McGee overcomes stress, aims to become healthier
Janis McGee attacks the battle ropes.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Janis McGee
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Janis McGee tackles the rowing machine during HIIT class.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Janis McGee uses the slam ball during the HITT workout.
Tyler Kurosky (right) YMCA personal trainer, checks the numbers for Janis McGee during the weekly weigh in.
When Janis McGee joined the Shape-Up Challenge, she had an idea of what to expect.
Last year, her husband, Todd, lost 7.41 percent of his body weight — just over 30 pounds — as a contestant in the previous Shape-Up Challenge.
“I thought I knew what to expect, but it’s a little different this year,” McGee said, adding that she enjoys the three group workouts each week.
McGee said she wanted to join the Challenge this year to become healthier.
“I want to set a good example for my children, who are teenagers now,” she said. “There’s better choices out there, and we all should be making them.”
In addition to the lifestyle changes needed to be successful in any weight-loss journey, McGee had an extra challenge, one that was close to home.
“I lost my son in the third week of the Challenge, and that’s been very stressful,” she said. “It’s hard to eat enough when you’re stressed out. Every time I’ve gained weight, it was because I wasn’t eating.”
McGee said the camaraderie of the group has been the support system she needed, whether they help to cheer her up or encourage her through another exercise.
“It’s at least an hour of the day that I can kind of work through things; work through aggressions,” she said. “Other days, it’s a good time to just forget everything.”
Overall, McGee said she wishes she were further along with her progress. But because she’s struggled for years to get the weight off, she said, she’s happy with where she is.
According to her, the key to success is listening to everything and making sure every component works together.
“Don’t get on what one fad says or what one person tells you. Listen to everything. It’s about eating and exercising correctly, managing stress, getting enough sleep, etc. They all have to work together to be successful,” she said.
McGee, who’s had a YMCA membership for years, also advised others to not be intimidated by the classes as she was.
“I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to do it or keep up,” she said. “Having the group was nice. I thought we could all look like fools together,” she added with a laugh, “and it gave me the confidence to go in there.
“Now that I’ve taken the classes, I see the modifiers — I could have done it all along, and I wish I would have sooner.”