Making a return to a fitness program
Making a return to a fitness program
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Remember Jeff and Heidi? If you don't, both are reporters at The
Jakarta Post who were also volunteers in a three-month fitness
program to reclaim their long-lost fitness.
The program began last November, and it kicked off well.
Despite long periods of inactivity, a sedentary lifestyle and
long work hours as reporters, they were highly motivated.
Well, for Heidi, maybe it was more about looking good in a
tight T-shirt rather than being healthy and fit. But her spirit
soared high and she was committed to come as scheduled.
However, after a month of exercising and achieving some good
results -- shedding a few kilos, getting fitter and stronger --
it did not work out.
Work intruded, as Jeff and Heidi found it difficult to meet
the schedule because of their irregular work hours. First there
was the obligatory in-house training, and then came Ramadhan
fasting month, plus the instructor was often sick.
With all of those reasons, the program finally ended before
even half of it was done.
After some time, OK, nearly two months after their last
workout session in December, Jeff and Heidi felt restless again.
The fear of gaining weight kept creeping in as they fell back
into their "slackers" attitude again: working long hours, a lot
of sitting, staying up late, late-night snacks and no exercise
whatsoever. Miraculously, Jeff and Heidi did not gain a pound,
even though the program had ended.
"It's a miracle. Back then, before we regularly worked out, it
was very easy for me to gain weight. But since the program, my
weight has remained stable and I've been watching my diet too,"
Jeff said.
But they knew that it was not going to be long. Besides, they
still have a lot of kilos to lose.
Above all, they missed that feeling of being healthy and
strong (like, who can beat you after 50 minutes on the treadmill,
the one hour Taebo class plus a series of weight-training
sessions?), the freshness of taking a hot shower after more than
two hours working out, and having a good sleep afterwards.
And so, starting the second week of February, the couple got
back to the gym again. This time, they join the Jakarta Hilton
International's LifeSpa and Fitness Center.
To assist them in their quest to become fitter was Thomas
Weber, the center's program director.
As usual, at the beginning of the program, Jeff and Heidi were
given an evaluation, although it was not as thorough as the
earlier program when their body parts were measured.
According to Thomas, it is not really essential to measure the
body.
"Let's emphasize fitness. It's a matter of leading a healthy
lifestyle. When you're fit and doing it (the exercise) right,
you'll lose weight," he said.
Thomas then asked about the main goal of the couple. Guess
what Heidi came up with?
"My main goal is to lose weight," she said.
"Anything else?" Thomas asked.
"OK, to get healthier."
"Fitter, perhaps? Stronger, maybe?"
"Mmm.. losing weight, basically."
For Heidi, it starts with 10 minutes on the treadmill as a
warm up, which continues with stretching and abdominal exercises.
Afterwards, comes some weight training, which ends with 20
minutes on the treadmill again.
The program is conducted three times a week with some
cardiovascular exercises in between. It was working out on the
treadmill, the cycling machine and the stepper, which makes Heidi
sweat a lot and think of dying there and then.
"But you know what? I feel so fresh!" Heidi flashed the best
grin, imagining that the time to wear that sexy tank-top is soon
approaching.