four years and I’m finally ready to seriously commit to getting back to that.
Tried dieting/working out before? I’ve never attempted a regimented diet or workout routine. I was in my best shape in college because I had no money for restaurants or a car, so I lived on beans and salads and rode my bike everywhere. I believe healthy habits have to be incorporated into your lifestyle, not followed out of a book.
The biggest obstacle in my way: Alcohol intake … I’m very social, and alcohol just goes hand-in-hand with a lot of social activities.
Something interesting about me: I have a loose idea for a Web site that promotes sustainable living practices in Austin which I plan on developing in 2008. I’m still in the early stages of brainstorming, but I’ve been so inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit in this town and the importance that Austinites put on green living that think it could work well here.
Permalink | | Categories: New Year, New You Challenge
New Year, New You Challenge: Meet Stuart
Name: Stuart C.
Age: 40.
Where I live: North Austin.
Occupation: Real estate broker with Stanberry & Associates, REALTORS.
Married: Partnered for 11 years.
Kids: No.
Current weight: 248.
Target weight: 185.
Why I want to lose weight? My family has a history of heart issues, including a stroke my mother had nine years ago, and congestive heart failure diagnosed in my dad. As I approach middle age, I’d like to start focusing on my own health and welfare, trying to avoid many of the health issues my parents have experienced. I’ve gained about 70 pounds in the last five years and I’d like to take most of that back off.
How long I’ve been trying to lose weight: About three or four years.
Tried dieting/working out before?: Done some dieting, such as the South Beach Diet.
How successful was it? Limited success. Generally the weight comes right back.
The biggest obstacle in my way: Motivation. Simply getting off of my butt and into the gym.
Something interesting about me: I spent 15 years in Washington, D.C., as a lobbyist on low-income, disability and housing issues. My partner and I moved here five years ago to escape the rat race of Washington.
Permalink | | Categories: New Year, New You Challenge
