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THE HEALTH CHALLENGE JOURNEY Kennie's blog on his journey to healthy living
Working Through the Holidays Due to a number of reasons, there was no weigh-in last week. Several problems cropped up that kept me from getting to the gym for two of my three scheduled workout days. I guess that's what we all face when we're trying to get in shape. Sometimes, real life gets in the way. But, with my car trouble taken care of...and other scheduling conflicts resolved, it is once again back to the gym at the South Charleston Rec Center. The scales read 292 pounds. That's a loss of three pounds over the last couple of weeks, even the Thanksgiving holiday! I feel good about that. I ate what I wanted to eat, but managed to keep my portions in check. And since I started this journey, I've dropped 39 pounds. I hope to keep going. The program is set to continue until February. After that, it's up to me to keep doing the right thing. Thanks again to Clint Alley with Accelerate Athletics. The man knows what he's talking about. To reach Clint to start your own Fitness Program, call him at 304-633-9217. A New Direction Well, after missing more than a week of workouts due to illness and circumstances beyond my control (more on that later) I hit the scale again today at my new gym, the South Charleston Community Center. There are 3.8 million people in America who weigh 300 pounds or more. As of today, at least for right now, I am now longer among them. I weigh 298, which represents a couple of important goals for me. First off, I'm under 300...which was the first number I really targeted. Secondly, I've lost ten percent of my starting weight. Ten percent! I know I'm still a big guy, but that was a significant number for me. Thanks to Clint Alley for all of his help. He's my trainer and the man knows what he is doing. If you eat right and exercise you can do it, too! I know there is a long, long journey ahead...and there is always the danger I'll gain weight back. This is a lifelong challenge. I just home I'm up to it. As for changing gyms and moving to South Charleston: Clint is changing direction. He's no longer affiliated with his old gym. They wanted to go on a different path, so Clint is striking out on his own. He's hopeful to get a new enterprise, Accelerate Athletics, up and running soon. Until then, I'm working out under his guidance at South Charleston. Thanks for stopping by. I'll talk with you again soon. Hitting the Scales When I started this journey I had to immediate goals. One was to get under 300 pounds the other was to lose 10 percent of my body weight. As of today I am right on the number. I weighed in this morning at 300. That means I've dropped 31 pounds. To lose ten percent I need to add another two pounds to the mix and get down to 298. It feels good to have had some success at this but I still have a long way to go. Hitting The Scales As usual, Monday is weigh-in day at Power Up Sports and Wellness. Despite two trips to Buffalo Wild Wings over the weekend I managed to eat fairly well for the week. I weigh 301 pounds. Still waaaaaay too heavy, but I did lose two for the week and 30 since I started working with Clint Alley in mid-August. Thank you Clint. I appreciate the guidance and encouragement. And the journey continues... No Workout Today Unfortunately I had to miss my scheduled Wednesday workout. I interviewed Governor Manchin this morning for our preview of the Marshall-West Virginia game this weekend. The governor's staff needed me to do it fairly early so I had to cancel my training today. That doesn't make me happy but what can you do? I'll just have to hit it hard on Friday. However, I am trying to be careful. I have a "twinge" in my right knee which may be coming from my leg press exercises. I certainly don't want to get hurt and not be able to hit the gym. That would be a setback. Weighing In, Again After a week in which I gained a couple of pounds I really wanted to see some progress today. I weighed in at 303 pounds. That's down five pounds for the week and 28 since I started this in early August. Adding some cardio to my weight training certainly seemed to have a good impact. Now I just have to keep going to the gym on my day "off." Of course in reality, there really is no off day. You just have to keep hitting it to try and do the right thing. Campbell Classic Golf Although Monday is my usual day to work out and weigh-in I had to push it back a day this week. I was honored to play in the William C. Campbell Scholarship Classic. It's a golf tournament that raises money for West Virginia high school seniors. It's a great cause honoring a great man. Mr. Campbell is a worldwide golf legend. It's always nice to spend a little time with him and talk about the game. As for food, I had a turkey sandwich on wheat for lunch. But it was dinner at the Sporting Club at the Greenbrier that I was worried about. The food was great. Battered trout, pork barbecue, green beans, corn pudding, salad and a dessert table that was out of this world. I kept my portions sane and think I should be okay. At least I hope that's what the scale says tomorrow. Judging Chili I had a really good time at the World Chili Chamionship in Charleston over the weekend. I was pleased to serve as one of the judge's for the "Last Chance" competition and on a preliminary table for the red chili championship. Even though chili probably isn't the best food to eat while trying to get fit, I was certain that all of the cooks in the competition used very lean meat. I ended up having about 25 to 30 spoonfuls of chili each evening so I'm hopeful that doesn't show up too heavily on the scales when I weigh-in. Stepping It Up Whew. A tough day at the Power Up Sports and Wellness gym. Our trainer Clint Alley worked us hard. Eyewitness News