Over the past 25 years, I have tried and succeeded weight loss many different ways, but have often gained it back. My 55-pound weight loss in 2010, while enrolled at Weight Watchers, was my most successful. At Weight Watchers, leaders often said, “It’s a lifestyle change, not a diet.”  That connected with me.  I gained understanding on the relationship of healthy eating and exercising.

Lisa Hall said, owner of Ship’s City Cross Fit, said her six-week weight loss challenge was definitely prompted by the “Biggest Loser” television show.  The fit 39-year-old admitted she really has never had an issue with her weight, but losing her mother at the age of 15 to cancer gave her the drive to stay fit and healthy. 

So approximately four years ago she began her own weight loss challenge program to try to help people overcome weight and fitness issues. “I’ve seen amazing transformations,” Hall said.

I am hoping that Hall’s program can help me. Over the last year and a half, I have become less active due to some physical conditions requiring three surgeries (one on my neck, two on my foot) and subsequently I have thought less about my food choices and have gained back some of the weight I lost.  Over the next six weeks, I will be reporting on my personal experiences during the challenge. 

Hall will provide a fitness/exercise and a nutrition challenge each week. Teams will earn points based on how well they did with the challenges. The team that earns the most number of points will be immune from the “punishment” workout on Mondays. 

On Monday, Feb. 25, we met for the first time. We got weighed-in and met our team members. My team includes Patty Jo Averill of Alna, Cindy Carter of Richmond and Mary Stead of Westport Island. 

Averill and Carter have participated in previous challenges and know what’s coming. Stead and myself are first-timers and everything comes as a surprise, like the two rounds of a fitness obstacle course that included sit-ups, push-ups, jump roping, wall ball (squatting with a weighted ball and throwing it off the wall) and laps.  

I got a little light headed and dizzy toward the end of the first round. So I sat down and drank some water. Hall, right there with me, explained some reasons why that may have happened. 

Hall said she often sees when one heart’s rate increases, people have a tendency to hold their breath, which can cause dizziness. We also went over what I had eaten for the day and determined that I had not had enough calories for the day and my body probably didn’t have enough fuel.  

After the rest I was able to finish the second round. I felt pretty good about what I was able to accomplish on my first night. 

This week’s fitness exercise challenge is to see which team can tally up the most miles by walking, running or the elliptical. Hall has recommended a minimum 26 miles. 

Before my surgeries, I considered myself a walker. I usually walked three miles a day, five times a week, so this will definitely be a challenge for me, especially not having been able to do my walking since November. During the first two days of the challenge I have log eight miles.  

Teams also earn points (up to 12 points per day) if they succeed at the diet/nutrition challenge. The diet/nutrition challenges for this week are to avoid the following: alcohol, juice and soda; pasta, rice, potatoes, bread; desserts; and butter, margarine, mayo, sour cream, cream cheese and dressing. 

I am happy to report that I have earned the maximum of 24 points for the first two days of the diet/nutrition challenge.

Participants will be weighed on Fridays and the current week’s challenges will end on Sunday, March 3. Look for results of the first week in next week’s issue. 

Are you participating in a weight loss or fitness challenge, or have you in the past? Share your story on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wiscassetnewspaper/.