FEATURE

FRANCO'S LOSE DAT CHALLENGE

By Suzanne Fox

When we decided to put Devin Alexander, the chef of The Biggest Loser on our cover, it seemed like a no brainer to write about our local biggest loser program at Franco’s called Lose Dat. In an effort to jump-start my weight loss, I decided to join the group and write about my experience. Man, was I in for a big surprise! The Lose Dat program is not just a weight loss challenge that you participate in at your leisure. It’s a way of life for eight weeks and hopefully, if you are on the right track, a complete lifestyle change. Besides, you wouldn’t have signed up if you didn’t need a lifestyle change, right?

First things first. Finding the right trainer is important. In my case, it was a simple choice, Inspire Health Magazine’s exercise guru, Courtney Farnet.

The big surprise came when I found out the workouts were not Monday and Friday as I anticipated, they were every day. Yes, that’s right, every day of the week. Roll out of bed at 5:30 a.m., ready to roll at 6:15. Mondays and Fridays weren’t the only days, they were the hardest days! Circuit training with Courtney, oh joy! Stair climbing, kettle bells, medicine balls, leg lifts, squats, planks and the dreaded burpee. I discovered early on that you need to be in tip top shape before you start a rigorous team training program like Lose Dat. Don’t expect to use it to get healthy. You must be healthy before you start and use the program to get in shape. In my case, I was coming off shoulder surgery, so I had to substitute exercises for planks and burpees.

I think the Lose Dat program is great for those who are having trouble motivating themselves to start a weight loss program.

Here’s what I learned:

 Get a complete physical before you start a strenuous weight loss program, especially if you are over the age of 50.  The “Team” is the key. The “Team” is the reason you have willpower not to eat that bag of potato chips. The “Team” is your motivator. They are why you show up and ultimately, don’t quit.  Weight loss is 80 percent what you eat and 20 percent exercise. The nutrition classes that came with the program were great! The things I learned will last a lifetime. Most importantly, protein and fiber are essential for maintaining muscle mass when you are working out like a banshee. It’s sort of unnerving to get on the scale and find out you lost muscle, not fat.

Courtney's Team Aqua

Chris Burge Male Winner 2018 - lost 32 pounds.

 You can’t exercise, starve yourself and have decent results. There has to be a proper balance. You must eat enough calories, enough protein and fiber, and the right amount of carbs to have success. Sounds complicated doesn’t it?

This formula from Ochsner Dietician Carrie Gardache will help. Your goal weight multiplied by 10 will give you the amount of calories you can have per day. Your goal weight multiplied by .5 will give you the maximum number of carbohydrates you should eat to accomplish your goal weight. Using a fitness app like MyFitnessPal or Weight Watchers® keeps you focused. An activity tracker helps you track your calories burned and also your heart rate during your workout.

All in all, the Lose Dat program was a great life lesson and wonderful experience. Even though I only lost 12 pounds, I lost 10.5 total inches., 3 inches off my bust, 4.5 inches off my waist and 3 inches off my hips. I feel better knowing what to do and how to shed the excess weight through healthy diet and exercise. I, like most of my team, am not finished with my weight loss journey. The eight week program was just the beginning

Jose Mendoza lost 40 lbs and still losing

TO IMPROVE YOUR FITNESS

By: Anja Springthorpe

GARMIN VÍVOSMART HR+

By tracking calories, steps, cardio workouts, running and even sleep, this activity band is everything you want in a fitness gadget. You’ll never have to use awkward chest straps since it comes with a built-in heart rate monitor. You can also review your fitness stats by syncing the device with the Garmin app.

The Vívosmart HR+ is waterproof, but unfortunately has no option to track a swim workout. Although a little on the pricey side, the Garmin Vívosmart HR+ is an excellent fitness tracker combining technology with design and comfort. Price: $199.99 Heart Rate Monitor: Yes GPS: Yes Waterproof: Yes Battery life: 5 days

APPLE WATCH 2

For smartwatch fans, Apple has seriously stepped up fitness tracking with the Apple Watch 2. It comes equipped with a GPS, waterproof features and the tracking accuracy has improved. The Apple watch monitors heart rate and tracks a variety of workouts, daily steps as well as sleep. The vibration feature leads you through guided breathing practices and reminds you to get moving if you are inactive for too long.

The biggest downsides are the price tag and the Apple Watch 2’s incompatibility with non-iOS devices. However, the watch stores and plays your music via Bluetooth, a rare feature offered by most fitness trackers.

Price: $269.00 Heart Rate Monitor: Yes GPS: Yes Waterproof: Yes Battery life: 18h

Apple Watch 2

LEAF HEALTH TRACKER

The Leaf is not a traditional fitness tracker but a smart jewelery product designed to support female wellness. The Leaf connects to the Bellabeat app and tracks your steps, sleep, stress impact and menstrual cycles. Guided meditation and breathing practices support self-awareness and mindfulness.

If you want in-depth data on your workouts, this tracker is not for you. But if you are looking for a holistic tool to track and improve your overall wellness, the Leaf may just be the right fit.

Price: $129.00 Heart Rate Monitor: No GPS: No Leaf Health Tracker

Waterproof: No Battery life: 6 months