The Rocky Fitness Challenge - 2005 Wrap-up

Source: Final Article | Rocky Mountain News Fit Challenge
December 27, 2005

There were some big losers, but they all were winners in the end.
Our seven dedicated Rocky Fitness Challenge pairs finished their six-month journey to better health 153 pounds lighter and much, much wiser.

The partners - co-workers Scott Hutchings and Denise Perez; sisters Maria Watts and Jennifer Kelley; moms-daughters Joyce and Heather Deese, and Mouy Sanchez and Justina Chao; best friends Karen Thorne and Lydia Marshall-Mack; and spouses Ron and Pauleta Oehlerking and Charles and Michelle West - have weathered injured Achilles tendons, bad knees and holiday temptations.

And they're a whole lot better for it.

After years of failed diets and futile training sessions, Maria says the Challenge has helped her change her life for good.

"I'm confident that physically, I can do anything I put my mind to. I feel the best I have felt about my life and myself in a long, long time," says Maria, who has lost 16 pounds and seen a huge jump in her aerobic fitness.

Pauleta has cleaned the secret stash of M&M's out of her sock drawer, and she hasn't had a doughnut in six months - since 10 a.m. May 7, to be exact.

"Who would have guessed that we'd be doing crunches on a mat on the sidewalk, in a park, in the dark, with skateboarders whizzing by barely avoiding us?" she says. "Oh yes - and it was cold and raining. That's how much we enjoyed Bootcamp. We gave our all and appreciated almost every minute."

Jennifer felt like quitting when she stepped on the scale after three months of back-breaking work to discover that she'd lost only 3 pounds.

"My trainer, Mandy from Bootcamp360, told me that every person is going to have good days and bad days, but it is how you a-djust to those days that will lead to your success," she says. "At that moment, I knew that I won't be perfect every day, but I can make a choice to move forward - and moving forward is what I am going to do."

Onward - to happier, healthier lives!

Ron and Pauleta Oehlerking

• Relationship: Spouses
• Support plan: Accountability about exercise; watch portion size without being naggy.

RON

• Age: 64
• Job: Full-time volunteer
• Height: 5 feet 8 inches
• Weight then: 226; now: 203
• BP then: 13 8/78; now: 12 0/78
• Body fat then: 32 percent - obese; now: 26.4 - just into overweight
• Aerobic fitness then: fair; now: good
• Flexibility then: fair; now: excellent
• Wellness age then: 71; now: 63
• Goals: Reduce body fat, increase stamina, get back into Marine Corps shape and be the best possible "grandpa" to 90 abused kids.
• Thoughts: Not only have I lost weight, but I'm also in much better physical condition. Seeing my wellness age come down below my chronological age has certainly improved my emotional well-being. The most significant change has been our eating habits. Not only are we eating healthier, but smaller portions as well.
• What he says about Pauleta: I am so proud of Pauleta! She NEVER quits. She is SO awesome!

PAULETA

• Age: 65
• Job: Sales associate
• Height: 5 feet 6 inches
• Weight then: 154; now: 138
• BP then: 12 0/80; now: 11 0/80
• Body fat then: 34.6 percent - overweight; now: 26.2 percent - good
• Aerobic fitness then: good; now: excellent
• Flexibility then: average; now: average
• Wellness age then: 65; now: 59
• Goals: Reduce body fat, increase stamina and be the best possible "grandparent" for 90 abused kids.
• Thoughts: My primary objective was to lower my body fat, which I did with the help of Bootcamp trainer Mandy. I also wanted to increase my stamina. Backpedaling up and grapevining down the hills at Commons Park along with lifting weights accomplished that goal.
• What she says about Ron: Ron struggled with a knee problem, but he maintained his positive attitude while doing alternative exercises and keeping us laughing. He has been my best cheerleader.

Mouy Sanchez and Justina Chao

• Relationship: Mother and daughter
• Support plan: Push one another, monitor eating habits.

MOUY

• Age: 37
• Job: Quality inspector
• Height: 5 feet 1 1/2 inches
• Weight then: 152; now: 142
• BP then: 136/80; now: 138/80
• Body fat then: 27.9 percent - moderate; now: 21.2 - good
• Aerobic fitness then: very poor; now: nearly fair
• Flexibility then: good; now: excellent
• Wellness age then: 39; now: 36
• Goals: Get healthy and fit.
• Thoughts: I feel great about myself and more confident about the way I look. I have changed the food I eat, and I eat healthier. Best of all, I have more energy.
• What she says about Justina: Working out with my daughter was the most rewarding part of the Challenge. I learned that she's very determined.

