Contestants focus on goals in Week 2 of Shape-Up Challenge — Silver Edition
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standa
Shape-Up Challenge participants (from left) Cynthia Campbell, Sue Thomas and Rosalee Coughenour workout with hand weights during the group fitness class.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standa
Sue Thomas stretches with the bungees during the group fitness class.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standa
Cynthia Campbell celebrates as the pounds start to come off.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standa
Matt Howrylak, YMCA wellness director reviews calorie record keeping with the Shape-Up Challenge participants.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standa
David Walls is weighted in before the Shape-Up Challenge week group workout.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Pam George, YMCA group exercise coordinator and personal trainer, leads the Shape-Up Challenge participants in a group fitness class to build strength and burn calories.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standa
Shape-Up Challenge participants review nutrition information with Matt Howrylak, YMCA wellness director.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standa
Matt Howrylak, YMCA wellness director gives encouragement to the Shape-Up Challenge participants.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standa
Tom Blaho, (left) and David Walls workout during the group fitness class for the Shape-Up Challenge.
Contestants were greeted with homework assignments for week two of the Shape-Up Challenge 2014 — Silver Edition.
Matt Howrylak, wellness director and personal trainer at Uniontown’s YMCA, gave each contestant seven food logging sheets to fill out each day of the week.
“I would like you guys to fill out at least five consecutive days worth,” he said.
By using the food logging sheets, the participants will be able to see exactly how many calories they are consuming each day compared to how many calories they should consume, and what kinds of foods they are eating.
“I wasn’t as strict on the last group as I should have been when it came to the food logs,” Howrylak said. “Some (participants) continued to use them, and others didn’t, but I’m hoping to get everyone using them this time.”
Howrylak said food logs are a great tool to use, especially if weight loss is an issue, to help guide meal planning.
Each contestant was also given a worksheet from First Lady Michelle Obama’s Lets Move! campaign, which will help the participants create an action plan to meet their weight loss goals.
Howrylak said the contestants can expect to lose 2-5 pounds each week.
“Some weeks are gonna be better than others,” he warned. “With 12 weeks to go, you can expect to lose about 25-26 pounds.”
Pam George, group fitness coordinator and personal trainer at the YMCA, led the contestants in their first functional group fitness class, featuring seated aerobics and strengthening.
During the 40-minute workout, contestants practiced squats, coordination, balance, cardio, and strengthening with weights and resistance bands.
“The more they do this, the more coordinated they will be,” George said. “The goal is to get them out of the chairs.”
For now, the chairs offer support, while contestants build up their stability. George said she tries to stay away from any exercises on the floor to avoid vertigo.
“I feel like they all did really well,” she said post-workout. “I just need to watch the number of repetitions, so as to not overwork their hip flexors while they’re in a seated position.”
Meanwhile, Howrylak congratulated the contestants for coming to their one-on-one personal training sessions during week one.
“This group is really taking advantage of the (weekly) personal training sessions, even more so than the last group,” he said.
Each personal workout was structured to contain 6-10 minutes of strength training, 3-5 minutes of flexibility and 15-30 minutes of cardiovascular training.
“We kept the workouts light because we wanted to see how they would recover,” Howrylak said.
By the end of the first week, contestant Carmella Amber said she felt “very motivated.”
“I worked out twice this week with Matt, which is good because I’m getting a lot of training with the weights so I can work on my own after (the competition).”
Amber said she is excited for everyone to do well.
“It is what it is, and what happens, happens,” she said. “We’re all here as individuals, we all have our own issues…I’m not competing, I’m doing this for me.”
On the other hand, other contestants may have felt the side-effects of Howrylak’s workouts.
“I was sore as the devil the next day, but other than that it was a good first week,” contestant Tom Blaho said.
David Walls also said he was a little sore, but is looking forward to getting into a routine.
“I’m just happy the contestants are enthusiastic,” Howrylak said. “From here on out, I’m hoping to get them consistent with food logging and eating habits.”