Fitness Journey Part 4: Summer schedules, weather take toll - Reading Eagle

Through November, Healthy Living magazine will track the progress of two Berks residents as they journey through the ups and downs of starting and sticking with their exercise programs to improve their health. It is their hope that through their stories they will spur others to do the same.

Staying true to their fitness journey felt even tougher due to sporadic work schedules and the change of routine due to the summer. With the encouragement of fitness trainers, both added a few new exercise routines and continued their fitness quests through the end of the summer. They were interviewed in early August.

Steve Kellenberger

Age: 43

Weight in January: 263 pounds

Weight in April: 242 pounds

Weight in June: 240 pounds

Weight in August: 248 pounds

Residence: Shillington

How long have you been exercising in your latest program?

"I have not been exercising as part of a specific program. I have been working with the trainers for the past couple months taking boot camp/crossfit type classes in Wyomissing and kickboxing classes in Shillington."

What improvements have you seen since the last update?

"In the past couple months, I have hit a plateau in my weight loss/fitness journey, and I have struggled to find ways to break through that sticking point. I have tried various plans to break through the plateau, but so far none of them have work, and I worry that some have actually hindered my progress. I guess time will tell. I can say that since I have gotten back to incorporating weight training in my workouts I have gotten stronger. Hopefully, that will correlate to losing pounds down the road."

What's been hardest for you since the last time we talked?

"The hardest thing for me right now is getting back on schedule. During the summer months, my family life is less structured, and we tend not to make plans as much. That leads to making last minute decisions about what to eat, and they tend to be less healthy options. Add to it that June to August is busy time of year at work (financial software for school districts), and it is not a good mix."

What is your biggest fitness achievement achieved in the last month?

"In July, I completed my third Pennsylvania Spartan Sprint (a 4-mile obstacle course at Blue Mountain Ski Area in Palmerton), and in August, I completed my first 10K at Grings Mill. But the biggest achievement for me was completing Summer Hero Week 2013 at Fit U/ Corps Fitness. Hero Week is something that Chris Kaag at Corps Fitness started doing many years ago, which has been incorporated at Fit U. For seven straight days, there is a specific 'workout of the day' that is done to honor a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Iraq or Afghanistan wars. You are encouraged to do all seven WODs and during those workouts to give a little more of yourself simply because 'we are here, and they are not.' It was emotionally and physically draining, but with the help of the trainers and other Fit U members, I was able to complete all seven WODs. I am looking forward to the next round in December."

What is your favorite exercise to do and why?

"Recently our workouts have incorporated kettlebell swing and some Olympic style lifts such as dead lifts, which I had never done before. They turned out to be a lot of fun."

Lauren Lombardo

Age: 23

Weight in January: 179 pounds

Weight in April: 159.7 pounds

Weight in June: 155.2 pounds

Weight in August: 160 pounds

Residence: Spring Township

How long have you been exercising in your latest program?

"With the sporadic schedule I have at work, I try to get to the gym at least three times a week. Sometimes it's hard for me because of the hours I work, but I try as hard as I can."

What improvements have you seen since the last update?

"I have joined the Survivor series at Colonial Fitness. Each week you are given challenges in different areas (cardio, lower body, balance, etc.), and you need to accomplish them to benefit your team. And they're not easy challenges. Some of them are really difficult, but it has introduced me to new options for workouts and allowed me to work on new machines. I've finally tried the assisted pull-up machine, as well as done some challenging things on the Bosu ball."

What's been hardest for you since the last time we talked?

"I still like to eat. I think my diet and making excuses for not doing what I'm supposed to do are probably the most difficult for me. I got very frustrated with my weight loss for a little while and sort of went a little easy on myself, and in turn, I gained a little weight back, which was extremely disheartening. But after talking with Joanne, a trainer at Colonial Fitness, I've started seeing where I can fix things, and she actually introduced me to the Survivor series. The support from everyone on the Colonial fitness team is helping me to get back on track."

What is your biggest fitness achievement achieved in the last month?

"I think my biggest fitness achievement in the last month was doing a pull up. I have a lot of lower body strength but lack upper body strength. Being able to accomplish that was pretty cool."

What is your favorite exercise to do and why?

"Any exercise in the Survivor series. They're challenging and rewarding."

Contact Sue Wilson: specialsections@readingeagle.com.