Mitch Calvert
It’s that time again.
The beginning of a new year usually brings with it new-found resolutions to get in shape, and 2009 is proving to be no different as local fitness centres start to fill up with eager enthusiasts.
“It’s crazy busy, and today the ‘Biggest Loser’ is starting again, so people are signing in and doing their weigh-ins,” Energy Fitness owner Jackie Lampi-Hughes said.
“I’d be complaining if it was dead, so this is good,” she added.
Curves for Women owner Kelly Spicer agreed. “This is always a busy time of year,” she noted.
The important thing, though, is to get new members to realize that a healthier lifestyle goes beyond the first week or two of the new year, stressed Lampi-Hughes.
“It takes 21 days to make or break a habit, so if they can come in for three weeks straight, then they start to realize how much better they feel and they get into a routine,” she explained.
“As long as people get motivated to start, then I can try and make it my job to keep them going so they realize that it is a lifestyle change, not just a January to February resolution.”
Exercise is key to a healthy lifestyle, but diet is just as important. Lampi-Hughes noted she has members who are involved in fellow Energy staff member Alana Pierce’s fitness challenge now beginning the diet portion of their journey.
“I don’t like to call it a diet, but we’re starting an ‘Eat Clean’ program,” she remarked. “So there’s almonds, there’s apples, chicken, little bit of turkey, protein shakes, and so on.”
Pierce is training for a fitness competition set for May 30 in Thunder Bay and a number of Energy Fitness members are along for the ride.
“Hopefully, it will be like the Fargo Marathon [last year],” Lampi-Hughes noted. “If there are maybe three of them who actually go on stage in their swimsuits [at the end], that 40 of us who train with her can go to watch and be a part of it.”
Coupled with the influx of people coming in for the new year, the six-week “Biggest Loser” competition once again is underway at Energy and has added to the extra buzz this week.
Members who sign up are split into two teams (captained by Lampi-Hughes and Pierce) and are required to do four workouts a week (two of which must be fitness classes).
It will be much the same premise as the previous two successful editions, but there will be a few added twists.
“Alana and I are also adding challenges on top of the weekly workouts, so whoever is on my team will have to do 20 minutes total on the step mill over this week,” Lampi-Hughes said.
“[You] can spread it out or do 20 minutes all at once and get it over with, and Alana’s team will have to do the core stabilizer for three minutes at some point,” she added.
“In the big picture, it will have you doing five different workouts a week, and makes it a little more challenging.”
Also new this time around is a double-elimination format. For pairs who sign up, if one gets kicked off, so does the other. Lampi-Hughes hopes this measure will keep people motivated together.
The final formula for determining the winning team once again will be based on a weight/measurement loss calculation.
Lampi-Hughes said measurement is the main thing because working out can help you lose fat and inches, but not necessarily scale weight due to muscle increase.