JUSTINA

• Age: 16
• Job: High school student
• Height: 5 feet 1 1/2 inches
• Weight then: 130; now: 126
• BP then: 110/80; now: 120/70
• Body fat then: 14.9 percent - excellent; now: 13.5 percent - excellent
• Aerobic fitness then: good; now: excellent
• Flexibility then: fair; now: excellent
• Wellness age: Unobtainable because of chronological age.
• Goals: Do my best at the Challenge; eat healthier.
• Thoughts: Trying to keep your body fit takes a lot of hard work. I love the feeling you get after doing a hard workout - it pays off in the end. I went down a pants size, and I can run for longer than I did before. I feel good about myself the more I work out.
• What she says about her mom: She's a strong woman. At the beginning she wasn't in the best cardio ever, but she really wanted to get better so she tried harder each time we went and worked out.

Denise Perez and Scott Hutchings

• Relationship: colleagues
• Support plan: One workout a week together; daily encouragement and support at the office

SCOTT

• Age: 31
• Job: Denver City Council aide
• Height: 5 feet 6 inches
• Weight then: 236; now: 221
• BP then: 124/78; now: 120/80
• Body fat then: 30 percent - obese; now: 27.3 percent - overweight
• Aerobic fitness then: good; now: excellent
• Flexibility then: poor; now: fair
• Wellness age then: 38; now: 33
• Goals: Reduce my body fat and increase my flexibility. Train for triathlons.
• Thoughts: The Challenge has made me a better husband and father. It has given me a great amount of confidence. I almost finished in the top five of a triathlon, and I took 8 minutes off my previous Turkey Trot (time). I also started bringing my 5-year-old son to the Saturday workouts. I really wanted to encourage my son to get active and expose him to this kind of stuff early. It was a really special part of this Challenge for me.
• What he says about Denise: She has been a great partner. Any time I was concerned about not losing weight she would find something nice to compliment me on, and it helped a great deal. She's a very wonderful person who can always find the positives of any situation - even in 100-degree heat at Red Rocks.

DENISE

• Age: 42
• Job: Denver City Council aide
• Height: 5 feet 1 inch
• Weight then: 160; now: 148
• BP then: 130/100; now: 125/85
• Body fat then: 33.9 percent - overweight; now: 26 percent - moderate
• Aerobic fitness then: fair; now: fair
• Flexibility then: average; now: good
• Wellness age then: 48; now: 42
• Goals: To increase my strength and physical endurance one day at a time and run a half-marathon in 2006.
• Thoughts: I have gone down five pants sizes and have lost 8 inches from my waist. I have signed on to train for a sprint triathlon in the summer of 2006. I have found hidden athletic abilities with the help and support of my outstanding personal trainer, Denise Tryner. I have gained a stronger belief that a person can have whatever they want if they believe in the possibility and are committed, disciplined and coached.
• What she says about Scott: I now call him "the Ironman." He is a winner and never quits - especially if the going gets tough. He has unbelievable strength and endurance. I learned that I could trust and depend on him in any circumstance.

Charles and Michelle West

• Relationship: spouses
• Support plan: Laugh through the pain; pat each other on the back for achieving individual goals; plan something special to celebrate success.

CHARLES

• Age: 49
• Job: corporate security coordinator
• Height: 5 feet 9 inches
• Weight then: 194; now: 193
• BP then: 154/105; now: 145/100
• Body fat then: 21.7 percent - moderate; now: 19.7 percent - good
• Aerobic fitness then: fair; now: fair
• Flexibility then: poor; now: good
• Wellness age then: 56; now: 50
• Goals: Become more fit; build muscle; increase energy.
• Thoughts: The most rewarding part of the Challenge was finding out that age is really not a deterrent in achieving fitness. The most defining moment was about halfway through, when I discovered that my body could handle a lot more than I thought. About a week or so later, I really started losing weight and the muscle definition set in, my aches and pains began to decrease and my agility and strength began to increase.
• What he says about Michelle: Your partner helps to try to keep things focused. Even though Michelle and I were in the Challenge together, we approached things a little differently, and both had positive results.

