Lucy in the snow

Thanks to the help from National Fitness Center and Trainer Ray, for a moment, I didn't recognize myself when the camera panned to me during the video of sweet, little Lucy Bear. I keep reading how much weight Americans are supposed to gain during the holidays but I've lost 20 lbs. Thanks guys! It works.

diet makes the difference

I stopped off at Subway on the way in to Q93, today and picked up a salad (grilled chicken, lettuce, bell pepper, banana pepper and oil and vinegar) and I'm having it this morning.  Every time I make a good food decision I'm surprised as to how good good food actually taste and I feel confident about my choice.  While I'm hearing friends talk about all the weight they've gained over the holidays - mine's going the other direction and I'm getting back into jeans that lived back in the dark shadows of the closet.  Thanks Trainer Ray!

218 Pounds

Stilllllll Shrinking!  Had a great workout with Trainer Ray, last night.  I'm looking forward to Friday when we're going to check my measurements and see how much progress has been made.  So far, I've lost 235 to 218 pounds on the scale.
Only bad news is that after getting sick, I'm still not back to 100% and Trainer Ray and I are not going to make it to the Zumba class tonight at 6:40.  Join us next Wednesday as we invade it and Zumba like crazy!

say Hello to the Two-teens

It's been a good long while since I saw a number on the scale under 220lbs....until this morning - 219.4.  Sweet.  My co-workers are making positive comments on my new beard, my clothes and that they can see I've lost weight.  What a great confidence boost!  Tonight, it's cold - am I gonna pass on going to Nationial Fitness Center for a workout with Trainer Ray?  I think not.  I appreciate the fact that he's always ready to go whenever I'm ready for an appointment.  Working out with a trainer is MAKING ALL THE DIFFERENCE and honestly I know my way around the gym really well.  I've been going to gyms on and off for a lot of adult life but this really is liking pouring gasoline on the fire...a lot of gasoline.  If you've been thinking about getting your body back...stop thinking and start driving to NFC and Court South.  Come on and let's do this together.

Another pound down. :)

It's been a gooood, long while since I've seen 221 on the scale.  It feels like the two teens are right around the corner.  The Ultra Fit diet that I'm doing in conjunction with working out with Trainer Ray is going gangbusters.  I notice every time I get up from my desk and walk around the office that fat is gone.  It feels great!  Now, here's the deal...last Wednesday, I realized that I'd come down with a little bit of a virus.  After a couple of visits to Dr. Crouch's office on Middlebrook Parkway and having some time pass...I'm starting to feel back to normal.  Basically, I just felt really tired there for a few days and we had to forego the workout on Wednesday and Friday but it felt great to get back in the saddle on Monday.  I'm looking forward to working out with Trainer Ray again tonight.  I hope you're following Trainer Ray on facebook for a chance to win a free, NO STRINGS ATTACHED 30-day membership.  Why don't you get started right away, too?  Let's do this workout thing together!

Back in the Saddle!

I caught the bug that was going around the office and was off the air on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  I missed the getting to work out with Trainer on Wednesday and Friday.  I also started eating the Ultra Fit diet that National Fitness Center last week and although I was on the sidelines - lost from 235 to 222lbs.  I got up this morning and realized that my knees didn't hurt.  Rockin'.

Can't wait to get into the gym with Trainer Ray, tonight at 7 on Tazewell Pike.  It feels so good knowing that I'm not saying, "oh well" and letting myself go this holiday season.  I try to resist the urge to wonder why I didn't do something about this sooner.  Oh, and speaking of the holidays, we saw The Singing Christmas Tree at First Baptist in Sevierville, last night and it was wonderful.  Merry Christmas to you!

Man boobs....you're goin down!