Photographer Brad Rice and I noticed the more rapid pace pretty quickly. It was a nice workout, made easier by the fact I'm doing it with Brad. He's been a champ and he's lost some weight as well. This stuff really works, you just have to do it. Cardio For the first time since I started this program I hit the YMCA on my off-day from lifting weights and got on an elliptical trainer. Clint Alley with Power Up Sports and Wellness has been suggesting I do cardio at least three times a week to help with my fitness and weight loss. But truthfully, I've been too tired after work to hit the gym. I decided that was no excuse and worked out for a half hour this evening. Sure I would have rather gone straight home from work, but sometimes you have to make small sacrifices if you want to find success. I'm hopeful the extra work becomes a habit, and that it pays off when I hit the scales each Monday. Weighing In With Bad News For the first time since I started this workout program two months ago, I gained weight during a week. I'm up two pounds to 308. That's still down 23 pounds from where I started, but it's nowhere close to where I want to be. I got some bad health news this week concerning a member of my family and it threw me into a small tailspin. I ate poorly for a couple of days, whether it was stress eating or diving into comfort food is anyone's guess. The point is, I can do better and I'm hopeful this week is the start of a new losing streak. Ay Caramba!! Well, it certainly wasn't a great day, eating-wise. While covering a story in Nitro we stopped by Rio Grande for lunch. What a great place to eat! But...I probably should have passed. A beef burrito for lunch. And two chicken quesadillas I saved for dinner. Not the best choices for me... Chipping Away Even though I've lost a little weight, I'm still a very big guy. When my friends talk about what I'm doing, I equate it to chipping ice cubes off of a glacier. Yeah, you get some results, but there's still a pretty big chunk of ice still sittting there. Well, at least this week the iceberg is a bit smaller. The scale doesn't lie: 306 pounds. That's down three from last week and 25 since I started. I'm hopeful I can keep it up and get under 300. There are two big psychological barriers for me...and the 300 pound level is the first one I've got to beat. Monday Is Weigh-In Day After starting off very quickly, losing 16 pounds in the first three weeks, my weight loss has slowed considerably. My trainer, Clint Alley with Power Up Sports and Wellness tells me I need to increase my activity level to get better results. We work out three times a week at his facility, doing mostly weight training with a little cardio thrown in. But I really should be working out on my own at least a couple of times a week. I haven't found the time or will to do that yet. That probably needs to change. By the way, the scale this week reads 309. That's down 2 pounds from the previous week and 22 pounds since I started on August 10th. Pumpkin Festival Media Dinner. Uh-oh! Watching what I eat is as important on this Health Challenge as any exercise program. Tonight in Milton I've been invited to the annual West Virginia Pumpkin Festival Media Dinner. It is a fantastic event with tons of delicious homemade food. I need to make sure I enjoy myself without being a total idiot. But with pumpkin lasagna, pumpkin pies and dozens of other interesting pumpkin-based dishes to be sampled it is going to be a challenge. By the way, if you get the chance to visit the Pumpkin Festival from October 1st through the 4th at the West Virginia Pumpkin Park complex in Milton you should check if out. It's one of my favorite festivals of the year with great food, entertainment, exhibits and plenty of friendly people. Back to the Monday Showdown With The Scale This was a tough week. I made some poor choices for dinner. Maybe I'm getting lax, I don't know. I certainly shouldn't be, since I'm still well above the 300 pound mark. But that's something I've got to deal with. This is a program which is scheduled for a finite time, but I've got to be conscious of what I eat and how active I am for the rest of my life. It's a good lesson for me to learn. The scale reads 311 lbs. That's a loss of two for the week and 20 since I started on August 10th. Brad and Teresa are also doing great. Brad, who had much less weight to lose than me, has dropped five pounds. That puts him at 205. He says getting down to 190 would be great. Teresa, like me, has struggled a little bit with her weight over the past few years. But she has been doing fantastic and has lost 19 lbs. I am very proud of her. She's been really watching her diet and hitting the weights hard. I've got to tell you. Doing something like this with co-workers, and using the expertise of trainers like Clint Alley and Taylor Stillpass, has made a world of difference. I've tried several times over the years to lose weight, all with the same middling results. But now, doing the same program with others, people you can talk with about your diet and your exercise, is really helpful. And working with Power Up Sports and Wellness, using the expertise of people who understand how the body processes what you eat, and understand how exercise can make a difference in your life, has been a revelation. It's much easier working out when you have someone on your side who genuinely wants you to win. One Month In Thanks to the Labor Day holiday and my coverage of the Friends of America Rally in Holden, the Monday weigh-in got moved to Tuesday. I was worried about this one, coming off of a week when I didn't eat as well as I had the previous weeks. But, I weighed in at 313 lbs. That's a loss of two pounds for the week and 18 overall. Clint Alley says that's a good pace and to be encouraged. I would like to lose more...as a matter of fact I'd like