MICHELLE

• Age: 43
• Job: quality review analyst
• Height: 5 feet 3 1/2 inches
• Weight then: 168; now: 162
• BP then: 120/86; now: 124/90
• Body fat then: 25.5 percent - moderate; now: 23.8 - good
• Aerobic fitness then: fair; now: fair
• Flexibility then: good; now: excellent
• Wellness age then: 43; now: 41
• Goals: Get fit and build muscle; find a competition for post-Challenge motivation.
• Thoughts: When I feel more tension or stress, I'm not turning to food for comfort or release. Because of the Challenge, I think of exercise as a necessity. If I miss a workout or two, or I have a meal that may not be so healthy, I don't beat myself up over it. I just get back to my routine as soon as I can.
• What she says about Charles: Charles is really willing to try different things. He really enjoyed and got spoiled working with the personal trainers. I think he was impressed about the knowledge and the intensity of the workouts.

Karen Thorne and Lydia Marshall-Mack

• Relationship: Best friends
• Support plan: Lydia encourages Karen to exercise more; Karen encourages Lydia to eat better.

KAREN

• Age: 41
• Job: Radiologist assistant
• Height: Nearly 5 feet 8 inches
• Weight then: 173; now: 154
• BP then: 120/76; now: 124/84
• Body fat then: 32.4 percent - overweight; now: 23.4 percent - good
• Aerobic fitness then: Poor; now: fair
• Flexibility then: Average; now: nearly excellent
• Wellness age then: 45; now: 37
• Goals: Reduce body fat and gain tone and definition, so I can be more confident about my appearance.
• Thoughts: My body has really changed. Exercising has eased my stress and improved my tone. I try to exercise every day, even if it's a little bit. I try to eat small portions.
• What she says about Lydia: It was a real challenge, but having Lydia as a partner was great. She really knew how to support me.

LYDIA

• Age: 44
• Job: Hotel engineer
• Height: 5 feet 4 inches
• Weight then: 169; now: 169
• BP then: 120/80; now: 115/84
• Body fat then: 32.6 percent - overweight; now: 29.5 percent - moderate
• Aerobic fitness then: Fair; now: poor
• Flexibility then: Poor; now: excellent
• Wellness age then: 48; now: 44
• Goals: Reduce body fat and tighten up everything else.
• Thoughts: I have improved my outlook on health. I stop and think before I eat. I don't work out as much as I should, but I drink more water and eat less fat and sugar.
• What she says about Karen: The most rewarding part of the last six months has been having a friend to share all this with. Karen is a good influence on me. She always eats tuna and salad!

Joyce and Heather Deese

• Relationship: mother and daughter
• Support plan: Work out together three to five times weekly. Make exercise enjoyable by bicycling or in-line skating.

JOYCE

• Age: 53
• Job: administrative assistant
• Height: 5 feet 7 inches
• Weight then: 160; now: 143
• BP then: 104/74; now: 118/80
• Body fat then: 36.5 percent - obese; now: 27.2 - moderate
• Aerobic fitness then: fair; now: good
• Flexibility then: average; now: excellent
• Wellness age then: 58; now: 49
• Goals: Embrace a healthier lifestyle through a determined, consistent focus on exercise and nutrition.
• Thoughts: This has been an eye-opener regarding being fit and wanting to shed a few pounds. I am absolutely convinced that a well-rounded program has to include both eating nutritious food and exercising. You can't have one without the other.
• What she says about Heather: It has been so great to watch her get stronger and stronger, drop the pounds and lose the inches and just really challenge herself. I am very proud of her.

HEATHER

• Age: 24
• Job: payroll specialist
• Height: 5 feet
• Weight then: 151; now: 144
• BP then: 110/80; now: 120/74
• Body fat then: 31 percent - overweight; now: 25.9 - moderate
• Aerobic fitness then: poor; now: good
• Flexibility then: average; now: good
• Wellness age then: 29; now: 22
• Goals: Become more confident in my appearance. Be healthier and fit to get the most out of life.
• Thoughts: I have learned that there are always going to be bad days. When I would get discouraged, my dad would say, "It took you more than six months to gain the weight, and it's going to take more than that to get it off." I think we all have a little bit of impatience in us when it comes to exercise and eating right. We do it right for a whole day or maybe even a whole week and we expect to look like a model.
• What she says about Joyce: My mom did great. She changed her body a lot. She is stronger than she gives herself credit for. She has been great through the last six months. We have bonded through sweat and tears!

