Weight Loss for Men!

Why is it that all the spokespeople for Weight Watchers are women? And Jenny Craig tried using some football players but notice that isn't happening anymore... Why is that? Because lets be honest.. the target demographic is women. Is it because Women are more overweight? Because Women care more? No Not really. Its because its easier and more acceptable for women to join a program to tackle the problem. Not many options for guys.
Until Now.
Wanna flip some tires? Carry some Kettle Bells Farmer Walk Style? do something that doesn't require that you have any dance ability? And FINALLY LOSE THE WEIGHT? Well here it is from a fellow Guy- Gerald a member of the Lose to Win Program in his own words! 

Being a guy and trying to lose a significant amount of weight is very challenging to do. Really being anyone who needs to lose a weight is challenging but for a guy there are some things that people don’t think about. The biggest challenge for me is pride, when I go to a normal gym I look around and see guys who look like they bench mini vans in their spare time. Or I see the guys who are toned, and could pass for a movie star. Then there is me. I am about 60 lbs overweight, get winded getting out of bed, and sweat while eating. It is very intimidating. I have been someone who doesn’t want to be that guy anymore but after a week or two at the gym I always felt like I was being looked and judge because I couldn’t  “lift enough” or because my shirt was soaked in sweat just by walking on the treadmill. I quit before I even got started.  But being a part of “LOSE to WIN” at Corefit in Royersford has made the journey very enjoyable.

When I first heard about Lose to Win I was excited to start a new workout plan because I heard it was a very personal experience and that I would be with people like me. I wouldn’t feel out of place or like I was being judged for trying to be healthy. I am so glad I was right, when I got there my first day everyone was so welcoming and I actually felt like they wanted me there instead of feeling like I was invading their group. Then Joymarie and Liz were there and even though they pushed me they were there every step of the way making sure I was ok and wasn’t going to pass out from doing something more than getting up and down off the couch. The class was hard but fun. I have done other classes in the past (Kickboxing, Spin, etc0 but this was different. I was in a class of 12 people instead of 30 and there were 2 trainers instead of 1. It gave the opportunity for me to have the personal touch I needed to do the exercises correctly. I think I would have signed over my first child after that class if they asked me that was how excited I was to be a part of this great team.

After that first class I had a little devil on my shoulder tell me that the shine would come of this new experience and it would be just like every other time I started working out and my excitement level would fizzle.  I couldn’t have been more wrong! The classes have gotten better and better and the camaraderie I have with my classmates (and trainers) is something I never planned on. The people that take this class know what each other is going through.  You CAN NOT find that at your “local” gym.  You will not find a group of 30 people who understand and actually care about you getting to your goal and that are just the members. I don’t want to short our trainers. They have been as important to us in this journey.   You can tell that they actual want us to succeed, not because that is what they get paid for but because they care. 

Being a guy I was most worried about the nutrition part of the program. But what has happened is a pleasant surprise. I am still able to eat the things I love: Pork, Steak, Chicken, etc. And I can also enjoy Pizza, Burgers, and Chips. I just have made some adjustments to how I eat them. Instead of regular pizza, I now make it with a cauliflower crust. Instead of chips made from potatoes, I eat chips made from Kale. It is surprising to me how such a little change can make a big difference. I don’t find myself missing any of the foods I have given up because what I see in front of me has become more important. This is another area when the people in class have made this transition easier.  Posting recipes on our FB page and coming up with great outside the box ideas so we won’t get bored with what we are eating.  The trainers are always available to answer questions and give ideas as well.

I have been in this class for 7 weeks now and have lost 23 lbs. I am over a third to my weight goal and am ready to smack that goal in the face. However the number of my weight isn’t my only goal anymore.  My new goal is to keep this up for the rest of my life no matter what the number says. Being in this class has transformed my thinking about some number I see on a scale to how I feel. That is what is really special about this class; it changes your thinking about what is important. It isn’t important what the number says, it is important on how we feel when we look at ourselves. Or walk down that sidewalk without getting winded. Or when we run into someone we haven’t seen in a while and you see the look on their face when they tell you how good you look. A number on scale can’t replace that feeling. I am grateful for the people in my class, I am grateful my wonderful trainers, but most importantly I grateful for myself because I am the only person who can keep this up and I am FINALLY making my health and my happiness a priority.

 Gerald “Sheep Sprinter” Irwin