A personal training & food journal. Read about our weight loss progress at Train With Ron in Chicago, our nutritional habits and the life changes we're making to get in shape and stay healthy!

	The Tire Flipping Event: Flippin’ Tiring!
	Posted by Daniel Arturi | Comments

Yes, Monika got us back into writing the blog.  We’ve both encountered some minor “setbacks”… not even sure if you’d call them that… I need to accept that I’m not going to be on a straight line from where I was and achieve what I set out to without some peaks and valleys. For me, I’ve gained back about 8 pounds – but no inches – and need to get that under control quickly before it gets any more.

Dan goin' HAM on a truck tire!

I’ve cut my workouts down to three per week (from 4-5) for the last 2 months, but starting tomorrow I’ll be taking Wing Chun classes three times a week to supplement my workouts and learn a new skill. I’ve always been interested in Martial Arts, but never actually trained in any. I chose Wing Chun because its a very grounded, spiritual style.  You won’t see most Wing Chun practitioners doing a lot of flying and spinning kicks… it teaches a solid base (good for a shorter, stockier guy like me) as well as the redirection of the energy of an assailant away from the body while counter striking.  It is an aggressive style.

In any case, last week Matt ran one of his famous Tire Flip workouts this past Saturday.  As soon as I got the email message I dove in on this one… it looked fun from the pictures from last year, plus Matt is an enthusiastic coach and I knew he’d have some challenges cooked up. (more…)

	Ok, so I’ll be completely honest
	Posted by Monika Arturi | 3 Comments

February 16th was our last update and I feel I’ve let too much time go by. I’ve been busy, sure, but more than anything I’ve felt my progress slipping and my motivation draining. We’ve been going at this since November of ’09 and I have yet to reach my ultimate goal. My thoughts were that the last thing I want this blog to become is a place where I whine and moan. I want to inspire and motivate. So I didn’t write my feelings down thinking it won’t help anyone if I spread the negativity I felt. Truth is, that those types of struggles are the reality of so many people that maybe I was wrong not write during that time.

I wasn’t being vocal about my struggles with anyone and let it fester. I allowed myself to be convinced by my negative thoughts. I guess it was falling back on old habits. Bottom line, I’ve created the situation I am in and so I have complete control to get myself out of it. There is nothing wrong with getting stuck and asking for help. I shouldn’t take that as a sign of being incapable or inadequate. I realize how difficult it is to accept that as fact when you’re frustrated, depressed or just plain angry about a situation but I think you have to actually say the words to yourself over and over again so that you can accept it. You have to return to thinking positively. That’s easy to do when you’re feeling good and everything’s going well, but positivity is most effective when you are feeling down. I hope I can get back to being a little bit of that for you. (more…)

	Wanna See Me Pull a Body?
	Posted by Monika Arturi | Comments

It is week 6 in the TWR Ten Weeks to Fitness Challenge and team AM leads 3-2. Team PM is turning up the heat. I think that losing the first 2 challenges in a row gave them additional motivation. I say ‘bring it on’

This week is looking really close again. We need everyone to do the challenge to win this one!

February is a short and busy month for Dan and me with lots of birthdays and business trips so I apologize that I haven’t been keeping you as updated. Let’s do a quick recap.  Week 5 was the 3 Minute Burpee Challenge. (Burpee Presses actually where you do a burpee with weights and once you’re back in a standing position you do a press above your head.) As many as you could do in 3 minutes. I did 43 with a 10lb weight.

Honestly I think it’s the most difficult physical activity I have ever done. Only time I ever involuntarily began to cry during a workout. Luckily my trainers and my support group, aka Steve and Bob, were constantly talking to me and motivating me. I was able to get out of my head and essentially just told myself, ‘do what they say don’t think about anything else’ They told me to keep moving my legs and that’s what I did. The mind has a way of talking you out of uncomfortable situations. I guess that’s it’s job or something.

Matt, DB and Ron are getting more and more creative so I can’t wait to see what’s coming up next week and all I have to say is that I am glad to be done with this week’s.

* 1 Wall = approx. 40 yards

	Week Two – 5/5/5 and Week Three – The Haynesworth Challenge
	Posted by Daniel Arturi | Comments

Hi All!

I’ve been very busy with work lately, so less writing, but found a few minutes tonight and am happy to report that the Biggest Loser Challenge just completed Week 3 and since the PM team won the week, I get to write the blog this week!  (Nyaa, nyaa, Monika!)  Ron, Matt, and DB have come up with some pretty cool challenges and events for this contest and so far, everyone really seems to be into it!  I know I am!

So first – I did very well in the previous week’s challenge even though we (the PM team) lost. In 5 minutes:

Ski Machine: 1259m (pretty good but I thought I was going to die)
Airdyne Bike: 3186m (1.98 miles – I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN TWO!)
Rowing Machine: 1417m (#1 overall – I seem to do better on this machine than any of the others as a rule)
Grand Total: 5862m – wow!

This was better than I could have hoped for but it did not come without a cost – I was wiped out after this week. REALLY wiped out. After I did the bike (Thursday) I couldn’t work out – partially because I was experiencing what I have come to know as an “ocular migraine” but more on that later – I was just completely spent and could not go on. (more…)