June results....

Zdravo,

I can’t believe I’m already 6 months in to my weight loss journey, and as it is 6 months, it is a great time for reflection. Last weekend I read through some of my old posts, and it’s amazing the difference… I read them, remembering the feelings I had at that time. 50 kilos seemed like such a large figure – even 30 kilos seemed almost impossible. Now I’m there – I’ve lost over 30. Honestly I didn’t put a lot of faith in me that I would do it. But I have. And I’m still going.

What’s the biggest change? What I can do. Just the little things – like when I started this thing, I could not even run for 30 seconds. Now I can do 30 mins straight – running at 9 km/h, and I could have kept going no problems. Who would have thunk, that I would be entering the City 2 Surf?! It really is a rollercoaster this journey, but I’m just now thinking of what this summer will be like. I am sooo going to be going to the beach! Regularly. For you reading this, that is not an issue. For me it is. Never really done it, or if I had, I’ve been so self conscious that I have not enjoyed it.

I’m also really enjoying upping the ante. This month I’ve been concentrating on running – that is doing long stretches and upping the speed as well. I’ve also commenced riding my pushbike to work. I was riding in today, and as I was riding along the Bridge, I was looking out over the water, overtaking all the cars stuck in a jam, thinking, why do more people not do this? It’s so easy, and quicker than driving or getting a bus. I get to work in 12 minutes!

I have also started to see changes in my body. I know what you’re thinking, ‘you’ve lost over 30 kilos, of course you’re going to see some changes’, but no. Up to about the 25-30 kilo mark, I felt I pretty much looked the same. I think that psychologically, even when I was 150 kilos, I never felt that big, or even when I looked at myself I saw a smaller person. I had blinders on. So I always thought I looked 125, even when I was 150, and when I was 125, I just saw the REAL me for the first time. Now though, I’m really starting to see differences. My watch is loose, my left hip is almost flat – i.e minimal love handles! My boobies do not now affect the way my shirt sits, when I see my reflection in the steel of the elevator I do not see that protruding stomach that used to repulse me.

The differences in people around me are pretty cool too. Yesterday I was walking to the ATM when I saw the beautiful Natalie from work – we caught eyes, but there was no hint of recognition in her eyes. So I said “Hi Nat” – she turned around and I could see the surprise on her face – “stop changing” she said! She could not believe that she didn’t recognise me!!

This week also the results of the fit for life campaign came out. It was announced to the company that I was the winner, and a photo of me with Richard & Ben was posted in the weekly email. Below I have put the results from the competition, the photo, along with the email that announced the results to the contestants, and to the company.

Hi Guys,

Congratulations again to all of you! It is great to see how well you have all improved and that you are now motivated to continue with the active healthier lifestyles. I look forward to seeing you each Wednesday! If you ever have any questions or need help with anything I'm more than happy to help where I can.

Our winner is Pete, congratulations Pete! Your results are amazing.
Our Runner Up is Angelo, who would have won the last series with his results!

Adrian and Karen, you both performed really well and should be stoked with the results as well. I know that you were sick for a while, hopefully you can get back into it and continue the steady improvements!

I have attached a quick summary of the results; it is Fri afternoon so apologies if there are any typo's!

I'll speak to you all next week.

Cheers,

Ben.

Peter Crott: Winner.

Weight: down from 133.7 kg to 119.8 kg. -13.9kg.
Body Fat Percentage: 38.6% in early May to 35.6% -3%
Waist Circumference: 140.3 cm to 121.1 cm. -19.2
Blood Pressure: 139/88 to 140/74. Total loss of 13.
Cholesterol: low and low (<3.3 and <3.3).
Glucose: 3.3 down to 2.4. -0.9

Beep Test: 3.6 to 7.2 +3.6
V02 rating based on Beep Test: 25.1 to 37.1 +12
Push Ups: 6 to 41. +35
Triceps Dips: 21 to 43 +22
Sit Ups: 25 to 36. +11


Who won gold in season two of Fighting Fit for Life?

You win some you lose some, or in the case of Fighting Fit for Life, you lose weight. And quite a lot of it.

After 12 weeks of hard work, sweat and tears we have come to the end of the second Fighting Fit for Life competition. Once again, there were some great results and all of the members of the group worked extremely hard.

Everyone in the group has made significant gains to their health and fitness, with everyone losing weight and body fat, improving their fitness levels in both cardio tests and strength work as well as improving their daily nutrition.

However, there can only be one winner and this time it was (drum roll please….) Peter Crott from Direct Insurances.

No one worked harder than Pete, who lost 14kg’s over the 12 weeks and has continued on the efforts he started himself from the beginning of the year. Pete has now lost over 30kg’s since 1 January.There will be another Fighting fit for Life competition which will start on Monday, 31 August and finish at the end of November. More details to follow.

Winner of Fighting Fit for life Peter Crott with ING's very own version of Shannon Ponton and Michelle Bridges (aka Ben St. Lawrence and Richard High)

Very cool!

I know that Ben reads this, and I really want to thank you Ben, and Richard, for all your help, effort and dedication to me and the other contestants. You have no idea how much it means to me, and I can see that you really do care. Just the simple encouragement you give, along with the instruction has really pushed me to lose more in the past 12 weeks than I ever have. And for you to offer to continue with group sessions for the contestants, past and present is just amazing. Thank you so much.

So I’ve prattled on for a bit now, so it’s time for the results. You can see from above the results for a week ago, but here are June’s results.

Weight
Original – 150kg / May – 123.8kg / Now – 118.2kg = a loss of 31.8 kilos

Waist
Original – 157cm / May – 126cm / Now – 121cm = a loss of 36cm

Chest
Original – 136cm / May – 119cm / Now – 116cm = a loss of 20cm

Leg
Original – 81cm / May – 71cm / Now – 69cm = a loss of 12cm

Body Fat %
Original – 45.5% / May – 37.2% / Now – 35.1% = a loss of 10.4% ( I think?!)

Muscle Mass
Original – 20.1% / May – 25.1% / Now – 26.3% = an increase of 6.2%

And did I hit my goal? Almost – 118kg was the goal – however, due to current internal issues, I think that I may be a bit heavier than I should be because on the weekend I was 117.5kg!!! But that’s OK. I’m very happy with 118.2!!

Here’s a chart of my loss, with the higher line the target, and the lower line the actual. I love my charts!!

So what’s on the cards for July? Running. And lots of it. Along with the sessions Ben has kindly offered to continue, from Thursday there is also a City 2 Surf training group every Thursday lunch from now until the competition. So I’m really looking forward to that. I think I will die, but that’s OK!

I will set a slightly lower goal this month, as I think I will plateau a bit this month – so this month I hope to achieve a 4.7 kilo loss, bringing me to 113.5 kilos.

So that’s me, thanks for reading!
Pete

P.S. – This month I’m very proud to announce that the weight I’ve lost to date is equal to…..


A 2 seater cast iron park bench!!!! Wow!