It is amazing how my body is firming up!  Trainer Ray took me through another great workout last night at National Fitness Center on Tazewell Pike.  You don't have to wait til January to start getting your body back!  Let's do this together.  :)

Thanksgiving has arrived

Here we are already.   It was just a few weeks ago that we started the Turkey Day Challenge and after....what's it been - 3 and a 1/2 weeks of training, I'm feeling really terrific.  I'm buidling muscle and burning fat and the other day as I walked across the parking lot at Kroger I realized that my brisk "young man" walk had returned.  I really feel fantastic and I'm looking forward to a great GUILT-FREE turkey experience today and great workout, tomorrow. 
Special thanks to Trainer Ray who's gone out of his way to be available for me on Black Friday!  Ray, I worked out with a trainer years ago but had honestly forgotten how much of an incredible difference it makes.  Plus, I've never seen results like this before, ever.  Gotta go - I"m about to get my Thanksgiving Jog on.  Happy, Happy Thanksgiving and I hope to see you soon at National Fitness Center and Court South!

The Joy of Lunges with Trainer Ray.

Tomorrow, it will be leg day again.  Geez, I sure do hope we get to do lunges. 

Walking funny. :)

National Fitness Center and Court South are giving away FREE memberships! Follow Trainer Ray on facebook to win a 30 day membership to the club! They are giving away 5 per week! Click on the Facebook Link above and Friend Trainer Ray!

Now, that's a Friday Night Party!

We had a great workout tonight at National Fitness Center of Tazewell Pike.  Ray is hitting my muscles with all different types of exercises and they don't what to expect next - not like when I've worked out on my own and ended up repeating the same workout over and over.  I hope I have good use of my arms (and legs for that matter) tomorrow at the St. Jude Walk at West Town Mall.  I am thrilled that the crew from National Fitness Center and Court South is coming out and we will be taking pictures and making videos.  I've got another 5k on Sunday that I'll tell you more about it.  Gonna burn some calories this weekend!  What are you waiting for?  Let's do this together at National Fitness Center and Court South.  Visit your nearest location to find out more about my Turkey Day Challenge and to sign up with NO ENROLLMENT FEE.  You're welcome.  :)

Here is the beautiful walking path at Dowell Springs off Middlebrook. It's very close to Q93.

For TRO - for Trainer Ray Only.

I was still sleeping at 7:30......when the phone rang.

It was my buddy, Tom.  Tom works down at the Court House in the law business, if you will.  I think I've mentioned before that Tom is a pretty big man.  He's over 6 feet and stepped on the scales a couple of weeks ago in shoes in the neighbor of 285.  Now, the thing you have to know about Tom is he has done a lot of weight lifting and fancies himself to be a pretty well-versed guy when it comes to working out and even though he's put on some pounds in recent years....you can still see that Tom is a big dude.  He's from Wisconsin and loolks like a former lineman from the Badgers.  Okay, now that you know what kind of attitude to expect from Tom  - well, he's been working out in the sessions with Ray and he called me this morning talking fast about how he hasn't ever gotten this good of a burn on the chest before and that he underestimated the effectiveness of working wtih a trainer.  So, GREAT JOB, Trainer Ray.  Tom was saying he hopes other guys that go to the gym regularly and have read all the books and etc. like him, will one day get the opportunity to work with a PROFESSIONAL trainer.  It's making a big difference!  I'll try to get some pictures of Tom at our highly-anticipated leg workout, tonight at seven at National Fitness Center in Maryville.

None of my co-workers are safe...as I search for more people to follow my blog.

I need more people to laugh at me. So, in desperation...I'm harrassing my co-workers.

Say, "Hello to Bev and Brenda in the traffic department at Journal Broadcast Group.

The truth is....I was completely unaware of the bald spot.

In most of my videos with Trainer Ray, there will be quite a bit of groaning and moaning.  Thank goodness he can even help wimps like me.  :)

The beautiful new Maryville location of National Fitness Center

A couple of weeks ago, they took me on a tour of the new NFC in Maryville.  To say I was impressed would be an understatement.  You have to see the gorgeous indoor pool and the cardio theater.  I am proud to say we got no enrollment fee hooked up for Q93 listeners (not just anybody).  Stop in to any NFC or Court South and tell them that you'd like to join the "Q Crew" and get the hook up.

