As readers pick up this week’s Courier, participants in Resolution: Mass Control will be in the middle of their third week of training with Cord Prettyman of Absolute Fitness and Ann Bunge of Woodland Fitness.
Cori Freed, set aside her initial nervousness along with 9.5 pounds. She said, even her 3-year-old son is seeing the example his mom has set.
“He went to preschool the other day and tried to round all the kids up and tell them they need to exercise,” she said. “The teachers couldn’t wait to tell me.”
The aerobic, stretching and weight-lifting regiment conducted by Prettyman and Bunge have all Mass-Controllers surprised by their performances. Freed is no exception.
“It’s exceeding [expectations],” she said. “If I keep at this pace, I could lose close to 30 pounds by the time this is over, but I’m shooting for 25.”
Each day, Freed said, she’s able to go a little harder than the workout before.
As to whether she can sustain this pace even after the trainers have left her side, Freed said that is her goal.
“I want [working out] to be a permanent fixture in my life,” she said. “But know I still have a whole lot to learn.”
She said the trainers and her fellow participants take some of the edge off of the competitive environment; joking around isn’t uncommon, after all, laughter is a great way to burn calories.
Her least favorite part?
“Sore muscles,” Freed said. “But that’s getting better.”
Her trainers aren’t the only ones offering motivation, though.
“I’ve gotten a lot of support from people who have read the story [in the Courier] who have come up to me in the gym or work and [encouraged] me. …This is an awesome opportunity.”
Participant Carl Ross has also seen a difference in just over two weeks. He’s netted a loss of 6 pounds since the program began.
While Ross has always been active on his own, including 45-minute walks daily with his two dogs, he never took heed of the importance of flexibility and stretching until Prettyman got his hands on hi,.
“I’m learning a lot from Cord,” Ross said. “In past, trainer have recommended flexibility. But Cord has me serious about flexibility and stretching. I feel a lot better fro that. It’s changed the way I do strength workouts, too.”
On top of flexibility, Bunge has opened Ross’s eyes when it comes to his diet. While his caloric intake hasn’t changed significantly, Ross won’t start the day without breakfast now.
“I wasn’t eating breakfast before, but apparently that really jumpstarts your metabolism,” Ross said. “Seventy-five percent of men you don’t eat breakfast daily are overweight.”
Ross said the effects of the aerobic conditioning is probably the most notable shift in his lifestyle.
“I have way more energy now,” he said.
Ross is quick to proclaim the least favorite part of his fitness routine.
“Eggbeaters. They’re awful.”
Ross admits some days are harder to get motivated for than others, but since he’s always been active and took a few weeks off before Resolution: Mass Control began, he was “anxious to get back into doing something.”
Todd Dreiling’s expectations were high, but he’ll be the first to admit, they’ve been exceeded.
“I think it’s awesome, it’s great having that personal touch,” a 13-pound lighter Dreiling said of his time with his trainers. “This has not been your gym class weightroom in high school. It’s much more tailored to my needs.” Dreiling said, through his training, he’s discovered a latent shoulder injury and training has also turned into a bit of physical therapy at the same time.
And, like the rest, soreness has been his biggest hurdle.
Dreiling isn’t concerned with hurdles, however. Since he began the program, he found he is able to run 3 miles straight; a hurdle he didn’t think he’d be able to overcome when the program began.
“I won’t be winning any races right now, but I’m doing it,” he said.
Dreiling has taken on training twice a day, both with is trainers and on his own.
He said, his new goal is to run a half marathon this summer.
In addition, his diet has given him a new sense of energy he hasn’t had in a long time.
“I’m not hungry between meals,” he said. “The diet is spot on. My body is getting the nutrients it needs. My wife notices the difference.”
Dreiling is taking to his new-found level of fame in stride. He’s being noticed in public after appearing in the Courier, and he said the feedback is the biggest motivator.
“What’s really been encouraging; I’ve seen people in the gym who may not know me personally, but they’ll come and talk with me. Customers of mine say ‘I’ve seen you in paper’ and ‘good luck.’
“I encourage the public to give us words of encouragement. It helps me to go the extra mile.”
Dreiling said he is convinced these changes are for the long haul.
“Temptaition will always be there [to return to old ways],” he said. “But this is a lifestlye change instead of diet or contest and that will help me stay focused. … Come the ninth week [when the contest is over], I’ll take what I’ve learned the last eight weeks and keep setting attainable goals and keep moving forward. There’s no end in sight.”
Carl Ross
Starting weight: 264 pounds
Current weight: 258 pounds
Loss of: 6 pounds
% weight loss: 2.3%
Contest position: 3rd
Cori Freed
Starting weight: 252 pounds
Current weight: 242.5 pounds
Loss of: 9.5 pounds
% weight loss: 3.8%
Contest place: 2nd
Todd Dreiling
Starting weight: 283 pounds
Current weight: 270 pounds
Loss of: 13 pounds
% weight loss: 4.6%
Contest place: 1st