The fitness challenge winner is judged on before and after measurements and photos. The winner will be the person the judges feel has made the most significant transformation of their body according to those pics and measurements. It’s hard to say exactly what they’re looking for. Could be the person who drops the most weight. That would be pretty dramatic. I’m not trying to lose any weight, I’m trying to drop the fat to show the muscle underneath, while at the same time, building up the muscle. This should actually result in some weight gain. I’m counting on the fact that Gold’s Gym is a body building establishment, and therefore, would want to highlight someone who makes a transformation from thin to muscular, as opposed to overweight to thin. This is just my theory. The process for achieving this requires strength training, cardio, and a very strict diet. I have slowly cut all fats and sugars out of my diet. My trainer has trained for and competed himself, and he is passing on this knowledge and guidance to me. The day of the weigh in, my body fat was at 21%. We are aiming for a reading of 14% by the end of the 12 weeks. I will be amazed if I reach that.

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I first heard of the Gold’s Fitness Challenge as I read the morning paper. There was the ad describing and promoting it. I had spent the summer with a trainer in the gym, and had made some wonderful gains in muscle tone and overall fitness, but then I had started a new job, and my training schedule was affected. For me, routine is crucial for maintaining a fitness lifestyle, and when it was interrupted, my dedication suffered. Slowly I had stopped going to the gym, and began to fall back into the old habits. In a short, three month period, the gains I had worked so hard at achieving all summer were fading away. The ad for the challenge sparked a little flame in me and I vowed to get back into the gym and continue on the path I had started. I did go to the gym that afternoon, and as I was going through my routine, I noticed a sign on the mirror advertising the Challenge. So I started seriously considering joining it. I had as much chance as anyone. This wasn’t some high stakes fitness competition, this was more like a personal quest to improve your lifestyle. There are cash prizes for the winners, and even some promotional opportunities for the overall winner. It seemed a winning situation regardless of winning or not. I would end up being in great shape, and have a solid foundation for a healthy lifestyle. I figured the added element of competition might actually inspire me to be more committed. So I joined. I contacted my trainer and set up a program with him. As imagined, the competition factor is a huge motivator. There is also the added time element. So not only going against others, but having to do it with a deadline. The pressure is on…..

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