Jennifer Kelley and Maria Watts

• Relationship: sisters
• Support plan: Weekly goal-setting, weigh-ins, work out together at least three times a week.

JENNIFER

• Age: 44
• Job: human services caseworker
• Height: 5 feet 4 inches
• Weight then: 204; now: 197
• BP then: 124/80; now: 115/84
• Body fat then: 34.2 percent - overweight; now: 28.7 percent - moderate
• Aerobic fitness then: very poor; now: fair
• Flexibility then: excellent; now: excellent
• Wellness age then: 47; now: 42
• Goals: Make a commitment to exercise so that it becomes a natural part of my day. Learn to eat better and healthier and still occasionally be able to eat some chocolate.
• Thoughts: The most rewarding part is plain and simple: How great I feel! In the beginning, I couldn't believe how hard it was to get through a workout. Now, it's still tough to get myself to the gym, but once I'm there, I can exercise at such a different level. I want to make sure I don't let myself get back to where I was, and that I just get better from here!
• What she says about Maria: My partner, my sister, my friend - I've learned how enthusiastic and motivating she can be. She always had a positive attitude. I could call her anytime and hear the smile in her voice to help me through.

MARIA

• Age: 41
• Job: office manager
• Height: 5 feet 4 inches
• Weight then: 196; now: 180
• BP then: 120/90; now: 120/90
• Body fat then: 34.1 percent - overweight; now: 22.5 percent - good
• Aerobic fitness then: very poor; now: good
• Flexibility then: excellent; now: excellent
• Wellness age then: 47; now: 36
• Goals: To learn how to balance a busy lifestyle with taking care of myself; to live a long life through good nutrition and exercise.
• Thoughts: I think the biggest change I have made is to make sure I get in longer workouts three to five times a week. When I started I was only doing 30 to 45 minutes, but now it's no problem to get in 60- to 90-minute workouts and feel great when I'm finished.
• What she says about Jennifer: My sister was a great inspiration to me. She showed me that even through the toughest times in life, you can still conquer anything. She's an awesome person!

Healthy hints
Participants in the Rocky Fitness Challenge give advice

• Karen: Care about your body image. Eat healthy and exercise - it will change your life.
• Lydia: A partner for support is the key.
• Justina: Take baby steps. If you're feeling pain, it's a sign you need to stop and take it slower.
• Mouy: Don't ever give up your exercise, and choose what you eat wisely.
• Michelle: Try using a personal trainer. Think of changing your diet as a lifestyle change, not a temporary thing.
• Charles: Just do it. There are so many books, tapes, home exercise equipment, affordable health clubs. Use them.
• Denise: You really can have it all. The main ingredients are commitment, discipline and a personal trainer/coach.
• Scott: Be patient and set realistic goals. Don't focus on pounds lost to begin with; instead, focus on running down the block or eating a little less.
• Heather: Patience. Bad habits die hard. If you can surround yourself with people who want the same thing you do, you will get much further.
• Joyce: Just getting out there and starting, with no excuses, will yield some very positive results.
• Jennifer: Believe in yourself. Take baby steps until you get there. Have a support system in place.
• Maria: Make that time for yourself every day - you deserve it. Start out with consistent workouts and get 60-90 ounces of water a day.
• Ron: Join a facility like Bootcamp360 with your spouse or a very close friend to keep you on task.
• Pauleta: Don't expect instant changes. A 3-day-a-week hard workout and sensible eating will provide desired results.

Fitness resources

* All the Challenger assessments were done by Wellness Director Debbie Reiman (right) and wellness specialist Carol Brown. For more information about the Denver Athletic Club, go to www.denver athleticclub.org or call 303-534-1211.

* Personal trainer Denise Tryner worked with colleagues Denise and Scott and mom- daughter pairs Mouy and Justina and Joyce and Heather. For more information about Denise, go to www.denisetryner.com or call 720-319-3055.

* Drill Sgt. Mandy Sieverts helped whip Pauleta and Ron and Jennifer and Maria into shape. For information about Bootcamp360, visit www.bootcamp360.com. In Denver, call 303-981-6071 or e-mail bootcampdenver@yahoo.com; in Boulder, call Mountain's Edge Fitness at 303-494-5000.

* For more information about personal trainer Malena Marquez, who trained the Wests, go to www.body mecca.com or call 303-778-6322.