Our 10-week competition is halfway over, and I’m hanging tough by remaining in the Top 10 of Florence’s Biggest Loser competition.
I’m in a workout group of five, and three of us are in the Top 20. My understanding is that there is less than a 2 percent variance among 20 to 25 contestants. So the competition is tough.
Walking into work Thursday, I felt like I had been riding a horse for days. Muscles I didn’t even know I had were sore after two consecutive hard workouts.
On Tuesday night, all of the contestants worked out with the Pee Dee Vipers. On Wednesday, we had our scheduled workout with our trainer.
I first would like thank the Pee Dee Vipers ownership and players for helping us out. All of the contestants had a great time and a solid workout. The players had great attitudes and pushed us through each station workout.
On my third suicide, I was about to start walking when a Pee Dee Vipers player, Michael Edwards, ran alongside of me saying, “Let’s go. I’m going to finish with you.” We did!
At all stations, you could hear contestants encouraging one another. At the defense skills station, one group started to yell out “Defense! Defense!” The adrenaline was flowing.
After the Wednesday workout with our trainer, I have two observations:
First, doing situps on an incline bench and catching/throwing a weighted medicine ball was not pleasant.
Second, Jacob’s ladder is an exercise machine where you basically climb a ladder at a 40 percent angle. The higher you climb, the faster it goes. Here is what one company that sells this machine says: “Used to train Navy Seals, and professional athletes, etc.” Here’s the funny part: Our trainer, Tulsi, said, “Try and do 5 minutes.” I don’t think one us made it past a minute. She’s crazy.
All kidding aside, I will implement this into my workout as I now feel challenged to get to the five-minute mark by the end of this competition.
When I started this competition, I searched lunch or dinner places that could fit my requirements to eat healthy. I tried Pita Pit on Palmetto Street across from the Florence Mall. I am now a regular customer. Ripa and Ram Venki opened this franchise last July after eating at one in Columbia. They were attracted by the fresh and healthy options to stuff a pita.
I usually get the grilled chicken in a wheat pita. Besides the normal toppings, they offered hummus and avocado. This spring, Ripa noted, they added alfalfa sprouts. During the winter, they offered artichoke hearts.
I forgo the cheese and mayo/ blue cheese-type sauces and use salsa and hot sauce. The most popular item is the chicken souvlaki, which is about 310 calories ( excluding cheese and sauces). A full nutrition chart is clearly posted in the store so you can choose wisely. After the competition, I will have to try the prime rib pita with blue cheese.