I asked for mercy and I got Ray!

I have this buddy named Tom.  Tom's a great guy (even though he's from Wisconsin and pulls for the Badgers).  Special note to Tom - never tell me personal stuff you don't want broadcast to the masses.
Tom, is a big man - he's tall and pretty close to three bills.  He works out at Court South and I've asked him to join me for some of my work outs with Trainer Ray at National Fitness Center.  Court South and National Fitness Center are under the same management and it's possible to get a memebership that allows you to work out at ALL their locations.  So, Tom worked chest and triceps with Trainer Ray and me on Monday.  Last night, (Wednesday night) as we headed down to NFC in Maryville.  I asked Tom how he liked the work out.  He said that Trainer Ray's work out was a, "sweet little work out".  I made the mistake of mentioning this to Trainer Ray who I believe make extra certain there was nothing "sweet" or "little" about last night's leg work out.  Oh, and you should know that Tom didn't actually do the work out (he took pictures and videos) as I went through the work out and took one for the Tom.  Today, my legs are sore but I feel great.  In all seriousness, this opportunity to work out three times a week with Trainer Ray is an awesome one and I can't tell you how much better I feel and how much hope for the future I have.  I found out that while my promotion is going on, you can go into NFC or CS and join with NO ENROLLMENT FEE if you ask to join the Q CREW.  I really hope to see you at National Fitness Center and Court South.  Let's do this together!

Confidence

There is a confidence that comes along with working out.  Honestly, it's priceless.  The hope that I receive in knowing that I'm taking steps to improve my body combined with measurable differences that I can already feel (the soreness in glutes for example) are bringing confidence.  I just can't tell you how grateful I am to be involved with this Turkey Day Challenge at National Fitness Center and Court South.  Trainer Ray is doing a rockin job and I look forward to working out with him at the brand spankin' new NFC in Maryville, Wednesday after work.  Let's eat guilt-free this Thanksgiving - get to National Fitness Center/Court South and let's do this together!

Looking forward to tonight...

I really can't believe how much progress we made in just one week!  I thought it would take longer.  I've noticed by body feels tighter as a whole.  I can feel soreness in my bum, chest and various other spots - most of all, my biceps are burning and I can't completely straighten my arms out.  As crazy as this will sound, it's a fantastic feeling.  There is no doubt that the working out we did last week impacted and effected me immensely more than working out on my own did.  Tonight, we're going to workout at 7:45 at National Fitness Center on Tazewell Pike and my buddy Tom (who already has been working out at National Fitness Center) may join us.  The hope and encouragement I have about getting in shape is crazy big and I hope lots of Q93 listeners join me in this promotion at NFC and Court South (did you know they're under the same ownership?).  Let's do this together.

It is Saturday and I'm feeling most excellent.

I weighed 226 this Saturday morning and that's down a couple of pounds this week which is good - cause I've added some muscle this week.  After working out with Trainer Ray on Monday, Wednesday and Friday the one thing I underestimated is how quickly results start to happen.  I've had one workout of chest and triceps, one legs and one back and biceps.  Let me tell you, I'm amazed how much progress the ol 43 year-old body made this week.  I've worked out by myself quite a bit but working with a trainer made ALL the difference.  I'm really excited about saying so long to the man boobs and hello to my new body.

it's our first week!

Hi.  Paul here.  I worked out with Trainer Ray on Monday, Wednesday and today.  I've learned that he is a pretty intense trainer and fantastic singer - oddly enough.  I'm looking forward to this weekend where I'm gonna be back in National Fitness Center and getting my blog boots on.  This is going to be a fun promotion!   I'll be eating guilt-free this Thanksgiving.  Be sure to follow TRAINER RAY on Facebook for his helpful tips.  Gotta go....can't lift my arms.

This is me, at the very beginning.