Fittest Loser writer achieves her 'go-big' goals
Occasionally the universe opens up and gives you exactly what you need, at precisely the right moment in your life.
In my case, the gift came wrapped within the opportunity to participate in the Daily Herald's 2016 Fittest Loser Competition, along with writing about my experience.
For me this contest offered so much more than an accelerated weight-loss program. It represented revolutionary change, touching all aspects of my life: physical, mental, spiritual and professional.
On the physical side, 12 weeks at Push Fitness studio with owner and trainer Josh Steckler, transformed my body. Together we blew past a stubborn weight plateau of 155 pounds, landing me squarely at 138 pounds by our final Saturday boot camp. I shed 17 pounds, 4 inches off my waist and dropped my BMI (body mass index) to 24.8.
That's a lot of excess baggage now in the rearview mirror of my life!
Going into this challenge, increasing strength and boosting stamina topped my goal list.
From the look on Josh's face after my initial cardiovascular test in early February, I had a long uphill climb ahead of me. What trainer wants to tell a woman in her late 50s that she's really 10 years older than what's on her driver's license?
The truth is that Josh didn't reveal anything I didn't already feel in my body and soul. It felt inspiring to have a plan on paper that encompassed everything I needed to not only rebuild my life, but heal stronger after the death of my son, John.
The deep end of the challenge pool beckoned and it was go big or go home.
Above it all, my go-big goal meant achieving what I thought to be impossible: evolving to become better than I was before.
Forging ahead on this fitness path I discovered the secret behind Push Fitness's success with the Fittest Loser competition: Saturday boot camps.
Those first few weeks were a blur of pre-dawn risings and getting acquainted with long forgotten muscles. Delving deeper into the experience, I realized Saturday boot camps hit the “sport” button on my fitness training.
This weekly super boost energized my body and, much to my surprise, sparked the return of core strength within my brain.
Getting to know my fellow contestants and seeing this challenge through their eyes, helped me regain mental clarity and focus. This wasn't just about my journey anymore; they bravely shared their strengths and weaknesses, counting on me to get their stories right.
Seeing Mel, Kathy, Janet, Sharon and J on stage during the Fittest Loser Finale event brought to mind just how far we have all come together.
Saturday boot camps felt more about building team spirit than competition, and everyone brought their “A” game to the 5K race we all ran on April 30.
Each contestant thanked me for telling their story, but it's me who feels immense gratitude to them for helping me break out of my comfort zone.
Looking back upon the last three months, the universe did indeed deliver on giving me exactly the help I needed.
Josh never let me forget to be “in charge” of the weights and got me out of my comfort zone. Josh succeeded in getting me to see that I had the power within myself all along to succeed at revolutionary change.
Now that I have reached a healthy weight, dropped my blood sugar to normal range, improved strength and stamina to run a 5K race, and feel decades younger than my 57 years; one question remains to be answered: How will this experience change my professional perspective as a pastry chef and food columnist?
The big take-away from the Fittest Loser Challenge is that we must always keep moving forward.
Life isn't static, nor does it have a reverse gear.
With that insight, I plan to share what I have learned about food at Push Fitness in my food column, including new dessert recipes and a path to culinary change that everyone can easily follow.