Fittest Loser

From Karen:  I have been getting emails talking about the finale! I thought when I committed to this adventure, it was ending May 2013! Was this not a year long journey? I am not at all happy about this adventure being over. This is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life but its has been my “routine” and I do admit I kinda have enjoyed every moment of this “Me” time I have made for myself. The entire food thing is a challenge, the workouts are CRAZY but I amaze myself at what I am able to do. Tony has grown on me and has helped me prove to myself I can do many things I NEVER thought I would be able to do, and that I am worth every moment that I invest in ME! Just under 4 weeks to go and I am fighting to the end to reach my self made personal goal! I KNOW I will do it!

From Katie:  I KNOW that running burns more calories. I have known this for a LONG time, and yet, still, I hate it! There isn’t anything about running that I enjoy (except the calorie burn). Every time I pick up the speed (whether it’s on the treadmill or outside), it’s agony. However, I feel like I could walk for days!
Why is it that all the activities I enjoy don’t have very high calorie burns (biking, swimming, walking, playing volleyball)? I miss bike riding. It’s been almost two years since I’ve been on my bike (I had pregnancy to thank for that last summer), and I am SO looking forward to getting back on! The pool? Well, I’m too embarrassed to put myself into a bathing suit so that shall have to wait until maybe June?
As I was watching The Biggest Loser the other night they were talking about how exercising can be fun! There are times that I really do enjoy my workouts (especially Saturday morning boxing boot camps), but when running is involved, that’s simply not the case! Any tips out there on how to make it more enjoyable?

From Karen:  I arrived at work today “Monday” morning and the front page of the Daily Herald Health and Fitness section is Tom and I.  Well I am cooking turkey burgers.  In the parking lot I at work, I waved my usual wave to a fellow worker and he replied “Hey, Ms. Turkey Burger”  I would assume he read the paper this morning.  What a celebrity I am !  Great workout with Tony this morning … his creativity is amazing!  I am feeling great and ready for another great week! 

From Karen:  So, today I walked into Push with a positive attitude and then was notified that while looking at the board … I am in last place in this contest. Hard to believe that working so hard I am in last place. I need to tell everyone that is following this adventure,  I am truly doing 100% of everything I am asked to do —  the diet, the workouts, everything and it just is what it is. Someone at the end will come in last place and as much as I hope its not ME, it will be someone. With that said, Tony strapped on the weight vest and the workout continued. Not for punishment in any way,  but for a harder training session. I admit I DO NOT like the vest. Between the vest and the ball I was carrying, it totaled about 25lbs and it made me deep down inside MAD. What was I mad about? When I walked into Push at the start of this adventure, I was just about 25lbs heavier than I am today. I just kept telling myself, “you deserve to feel this, this is the old you, the person you walked around with everyday, the weight I was just a short time ago” And now today I am using that weight for a better workout.  Karen…I am proud of you…I am proud of every day, even being in last place. I am proud of all you have done and all you are going to do before the end of this adventure. Thanks fellow losers for your support and Tony, Mark, and the Push crew… I am going to fight till the end and do my best.

From Mike:  The only thing insane going on last night was the way Derrick Rose scored with every step I took on the treadmill. We were a perfect team. I was keeping the pace and he was doing the scoring.  It really worked out well when I was at a full sprint and passed the ball to a cutting Derrick Rose for him to slam it home. I played more minutes than him last night. I opted to play through the timeouts and commercials. We worked hard and are looking for a repeat performance Wednesday.

From Matt: What a classic piece of metal. That car was huge , with a powerful engine and built like a tank. Let’s say that car was left in a garage for 16 years. Along comes my mechanic( Mark Trapp) who is an expert in his field. His eyes are huge as he looks at this car and is thinking where do I start?  He opens the hood and all of the parts are there. He performs a diognostic test and the results do not fair well. There is a lot of work to be done and he needs to put a plan together that will get this tank running again. He returns with an intense look about himself and tells me that with alot of hard work, determination and the right attitude, there is no reason that we cannot get this car running again like it did 16 years ago. Well my friends, we are entering week six and my mechanic has got the engine started. There still is a ton of work to be done to get it out on the street, but the engine is running and it is feeling good.

From Brian: This has been an amazing week. Feeling great, settling into a nice routine ,but its the small victories this week that made the difference.

First victory was to recognize I am on the last hole on my belt. The need to go buy a new belt or punch a new hole brings a smile. My clothes, especially my pants were getting to big. I went to the basement and dug a box of clothes that is probably 8 to 10 years old. Pulled out a bunch of Jeans and Khakis that are a couple sizes smaller than my current clothes. Tried them on and they all fit comfortably. Bonus in that it confirms the work is paying off and at the same time, I have a new set of clothes for the next few weeks of the competition and don’t need to buy interim clothes.