Hello workout friends!
By now you know there are countless choices when it comes to working out. Matt Reece is using a program you've no doubt heard of - and letting us keep tabs on his progress. A lot of things were going through his head when he started Farrell’s Extreme Bodyshaping last January. “Number one, how could my wife have gotten me into this!” he says with a laugh. Matt’s wife got him the ten week session as a gift. "It was a struggle the first few weeks,” he says, “but it's getting better and I'm keeping up!"
And it turns out; it's giving him a new life. "After going and getting a workout - I feel like a million bucks!” At the halfway point, Matt was down fifteen and a half pounds. “I lost three inches off my chest, four inches off my waist and two off my hips,” he says with pride, “and I could tell because my jeans started fitting better!” And there’s more proof he’s improving his fitness level. He doubled the number of pushups and situps he could do and took two minutes off his mile.
We visited Matt at the Farrell’s in Waukee this week. He’s down more than twenty five pounds and thirteen inches overall. "As it turns out, it's been amazing,” he says, “it's hard and I can't say it gets easier but I know I'm getting in better shape and as you get in better shape they push you harder.” Matt’s goal was to lose one hundred pounds and he says he’s not stopping until he reaches it. "I encourage anybody to try it. You know, this isn't something i would not have gone out and tried myself but I’m glad i did, I’m glad my wife did this for me ... it's a really cool thing.”
Matt says his workouts are just part of his success. The Farrell’s program is also teaching him a lot about food – not only what to eat and what not to eat, but how much to consume. He says it’s been tough to change some bad habits, but fueling his body in a healthy way has him feeling great.
To learn more about Farrell’s check out www.extremebodyshaping.com.
Have a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
Monday, March 28, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Who is Helga?!?
Hello workout friends. We'd like you to meet our new friend Helga. She weighs 650 pounds and gives you one heck of a workout. We met her at Max Life Fitness & Nutrition in Waukee where she inspires a lot of grunting, groaning and sweating! Coaches Ryan Argeuello and Melissa Grandon made this massive tractor tire a part of a workout they call Soul Train. "So you guys are going to be dancing with her down the aisle while everyone else is a doing a mixture of kickboxing, burnouts with kettle bells, plyometrics... it's fun!"
Ryan says no two workouts are the same. During our visit, we do a circuit that consists of six stations. In addition to flipping Helga, we hit her with sledgehammers, run against resistance bands and do squats and lunges. Throw in some kickboxing and you've got a brutal full body workout. "We don't let our bodies adapt," says Ryan, "we are shocking the body so we constantly keep it progressing.
There's another bonus. The time flies. Even though we were working really hard, we had fun and we were shocked when we looked at the clock. "Mentally - we don't get bored with the same routine over and over again. We keep people coming back!"
Max Life also offers nutrition workshops. If you're not interested in one-on-one counseling or a personal grocery store tour, you can find both on the website. "We're here basically to get out the truth about food," Ryan explains, "the basic rule is the further you take a food from its original state, the worse it is for you. The more man made or the more processed it is... the worse it is." This last part makes me think of the late, great Jack LaLanne who said, "If man makes it, don't eat it." Tough advice to follow - but good advice.
If you want to learn more about fueling your body the right way, check out Ryan and Melissa's website www.maxlifefitness.com. Sonya and I also highly recommend working out with them - it's hard, but really fun and beating up on Helga is great stress relief!
Have a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
Ryan says no two workouts are the same. During our visit, we do a circuit that consists of six stations. In addition to flipping Helga, we hit her with sledgehammers, run against resistance bands and do squats and lunges. Throw in some kickboxing and you've got a brutal full body workout. "We don't let our bodies adapt," says Ryan, "we are shocking the body so we constantly keep it progressing.
There's another bonus. The time flies. Even though we were working really hard, we had fun and we were shocked when we looked at the clock. "Mentally - we don't get bored with the same routine over and over again. We keep people coming back!"
