Nearly eight months ago, we introduced you to three people who made New Year’s resolutions to lose weight. Despite some ups and downs, Rebecca Nolan, a nurse from Canaryville; Polly Feuer, a pre-kindergarten teaching assistant and student from Evanston; and Mike Calka, a retired manager from Glenview, have passed that tricky six-month mark. Half of all new exercisers quit within the first six months; our trio has carried on. Here’s an update on their progress.
MIKE CALKA
Age: 55
Height/weight as of Jan. 1: 5 feet 10 inches,
250 pounds
Long-term goal: Lose 25 pounds
Weight lost: 14 pounds
Golf season arrived in late April, and with it went Mike Calka’s strict exercise regimen. Calka, who works part time at the fitness center front desk at Glenview’s Park Center, had been doing cardio machines and strength training four to five days a week, with the help of California-based fitness expert Richard Cotton, chief exercise physiologist for the personal training Web site Myexerciseplan.com. By figuring out that he wanted to be healthy for his family and by tracking progress on the Web site, Calka was motivated and exercising.
But during Chicago’s short golf season, Calka likes to play three to four times a week and work part time at the course. It was tough golfing, working and fitting in exercise sessions.
“Richard and I talked and we decided that if golf is more important right now than cardio and strength training, at least I’m out there exercising to some extent,” Calka said. (He can’t walk the entire course because of knee injuries but walks at least 100 yards per hole).
“Richard feels it’s more important to be happy about myself than beat myself up for missing exercise sessions,” Calka said. When golf season ends in October, Calka will return to the old regimen.
“I am going to lose that 25 pounds,” he said. “I know the last 11 will be tough, but I’m going to do it.”
POLLY FEUER
Age: 38
Height/weight as of Jan. 1: 5 feet 7 inches,
224 pounds
Long-term goal: Lose 1 pound a week for a year
Weight lost: 9 pounds
Stress was a factor for Polly Feuer, who was fitting in workouts with a personal trainer at the Evanston YMCA, school (she’s earning a master’s in teaching) and student teaching. She also was grappling with boredom at the gym and during the last few months hadn’t met consistently with her trainer.
With the arrival of summer and good weather, Feuer’s stress level dropped, and she started taking long walks with her dog. “Now I’m feeling good about the exercise program again, like I did [in January]. I’m all fired up because I’ve got a different form of exercise. I like how my clothes are fitting, and I’m starting to see my muscles. That’s getting me motivated.”
She also eliminated soda and increased her salads. And she promises she’ll be back in the gym soon, at least to restart her strength-training program.
REBECCA NOLAN
(not available for photo)
Age: 27
Height/weight as of Jan. 1: 5 feet 7 inches,
248 pounds
Long-term goal: Lose 100 pounds
Weight lost: 18 pounds
A huge promotion at the University of Chicago Children’s Hospital in May shot Nolan’s stress levels through the roof, and her exercise program was a casualty. Though she finally has gotten used to being on call nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week managing a heart-lung program for seriously ill babies, Nolan stopped working out for six weeks.
“I was able to watch what I ate and maintain my weight, but I couldn’t go to Curves at all,” said Nolan, who has since returned to the Hyde Park branch of the all-women’s gym, three times a week for 30 minutes. “If it wasn’t for my big sister, I wouldn’t have gone back. She just kind of told me, `You can do this–suck it up and let’s go!'”
The two work out together as often as possible and eat healthy meals with their parents, who live next door.
The first few workouts in mid-June when she returned were hard, but making exercise a priority again was even tougher. “It’s hard to go back. You’re out of the habit, you’re tired, the job was still stressful–but I did it.”
In the last few weeks Nolan has felt more positive about exercise and work. “You know what I’ve learned from this?” she said. “Once you get skinny, don’t get fat again! And it comes on a lot easier that it comes off. Also, I need to take time out for myself.”
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In a rut? Regroup
All three of our exercisers were raring to go the first few months of their programs. It’s no surprise, though, that as time went on, they found it tougher to be enthusiastic about going to the gym. Lynne Brenner, personal-trainer coordinator at Glenview’s Park Center, said it’s natural to reach a physical and mental plateau–the weight’s not coming off as fast and the exercise isn’t as fun. Here are Brenner’s suggestions for getting over those humps:
– Don’t make weight loss your only goal. Once you’ve lost the weight or it’s not coming off as easily, you’ll need some other motivation. Have another long-term goal, such as walking a 5k or biking a 15-mile route. Or set a weekly goal, such as attending a group exercise class.
– Reassess your goals regularly and change them if you need to. List what has changed in your life. For example, if a job promotion is causing stress, make stress relief through exercise your top priority, rather than weight loss.
– The longer you’re away from your routine, the harder it will be to get started again, and you don’t want to face that. If you’re tired of running on the treadmill but love walking outside, combine periods of running with your walking so you don’t completely lose your run fitness.
When re-establishing your goals and assessing life events, you may need to change or reschedule your program accordingly. Can’t work out at lunch anymore? Pre- or post-work exercise could be the answer. Don’t have time to swim? Get on the bike or run instead.
