At the beginning of Xercise Factor I must say I was apprehensive if not a little scared of what lay ahead. For a start I was the oldest contestant. I was still overweight despite having lost a considerable amount. I have very little in the way of exercise history, several bulging disc in my spine and a recent diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. A lost cause you may think!
Mike, my mentor, didn’t see it that way. He designed a programme for me that was challenging to say the least. I never thought I could ‘do weights’ but he had me deadlifting and flipping a 60kg tyre! Throwing and slamming a 5kg ball and leg pressing up to 70kg! Plus various weights for the arms. Additionally he was attempting to sort out my appalling balance issues with the Bosu board. I couldn’t even stand on one leg. On top of all this he also expected me to do some classes, including his circuits class. I was doing around 3 per week.
I began the programme timidly, not really thinking I could do it. However, I could soon balance on the bosu with a med ball and squat. Was throwing and slamming the 5kg with far more aggression and enjoyment than I probably should and the tyre certainly wasn’t going to beat me.
Two weeks later we had a review and most of the weights increased. That 5kg ball is now a 10kg, and I am leg pressing up to 80kg. Enough of a challenge you may say but nooooo! not when Mike is mentoring you. He decided some additional torture was needed. He introduced me to the versa-Climber. A machine which is challenging even to mount when you are only just above 5′. But mount it I did and climbed the equivalent of the Washington Monument (555′ tall) in 9.33 minutes. The challenge was then to beat that time. To date my best is 8.37 mins. Each time I do it I’m sure I’m going to need hospital treatment but somehow I survive.
So now, I’m still the eldest contestant, still overweight with bulging discs and Fibromyalgia. what has change however is that I don’t care about my age, I have the tools to change my weight and body shape and the pain from the discs etc is getting better each time as I get stronger.
I have a new confidence in my ability and a determination to continue on with the exercise programme. I actually miss it if I don’t go to the gym at least once a day.
Why do I think I should win the exercise factor? Well that really is for the mentors to decide. I certainly think I have showed determination and tenacity to get on with what ever challenge has been set for me. If I don’t win the title. I have still won a new me and that has value beyond anything else.
For more contestant updates visit the Xercise Factor web page. Or find out more about Kent Sport personal training.