Max Life also offers nutrition workshops. If you're not interested in one-on-one counseling or a personal grocery store tour, you can find both on the website. "We're here basically to get out the truth about food," Ryan explains, "the basic rule is the further you take a food from its original state, the worse it is for you. The more man made or the more processed it is... the worse it is." This last part makes me think of the late, great Jack LaLanne who said, "If man makes it, don't eat it." Tough advice to follow - but good advice.
If you want to learn more about fueling your body the right way, check out Ryan and Melissa's website www.maxlifefitness.com. Sonya and I also highly recommend working out with them - it's hard, but really fun and beating up on Helga is great stress relief!
Have a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
WOW
Hello friends!
Around here, we abbreviate "Workout of the Week" with "WOW". Well, it just so happens that this week's success story makes us say, "Wow, wow, wow!!!"
On-line he’s known as Chappy, an aspiring rapper. Perhaps, more importantly, he’s an inspiration. “It’s been a long journey,” says George Chaplin. His story is one a lot of people can relate to. He grew up a chubby child. “My whole life it’s been an issue,” he says of his weight. As a young man, he survived on fast food and sodas, drinking four or five two liters of a day. Eventually, it caught up with him. At more than 600 pounds, Chappy was morbidly obese. Doctors diagnosed him with diabetes, severe high blood pressure and an enlarged heart. “It was one of the hardest things to tell my parents,” says Chappy. He knew his weight might kill him and he wondered if there was anything he could do to stop it.
But his family refused to give up. Chappy’s brother got him moving for the first time in years. “Let’s go for a walk,” Chappy recalls his brother saying. He agreed and made it the 30 feet to the road - huffing and puffing the whole way. That was a year and a half ago. Today, he is walking almost every day and posting his progress on his blog and YouTube. “Oh, I feel so much better,” says Chappy. So does his wife, Ashley, who is also weighing-in and walking daily.
Chappy is down to 505 pounds. He’s elated, even though he knows he still has a long way to go. “I know people are thinking, ‘Wow, he’s happy with that?’”
It doesn’t matter. He’s happy. He’s down four shirt sizes and able to fit into a normal restaurant booth. Chappy says best of all, his diabetes and blood pressure are under control.
“I'm doing what everybody said was impossible,” says Chappy. And he’s inspiring others to do the same. “You can do it. Make something of yourself.”
We loved meeting Chappy and Ashley and we know you'll love checking out their weekly weigh ins and other moments. Just visit www.walkwithchappy.com.
Have a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
Around here, we abbreviate "Workout of the Week" with "WOW". Well, it just so happens that this week's success story makes us say, "Wow, wow, wow!!!"
On-line he’s known as Chappy, an aspiring rapper. Perhaps, more importantly, he’s an inspiration. “It’s been a long journey,” says George Chaplin. His story is one a lot of people can relate to. He grew up a chubby child. “My whole life it’s been an issue,” he says of his weight. As a young man, he survived on fast food and sodas, drinking four or five two liters of a day. Eventually, it caught up with him. At more than 600 pounds, Chappy was morbidly obese. Doctors diagnosed him with diabetes, severe high blood pressure and an enlarged heart. “It was one of the hardest things to tell my parents,” says Chappy. He knew his weight might kill him and he wondered if there was anything he could do to stop it.
But his family refused to give up. Chappy’s brother got him moving for the first time in years. “Let’s go for a walk,” Chappy recalls his brother saying. He agreed and made it the 30 feet to the road - huffing and puffing the whole way. That was a year and a half ago. Today, he is walking almost every day and posting his progress on his blog and YouTube. “Oh, I feel so much better,” says Chappy. So does his wife, Ashley, who is also weighing-in and walking daily.
Chappy is down to 505 pounds. He’s elated, even though he knows he still has a long way to go. “I know people are thinking, ‘Wow, he’s happy with that?’”
