The Emporia Gazette

May 28, 2012

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Meet the winners of the 2010 Gazette Shape Up for Summer Fitness Challenge: Heather Lake and James Agin.

As a risk manager and a quality systems coordinator for their places of employment, we thought Heather and James could use a little risk management and quality control when it comes to their own fitness and nutrition routines. Both are challenged with a lack of a regular exercise routine in their lives and unhealthy food choices, like too much fast food and sweets.

But with the help and expertise of fitness trainers at Emporia Fitness and Genesis Health Club, Heather and James will be given the opportunity to finally trade in some of their bad health habits for good ones.

Follow along with Heather and James on the Health and Fitness page in the weeks to come and see the progress they are making, both from their perspective and the perspective of their trainers.

Will they meet the Shape Up Challenge?

Meet Heather Lake

Age: 31

Family: Husband,

Zach, 33; children,

Gavin, 9; Brenna, 5

Occupation:

Registered nurse

and risk

manager at

Newman

Regional

Health

“I am the full-time working mother who doesn’t take enough time for myself, and so many people can relate to that. I am the face of the generation that was raised on too much pop and fast food. Most importantly, I want to be a great example to my children so that they will not face the same problems with health that I have.

“I am in terrible shape! I miss playing outside with the kids but it is difficult for me because I get easily winded and it isn’t easy to move my body.”

Biggest exercise challenge: I don’t exercise at all.

Biggest nutritional challenge: I eat too many sweets and eat out too much.

Overall goals: I want to lose weight and inches, feel better, be healthy and comfortable with my body so I don’t feel like I need to hide it or cover it up all the time. I also want to be more physically active with my kids.

Short-term goals: Lose 15 pounds during the challenge and 10 inches overall.

Heather’s fitness challenge:

• Meet with a trainer four days per week.

• Working out on her own one to two days a week

• Two days of circuit weights

• Two days of cardio

• One or two days of something different (classes, different type of workout, etc.)

• Keep a food log every day to track healthier eating habits. Limit eating out, limit sweets and soda she drinks. Target whole grains, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables every day. Increase water intake.

“I want to be able to look in the mirror and look good before and after I get dressed.”

Meet James Agin

Age: 35

Weight: 223.8 pounds

Family: children,

Skylar, 15;

Bryan, 13; Dylan, 9

Occupation:

Quality

systems

coordinator

at Thermal

Ceramics

Biggest exercise challenge: Sitting in an office all day

Biggest nutritional challenge: Soda and fast food

Overall goals:

• Be able to go up and down the stairs without getting tired.

• Be able to keep up with my three kids.

• Be able to look in the mirror and say that I look good before and after I get dressed.

• Quit smoking

Short-term goals:

• Lose 20 pounds during the challenge and down to 175 long-term.

• Eat less soda and fast food

• Be committed to a workout plan

James’ fitness challenge:

• At least three days a week of circuit training

• At least three days a week of cardio, increasing over time

Shape Up, Emporia! is a weekly fitness and health column aimed at readers of all ages to get off the couch and get into shape. Our goal is to make getting in shape fun and easy to fit into your existing lifestyle and daily routine.