#versussc

My goal for my team was by the end of the 6 weeks, have them very comfortable with "clean eating." Yes, I wanted to win, but more importantly I wanted this 6 weeks to change their eating habits FOREVER. I knew they could do the workouts and extra homework. That was sometimes fun...maybe not the sprints...or Go to Hell Tabata...but you know it will only last a certain amount of time. But the food was a whole different beast. Food would be the 24/7 battle and the one area they would need to spend the most time preparing if they wanted to be successful! This challenge's unofficial theme was "Knowing Vs. Doing." You can have all the knowledge you need, but if you don't put it into action, nothing will happen. These results are what the "action" looks like.

Read'em and weep! Team Jambo combined lost 87.4 pounds! Inches were lost and pants sizes dropped even if the number on the scale did not change. People were smashing old mile times by 1-2 minutes! Every team member improved on the retest by either beating their old times or using a heavier kettle bell or doing both! These kind of results do not happen by simply wishing for them. The whole team put up amazing effort to do their best and made HUGE improvements on their food and performance!

Transformation happened. By the time week six rolled around, we had a completely different group of people!

By the day of challenge retest, I saw a whole new group of people. These people were ready to battle the "old me." It was a take-no-prisoners type of feeling in the gym. There were some nerves, but that was just their self-doubt creeping back in for a moment, that is until they started the WOD! After each retest WOD, everyone was truly on a high of self confidence!!! Nothing feels better than pushing yourself further than you thought you could. That moment of triumph will motivate you long after that day is over. Each of our athletes can be proud of what they accomplished in six short weeks. Now they have the tools and confidence to take on the coming weeks, months, years of setting new goals and then crushing them.

To all the IAM 2014 athletes, I hope you used these 6 weeks to change your life and not go back to old habits. You now are in the "know" so keep on "doing." You know what works for your body. You know how to make the attack plan. You know there are no short cuts. Keep the momentum up and don't waste all that hard work! It is easier to keep going than it is to stop and then start again!

TEAM JAMBO STATS:

MILE TIMES: OLD/NEW

TESTER WOD: OLD/NEW

Holli Anna Munna

Mile times: 11:32/9:27

Tester: 20:46 @ 18# / retest 18:49 @ 26#

“I lost 25lbs!! I know I am not anywhere near where I want to be but I am on the right path now. Between you and Jennifer, ya’ll have encouraged me and pushed me much further than I ever thought I could go. And I just want to say thank you so much.”

Holli Anna, one word…ROCK STAR. You took on this 6 weeks from the get-go with nothing to lose but the old you and the old way of thinking! By the end of the 6 weeks you had pretty much perfect food, and a fire fueled by your results and determination to squash the old Holli Anna. I am so proud of the progress you have made not only in your performance, but your nutrition even more!

  Lynn Bell

mile times: 12:04 / 9:48 

Tester: 23:12 @ 18# / Retest: 18:40 @ 26#

“ A few awesome things happened at the end of the challenge…I only have one belt that isn’t too big. I ran a mile 2+ min faster. I lost 16 pounds.”

LB, since October you have shaved off 4 minutes off of your mile time! Each week you get better, faster, stronger! This challenge you fine tuned your nutrition and I am so proud of the results you achieved!!  I think I see a runner in the making ;)

  Davis Carothers

Mile times: 8:55/9:27

Tester: 20:34 @35# / retest 19:11 @ 35# “I lost 16 lbs during the challenge! I didn't do measurements or anything like that but I did to go buy some new shorts yesterday and I'm now down to a 36.”

Davis, being the “baller” you are I had no doubt you would crush this challenge. You nutrition is better than it has ever been! This 6 week challenge brings your total weight loss since May 2013 to 71 pounds! CONGRATS!!!!

  Katie  Giust

Mile times: 6:10/6:05

Tester: 13:37 @26# / retest 13:17 @35# --- Overall Time of the Day—beat the guys too!

“I was not fully on board with the challenge when I (well Coach Jamie) put my name on the board. But, I am SO thankful that I did it. I was nervous, but had to step out of my comfort zone and push myself to accomplish performance goals I did not think were possible. I walked away stronger, with a new mile time, cleaner eating habits and some new muscles that I never thought I would have!”

  Katie, it is hard to believe you have only been with Versus for 18 months!!!  This challenge really helped you fine-tune your nutrition and uncover some awesome lean muscle! Not to mention the lightening fast rocket that has been lit in you shoes. So freakin’ fast, its amazing!

  Katelyn Stafford

Mile times: 9:41/8:04

Tester: 15:51 @18# / retest 15:07 @26#

Results:

Arms: .5" loss

Waist: 1" loss

Hips: 2" loss

thigh- 1.5" loss

calf-.75" loss

weight loss: 10.4 pounds

Katelyn, super impressive results!! Major inches lost only accomplished by your “by the book” approach to your eating! Any small critisim I made, you took and change it for the following week! Small tweaks in nutrition have big impact on your body composition and performance improvements, and you nailed it!

