Priscilla- She Ain't Heavy...It's Just Her Head

It is really very frustrating not to be able to lose weight. Especially when one is working out like crazy and existing on green juice,tomato,and cottage cheese. My trainer tells me not to look at the scale. Ha! He obviously doesn't fully know me, so that is easy for him to say! He also doesn't know how obsessive I can be with those numbers. I hear others in class around me saying how much weight they have lost and it makes me crazy. Oh, I know the drill... muscle weighs more than fat. I've heard it a million times before. But what I want to know is why can't MY muscle be weightless and why can't I subtract the weight of my head from my body weight?

Priscilla- Stockholm Syndrome

Stockholm Syndrome is a strong psychological response sometimes seen in abducted hostages, in which the hostage shows signs of loyalty to the hostage-taker, regardless of the danger or risk in which they have been placed. I am almost certain I have developed this. Simply because in the past 7 weeks I have endured such physical pain at the hands of one man, yet I keep coming back for more. Now I even consider him a friend!
Being at the midpoint is even harder for me than when I first started this challenge. As "my captor" tells us, we must push ourselves if we are to see any results. Being highly competitive (with myself)I find myself reaching for heavier weights and am almost embarrassed to think of the day I grabbed those two pound dumbells. I have not reached the point of hitting two a days (yet). However it is crossing my mind more and more. Once my schedule lightens a bit, I am sure I will at least attempt them. So while I am no Patty Hearst, I am definitely hooked.

So as we pass over the hump - From Rick

Notes from the Badger!


As most of you guys know by now, I have decided to leave the blog alone and just sit back and read and watch each of your stories develop on the way to fitness. I thought if I chimed in all the time that it would seem that I was trying to control the flow of information and perhaps make some of you feel like you couldn't be honest on here without retribution from me. While I am not going to say that some blog post haven't found a way into our workouts, I will say that it is so interesting to go back and read the post and see the changes in attitudes as time passes. Keep up the good work and remember this is just a little over half way, don't quit on me now!

Here are some results after seeing most of you for measurements -

Attendance - I know that this is a horrible thing to take into account but the relationship between success and showing up is undeniable. Being consistent and taking this seriously is something you have to do if you want to see results. I think it is obvious the ones that see they have been given a $250 gift and understand the sacrifice that is for a small business and in return you have brought more than money can buy into each class.

Pricilla Esser - 27 classes
Ginny Cooke - 19
Maureen McCullough - 17
Pat Topping - 17
Deborah Horne - 17
Pat Judd - 15
Charles McCullough - 14
Mary Saltz- 12 - dropped out
Kim Wold - 12
Katy Thompson - 12
Chris Horne - 9
Amina Brown - 2 - dropped out

Results so far -

Down 35 pounds!
Down 8.6% Body Fat
Down 7.5 of collective Body Mass
Total loss of 20 inches!

These results are looking great and I can't wait to see what will happen over the next 4 weeks! I am so impressed with those of you that are seizing this opportunity to really change and improve your lives and I am so lucky to be a part of it!

Stay Strong we are only half way to the end of a never ending climb of well being!

Rick

Kudos from Ginny

I've had so many successes over the last six weeks watching my fitness improve by leaps and bounds (actually by stairs, planks, squats, etc.)! What a feeling! To climb all the way to the sixth floor and down four times in 15 minutes—I could barely make it to the 6th floor once during the first week. Awesome! I can feel my body getting stronger, my energy increasing and see my tummy shrinking—three inches as a matter of fact! (Rick measured and weighed me this morning). What an incredible experience! I'm so very thankful to Chris/11th Hour and Rick Cain/Gateway Fitness Studio who made this all possible, and to my fellow skinny challengers and boot camp participants who have lifted me up with encouraging words, enthusiasm and friendship. The tune playing in my head right now is a song from the movie "Flashdance" — WHAT A FEELING!

Katy- I love you, Rick Cain!!

Thank you Rick! Thanks for being there and pushing us so we can take our workouts to the next level. Last night's class was an hour of sweat, steps and cardio, and I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!! Don't get me wrong, I'm not addicted to working out (yet), but there was a point in last night's class as I was trying to do the knee kicks quickly that I realized I was the one pushing myself- not just you. I couldn't believe it- I was jogging in the parking garage, and my stepping inside was in tune to the music- sometimes even faster- and when you said push, I actually pushed! I look at some of the fitness people who have obviously been at it a while, and they have the right thing going- they are working their bodies at 100%, and I'm excited about doing that too. For the first few weeks, it just seemed like if I could get through class without passing out, that was a victory. Last night I realized it's time to up the ante, and I feel great about my new goals. So, THANKS RICK CAIN! Your encouragement and persistance has rubbed off on me, and I'm ready to go to the next level!

Priscilla- Classifieds

Muffin Top, free to good home.

Owner has physically moved on and won't feed it anymore.
Relatively well behaved. House broken. Needs some discipline.
Does well in social environment. Consumes cocktails and French food.
Has been known to growl. Does not like to be confined in jeans.

Please consider adopting before it must be taken to the "pound"

Kim-Wanted:

One new (or slightly used) immune system. Must have ability to fight off simple infections and colds.

I swear, put me in a bubble! I absolutely refuse to miss another week because of being ill. See you all there today with kleenex in hand.