It doesn’t matter. He’s happy. He’s down four shirt sizes and able to fit into a normal restaurant booth. Chappy says best of all, his diabetes and blood pressure are under control.
“I'm doing what everybody said was impossible,” says Chappy. And he’s inspiring others to do the same. “You can do it. Make something of yourself.”
We loved meeting Chappy and Ashley and we know you'll love checking out their weekly weigh ins and other moments. Just visit www.walkwithchappy.com.
Have a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Tough it out!
This week we're talking a bout a touchy subject - injuries. Getting hurt in some way is a common occurance if you're an active person, particularly if you do the same sort of activity over and over again.
It's easy to let an inury keep you from working out altogether, but you should avoid being sedentary if you can! In this workout of the week - we help you keep moving, even if you're hurt. "A lot of clients will say - oh, I guess I'm going to have to stop exercising because I have an injury.” Personal trainer Angie Gallagher's heard all the excuses. “They've come to know I can find any alternative,” she says with a grin, “I can make up modifications so they don't have to stop.”
Knees top the list when it comes to exercise-related aches and pains and that means many traditional moves can be difficult. You can still target your quadriceps with a straight leg lift or mini wall squats. "Just make sure you aren’t straining the joint,” explains Angie, “you don't even need to go down that far with the squats - start shallow.”
Shoulders are another weak spot, so instead of overhead presses try some exercises that incorporate small rotations. Using a band is a great way to target the muscle. Just hold it in front of you and pull your hands apart. “It’s hard, but not hard on the body,” Angie says.
If your wrists hurt during triceps dips, there are other ways to get at this small but stubborn area. Once again, the band is a great tool. Make a loop, grab hold with your left hand and place it at your right shoulder. Grab the other end of the band with your right hand and pull straight down. It won’t take very many reps for your triceps to feel fatigued.
Many people suffer from back pain, and that can make traditional sit-ups a pain – literally! Instead, Angie recommends doing your abdominal work standing up. Just grab some dumbbells and do side bends and twists. You can also do overhead circles and diagonals to target every aspect of your core. Want to make the moves more difficult? Try standing on a BOSU or a balance disc.
Bottom line, "There's always a way to modify an exercise so you avoid that injured area.” However, if your pain gets worse, if you're in pain when you're not exercising or you have joint swelling or bruises that don't heal - see a physician.
If you're interested in working out with Angie, check out www.fitnesswithangie.com.
Have a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
It's easy to let an inury keep you from working out altogether, but you should avoid being sedentary if you can! In this workout of the week - we help you keep moving, even if you're hurt. "A lot of clients will say - oh, I guess I'm going to have to stop exercising because I have an injury.” Personal trainer Angie Gallagher's heard all the excuses. “They've come to know I can find any alternative,” she says with a grin, “I can make up modifications so they don't have to stop.”
Knees top the list when it comes to exercise-related aches and pains and that means many traditional moves can be difficult. You can still target your quadriceps with a straight leg lift or mini wall squats. "Just make sure you aren’t straining the joint,” explains Angie, “you don't even need to go down that far with the squats - start shallow.”
Shoulders are another weak spot, so instead of overhead presses try some exercises that incorporate small rotations. Using a band is a great way to target the muscle. Just hold it in front of you and pull your hands apart. “It’s hard, but not hard on the body,” Angie says.
If your wrists hurt during triceps dips, there are other ways to get at this small but stubborn area. Once again, the band is a great tool. Make a loop, grab hold with your left hand and place it at your right shoulder. Grab the other end of the band with your right hand and pull straight down. It won’t take very many reps for your triceps to feel fatigued.
Many people suffer from back pain, and that can make traditional sit-ups a pain – literally! Instead, Angie recommends doing your abdominal work standing up. Just grab some dumbbells and do side bends and twists. You can also do overhead circles and diagonals to target every aspect of your core. Want to make the moves more difficult? Try standing on a BOSU or a balance disc.