    Subrina Cooper

Mile times; 13:12/ retest 11:15

Tester: 22:49 @18#/ restest 20:13 @ 26#

Results:

“I'm down about 7 pounds! My clothes are more loose and I'm down a size.  What I've noticed as well as my family (husband and mom) is that I have more muscle. Of course my stamina is SO much greater!  I never would have thought I could run 3 miles nonstop.”

Subrina, I have awarded you “Most Improved Food” for this 6-week challenge. I feel like you have done a complete transformation not just in your food, but your attitude as well. You were soooo not confident you could do this challenge, but now you know you smashed it! Bye bye old Subrina, hello NEW YOU! You took a chance to change your ways, as a result you put up some awesome end of challenge stats!!

  Angie Vann

Mile times: 9:20/8:57

Tester: 18:28 @18# / retest 14:59 @26#

“I lost 4 pounds and inches as well. I can wear a pair of pants that were snug and now a little big! I tried foods that I probably would not have if I had not done the challenge. I liked having the homework each week! Thanks for all the encouragement and suggestions!”

Angie, my non-veggie-eater, I am so proud of your new veggie habits!!!! I know with a family it is hard to please every taste bud, but you survived the 6 weeks and even found new foods you actually like. I am so proud of you for taking a chance of food choices and expanding you menu!

    Mandy Strickland

Mile times: 8:48/6:58

Tester: 18:28 @26# / retest 14:59 @26#

Mandy, you pretty much blasted that old mile and tester workout into oblivion! Simply amazing improvements! Keep fine-tuning that nutrition and you will see even more progress! That 35# KB is in your future so don’t get too comfy with that 26# ;)

Rae Herring

Mile times: 7:33/7:15

Tester: 19:41 @ 26# / retest 21:03 @ 35#

Rae, YOU ARE A BEAST. You dominated that 35# KB in the retest. I know you were unsure of yourself, but once you started I knew you were determined to finish it out! So proud of you for pushing yourself past your “so called limit!”

Jenny McRaney

Mile times: 9:54/8:41

Tester: 18:16 @18# / retest 14:42  @ 26#

So total inches/weigh lost: Arms total: 2 Waist: 1.5 Thighs total: 1 Calf total: .5 TOTAL: 5 inches lost Weight: 6 lbs lost

Jenny, you lost almost ½ a foot around your body in SIX WEEKS! AMAZING! That comes for you dedication to your nutrition and keeping consistent in all your workouts!! I am so proud of how far you have come since starting Versus. This challenge just gave you a little rev back up that you needed!

Amber Williams

Mile times: 9:54/7:52

Tester: 15:49 @ 18# / Retest 14:27 @ 26#

“I realized it didn't matter to me how much I weighed, it mattered how I felt. The challenge taught me to branch out of my comfort zone in many ways. I actually tried new healthier foods in fun ways and liked them. I started going to open gym on Saturdays and pushing myself harder than I was in the past. I found I enjoyed having the extra homeworks during the week because they kept me on track. I'm a planner by nature. Once I understood I would only be successful by planning to be it all started to click a bit more :)”

Amber, I think there is secret speed runner hiding out inside of you! Each workout you got faster and a little more confident and I think you surprised yourself! I am so happy this challenge helped you realize what you are capable of! All I have to say is, Katie better watch out! Amber will be on your heels in no time!

  Holly Byrd

Mile time: 8:46/7:45

Tester: 18:13 @26# / retest 16:58 @26#

“First of all I was super proud to beat my mile time by a minute! Those terrible sprints really do work! I am doing much better with my diet. I've gotten stronger and I feel much better during my workouts! I owe it all to a great coach!”

Holly, you broke the 7-minute barrier in your new mile time!! Whoop whoop! I am so proud of you working so hard on your nutrition! Just keep at it and keep fine-tuning it! Nutrition is the key to feeling good and performing good!

  Deedre Coll

Mile times: 10:27/9:23

Tester: 19:58 @18# / retest 17:42 @26#

“I beat my mile time by 1 minute, beat my tester workout by 2 minutes (with heavier KB weight), lost 3 pounds, and gained a lot of confidence!!”

My race didn't go as I had planned. I had a goal to run under 2 hours. Me and Katie even trained on hills, knowing Nola was so flat. We thought if we can be fast on hills, we will be super fast in flat Nola! I took better care of my legs this year and didn't even have to wear my knee strap all through training runs! I was pumped!! Then on our last long run two weeks out from Nola, we decided to really go for it and see how fast we could run the hills. Bad decision #1, running fast down hill. Bad decision #2, trying to push past the pain I started to feel until it was too late. By mile 11 of that run my knee was DONE. The result was a strained patella tendon (knee cap area) and the only thing to do was rest it. The race was exactly two weeks away!! This was not how I envisioned starting my half marathon. The plan was just to "see how it goes" and Dr. Hubby Page and Coach Steve said "if it starts to hurt, don't push through it. Be smart." Well, I needed longer than two weeks of rest. :(

Me and Katie about to take off!

