Fit to Print Volume 23 Issue 3 September 2014 | Page 9

Contest 2014

Compiled By Paul Smith

Your Goal...Your Reward
Tales From the 2014 Fit for Summer Challenge

E

very March since 2009 Fitness
Joe Ilardi
Incentive has sponsored a
fitness contest. They've
become a veritable rite of
spring. Members look forward
to it as the kickoff of the
warmer weather and the kick
in the you- know-what they
need to get themselves in
swimsuit shape by summer.
This past spring was no
different. We had another
contest, except this year the
format was dramatically
different. Instead of teams of
four as we had had in all the
previous contests, this one was all
about individuals. Rather than
uniform pre-determined one-size-fits-all
measurements of success, as there were
in years prior, the 2014 version was about
individual goals established by the
contestants themselves (and their
trainers). This Fit for Summer Challenge
was aptly and accurately promoted with
the slogans “Your Goal…Your Reward”
and “The Only Opponent Is Within.” Well
over 100 contestants—both members and
non-members alike—took up the
challenge and dared to declare their
goal. Trainers and challengers were
paired up, and the game was on!
The contest ran from March 1st through
May 31st and the results were tabulated
(and published on our website) in early
June. As in years past, contestants
achieved some amazing success (and a
number of success stories…thanks go out
to those who shared). Many of the
declared goals were met or surpassed,
and even the challengers who fell short
of their ambitious goals made significant
progress. There was a good deal of
positive and appreciative feedback from
all.
What follows is a selection of results,
remarks, and reflections from some of
the many who participated, many of
whom were present at the Fit for
Summer Celebration Party, which was
itself dramatically different from those
of years past. Despite a somewhat
gloomy grey rain-threatening early
summer sky, a splendid time was had by
all aboard the Moon Chaser out of
Captree, where celebrants enjoyed great
tunes, sea breezes, an open bar and
incomparable views of the Great South

Bay.
Joseph Ilardi trained by Sue
Brunjes.
“I noticed the signs posted
around the gym,” says Joe,
“and also received emails
and Facebook posts. My
son, John, is dating
Jourdan Brown. So the
two of them, along with
my wife, Teri, encouraged
me to take the challenge.
My wife and I also had a trip
to South Beach scheduled for
June so that gave me more
motivation to lose weight and

For 25 years, Fitness Incentive
has provided the foundation for
taking me where I want to go on
my fitness path. This Challenge
was another step forward."
- Lisa Hoffman

get back into shape.
My fitness history before the challenge
consisted mostly of cardio on the
treadmill, elliptical, and the bike—but
no real weight training. I'd never
participated in the Fit for Summer
Challenges before because I thought I
wouldn't have the time to do it. Then,
the gym at work closed down in
November, 2013, so I wasn't doing
much and I thought the contest would
be a good idea to help get me back on
track.
Sue Brunjes has been great. During our
first meeting we discussed things I
would like to accomplish and what my
goals were. She put together a great
program that would challenge me each
week, including strength and core
training and all-around fitness. I
trained with Sue twice a week for 3
months. She gave me focus and the
motivation to reach my goal. I was
amazed at how much you can
accomplish in a 30 minute training
session. The greatest lasting effect
that I got out of the training sessions is
Autumn 2014 FIT to Print

to push yourself when you can, but listen
to your body and back off if you need to.
The most challenging part of the contest
was the first few training sessions and
not knowing what they would be like. I'd
never worked with a trainer before so I
didn't know what I was in for. My wife
had been working with a trainer at
Fitness Incentive, so she was very
insightful in terms of what I could
expect. I guess that bit of uncertainty is
itself an aspect of the challenge.
I think my favorite part of the challenge
was watching the weight on the scale
and my body fat percentage go down.
Just learning how to train the right way
and stay focused was a big plus. I was
able to lose over 20 lbs. and lose 6% body
fat so that was a pretty good feeling at
the end of the challenge. It actually
motivated me to continue on this path
with another round of training sessions
for a new goal. It's a great feeling fitting
into clothes that I thought I would never
get back into. It's one thing to say you
want to lose weight and it’s another to
actually do it and see the results. I know
it gets tougher as you get older to try to
lose weight, but if you put your mind to
it you can do anything and I'm glad I was
put to the challenge. I feel great and
have more energy again.
I want to thank Rachel (Ezelius, FI's Eat
Smart Registered Dietitian) for her
sessions during the challenge. They
helped guide me toward a much
healthier diet and eating habits. I know
my wife always tries to get me to eat
right, but sometimes I would slack off
and not do the right thing. But now
something just clicked and I have been
focused on doing the right thing with
exercising and eating right.
I also want to thank Jourdan for
suggesting Sue as my trainer. Along with
my family they were all a driving force
behind me and forced me to challenge
myself each and every day.”
"Joe is an example of a contestant who,
while he didn't meet his declared goal of
23 pounds of weight lost, still saw
wonderful results,” says Sue.
"His body fat percentage
decreased from 32.0
percent 26.1%. His waist
went from 41.5 inches to
36.25 inches, and his
hips from 42 inches to
39 inches. He did a
terrific job!"
Lynn Downey trained
by Eileen Jacinth
“I first heard about the
contest from a neighbor,
Billy Boyle (2009

Lynn Downey

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