Bottom line, "There's always a way to modify an exercise so you avoid that injured area.” However, if your pain gets worse, if you're in pain when you're not exercising or you have joint swelling or bruises that don't heal - see a physician.
If you're interested in working out with Angie, check out www.fitnesswithangie.com.
Have a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
It's not rocket science
Hello friends!
This week we're bringing you another success story. I really love this one because it highlights just how simple it is to lose weight and get healthy. Don't misunderstand me - I'm not saying it's easy. I'm saying it's simple. You've got to burn more calories than you consume. That's it.
Thousands of downtown workers use the skywalk system to get where they're going, but Chris Anderson is using it to get fit. "I've lost just over 80 pounds in one year," he says with pride. And he did it without joining a gym, wearing fancy workout clothes or using expensive equipment. "Just getting out in the skywalk over my lunch hour for 45 minutes - makes it easy to get out and move." It's easy - and effective. "I'm proof that getting out and moving more than you did before will really do it."
Chris also joined Weight Watchers, which is a huge help when it comes to avoiding skywalk snacking. "You get temptation all the time around here – cookies, ice cream, French Fries … so before I walk, I have a salad."
And he isn't strolling. Chris covers a lot of ground in 45 minutes and he builds in intervals by running up and down stairs. Sonya and I are sucking air after awhile. All of this is a big change for him. "You still live your life; you’re just living it a little differently,” he says. These are changes Chris knew he had to make when his size 40 pants were too tight. "When you hear obese, it really makes you think. When you hear morbidly obese you're like, wow ... am I really that large?” He was. The pounds had been piling on since college. His family inspired him to take them off. "I wanted to be there for them. I wanted to be healthy, for him to enjoy being around me and me being able to do what he does. The extra stuff I can do with my son, like helping with soccer and running around the field and not feeling winded.... it’s awesome."
Chris has more energy for family - for work - for life. "Your overall attitude changes,” Chris says with a smile. “I’m a happier person."
If you want to be happier - and healthier - turn off the computer, put down the junk food, lace up your shoes and go for a walk. It's gorgeous outside - what's your excuse?!?!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
This week we're bringing you another success story. I really love this one because it highlights just how simple it is to lose weight and get healthy. Don't misunderstand me - I'm not saying it's easy. I'm saying it's simple. You've got to burn more calories than you consume. That's it.
Thousands of downtown workers use the skywalk system to get where they're going, but Chris Anderson is using it to get fit. "I've lost just over 80 pounds in one year," he says with pride. And he did it without joining a gym, wearing fancy workout clothes or using expensive equipment. "Just getting out in the skywalk over my lunch hour for 45 minutes - makes it easy to get out and move." It's easy - and effective. "I'm proof that getting out and moving more than you did before will really do it."
Chris also joined Weight Watchers, which is a huge help when it comes to avoiding skywalk snacking. "You get temptation all the time around here – cookies, ice cream, French Fries … so before I walk, I have a salad."
And he isn't strolling. Chris covers a lot of ground in 45 minutes and he builds in intervals by running up and down stairs. Sonya and I are sucking air after awhile. All of this is a big change for him. "You still live your life; you’re just living it a little differently,” he says. These are changes Chris knew he had to make when his size 40 pants were too tight. "When you hear obese, it really makes you think. When you hear morbidly obese you're like, wow ... am I really that large?” He was. The pounds had been piling on since college. His family inspired him to take them off. "I wanted to be there for them. I wanted to be healthy, for him to enjoy being around me and me being able to do what he does. The extra stuff I can do with my son, like helping with soccer and running around the field and not feeling winded.... it’s awesome."
Chris has more energy for family - for work - for life. "Your overall attitude changes,” Chris says with a smile. “I’m a happier person."
If you want to be happier - and healthier - turn off the computer, put down the junk food, lace up your shoes and go for a walk. It's gorgeous outside - what's your excuse?!?!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
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