to lose all of this weight at once. But of course that's not going to happen. So, I keep plugging away, trying to do the right things and hope the scale recognizes the effort. After Three Weeks Another Monday, another weigh-in day. After two weeks of great results my pace slowed down a little bit. I lost four pounds this week. That drops my total to 315, a loss of 16 pounds in three weeks. I'm pleased and Clint Alley with Power Up Sports and Wellness in Teays Valley says that's a good start. But he wants me to stay focused and keep doing the right things. This is a marathon, not a sprint. And my birthday is coming up. That means cake and maybe a celebratory dinner. It's ok to live your life, I just have to be conscious of the choices I make and don't go overboard. This Health Challenge program is scheduled to last for six months but I'm hopeful I'll make enough changes to turn around the rest of my life. As Dean Wormer said in "Animal House" to Flounder, "Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son." Well, I can't do much about my intelligence, LOL, and I don't drink that much. However, the fat part is something I can control. It's just up to me to make the right decisions to get there. Still watching what I eat, trying to stay away from white bread, potatoes, sugars, etc...and still working out three times a week along with my co-workers Brad Rice and Teresa Higginbotham. They're both doing great. I'm proud of the effort they are putting in. After Two Weeks Monday is weigh in day. No matter how you slice it the scale just doesn't lie. If you've done the things you are supposed to be doing it will show up. If you haven't the same is true. Week two went well. I lost six more pounds to a weight of 319. That's 12 pounds lighter than I started. Clint Alley with Power Up Sports and Wellness in Teays Valley says that's a great beginning. But he cautions my results aren't typical. I was very heavy and drinking tons of soda before I started this Health Challenge, so cutting out all Coca-Cola made a big impact in a hurry. While Clint says six pounds in a week is great, the perfect situation is to lose 1-2 pounds a week. He says that's been proven to be an effective program and is easier to keep off once you've lost it. IF you keep doing the right things. After One Week Hello there. Thanks for stopping by again and checking on our progress. First off, the numbers. After one week, I lost six pounds. I went from a starting weight of 331 pounds to 325. It's a good start but I have a very long way to go. Clint Alley of Power Up Sports and Wellness has us working out three times a week during the morning. After a quick warmup on the exercise bike we hit the weights, alternating on upper and lower body routines. But as important as exercise is your diet is just as critical. I grew up drinking way too much Coca-Cola. I love it. It's a great drink. But for someone who is overweight, 140 calories per 12 ounce can is probably not a great thing. And I would drink several cans, bottles and cups from restaurants a day. So, I've cut that out. Completely. I've switched to water, unsweetened iced tea and diet drinks. Coke Zero isn't bad and I'm growing used to it. Mix in a Sprite Zero from time to time and I'm good to go. But even with zero calories, diet sodas still have sodium and that can cause you to retain water. So go easy on them. Also, watch out for white bread and sugar. Carbohydrates can be your friend but too many and the weight piles on. And I'm concentrating on lean meats like chicken, turkey and tuna. I'll have beef every now and then but right now it's not the main option for lunch or dinner. A Journey Of A 1000 Miles Begins With A Single Step After some consideration about how I would manage to pull this thing off, the Health Challenge is now underway. Working with Clint Alley with Power Up Sports and Wellness in Teays Valley and joined by some co-workers the journey begins. I'm not pleased to admit that my starting weight is 331 pounds. Since I'm only about six feet tall, that is obviously way too heavy. Like many people, especially here in West Virginia, I eat too much at the wrong times and I don't get enough exercise. That kind of lifestyle can lead to several major problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. West Virginia is a national leader in these categories and Clint Alley is determined to help try and change that. After a long and distinguished career in the Air Force Clint retired and started his second career. He has a Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology from Marshall University and has opened his own business, along with his partner Taylor Stillpass. Together they train several sports teams and athletes and also take in individuals who are interested in living a healthier life. They approached the station with an idea to raise awareness about exercise and eating right and we've joined them in that effort. Over the next six months I'll keep you updated on our progress. It's a team effort with my co-workers, under the guidance of Clint and Taylor, trying to make better decisions which will have a positive impact on our lives. You know as well as I do this won't be easy. Changing a lifetime of bad habits is an enormous challenge. Since this is real life, there is always the possibility I will fail. But I'm confident if I give it a good-faith effort and listen to Clint and Taylor I'll have a chance to lose a little weight and hopefully make positive lifestyle changes. If you're interested in getting involved with your own fitness program, Clint and Taylor can help you as well. Just give them a call at 304-633-9217 and talk about the goals you'd like to accomplish. Got questions, comments, suggestions?  Email Kennie.Return to the Health Challenge Home |
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