Race Day

I was feeling EXCITED to see all our Versus people about to rock this race! I was even more excited to see all our first time racers finish and if Katie Giust was gonna run under 1:50 (that was our goal)! I knew she could, but I was a little weary about my knee. I had already made up my mind, I was going to stop and walk it in if my knee was not up for the run. Sure enough, about mile 6 I could tell I needed to slow down a bit. It wasn't hurting much, but I could tell something was brewing. Katie finally went on ahead when I told her I didn't think I was going to speed up anymore —to make up lost time she ran a 7:41-7:47 mile pace for 4 MILES!! 

Swallowing my pride

Then about mile 11 I decided it wasn't worth it and started my 2 mile walk to the finish. I just kept telling myself "you can either push through it and be out for a long while or suck up your pride and save your knee and maybe be out for a week. I can live with a week of rest. I probably need it anyway. Be smart."

Runners are a community

After I got over my initial pissed-off-moment and the burn of my pride, I started to notice things and people while I walked. Runners are incredibly encouraging people. Some were running for a cause, some run just for themselves and a goal, some had a running buddy, others were solo, but all were there in a positive spirit. So many would slow down and try to motivate me to start running again. One person handed me a jolly rancher said "the sugar really helps push you through to the end." (I ate the jolly rancher in case you were wondering.) I just kept involuntarily smiling because I felt like everyone running wanted EVERYONE to finish strong. Like we were a pack, a team, even though we all had different reasons for running. I saw so many acts of kindness and encouragement on my walk and saw how they made a difference to the one on the receiving end of it. That last mile was so tough for some runners, but every time someone would stop to walk, another runner was right behind them pushing them on ahead.

My mile 12 selfie, walking it in!

The right attitude

The difference between finishing and quitting is all about you mindset and attitude. Your attitude has a direct affect on your results.  If you start out positive thinking, most likely you will see it to the end even if it gets tough. So many people give up at the slightest bit of rough waters. They start out the task already defeating themselves with negative thoughts. Your attitude affects your progress as well, even for those who have been at it a while. Maybe you don't push your self as hard as you can. Or you half-ass the squat or pushup or any movement. That will stall your progress. So what does that mean? GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE and push ahead of what you think you can't do!! Force yourself to get BETTER. Try everyday to perfect the thing you slack at. Don't ever get comfortable!

The right atmosphere

Another important factor in your success is the atmosphere. If you have a goal, you need to surround yourself with like minded people. You need a group that understands what you are doing and why you are training and not ask negative questions. You need a group of people to pull you through those tough times when you will want to quit!! I doubt many of those runners suffering the last couple of miles would have ran it in to the finish line if not for all the people encouraging them. To reach a goal and stay focused, you need a positive atmosphere. Positive words, positive actions. Who cares what the others think! First they will ask you why you are doing it, then they will ask you how you did it!

Petal AT girls!!! Missing Rae :(

This is why I love the training I do. I am constantly reinforced with positive attitude when I step into Versus S&C. That is just the way things are around here. You never know how much an encouraging word or act can make a difference in an outcome. That is what I strive to do in all my classes, even the ones I workout in. I love it. I love the people. I love their stories. I love their successes, no matter how small.

My official finish time was 2:20. Not what I had planned, but on the flip side I learned yet again, not everyday is my best training day. And it is better to listen to your body when you know something is wrong. I still finished, got my medal and got to enjoy all the good vibes on my walk to the finish. Then I topped it off with excited, warm welcome from my VSC teammates, who were sad about my knee but supported me anyway!

Running is so mental. You have nothing but time to think about if your muscles hurt, if you are getting tired, when you might get tired, are you still running as fast as you think you are, your legs are feeling like lead, you should you stop and walk, will it be harder to start running if you stop and walk...a million and one reasons why it sucks. But as soon as that finish line is in site, nothing else matters except for the FINISH! I even did a hobble/run a short distance to the finish line and I had high fives and cheers the whole time! It was an awesome finish for everyone who ran that race. It did not matter how fast, but what matteres is that we finished! Katie did run 13.1 miles in exactly 1 hour 50 minutes!!!! Beating her last year time by 10 minutes. The founder of Team No Excuses, Jenny Boudreux, ran 13.1 miles in 2 hours 21 minutes, beating her last year time by 24 MINUTES!!!!!! #BB

So who is up for next year? #rnr2015

The BBs ;) missing Stephanie!

Bellegrass Ballers!

It was June 2008 when I signed up to start my very first boot camp class in May 2008 with Operation Boot Camp at Terrell Mill Park in Marietta, GA.

Why did I decide to sign up for a month long boot camp?

Well, I was pissed. I was mad at myself, mad at my job, and just bitter about life and had gained weight because of not staying active and eating out all the time. Funny thing was, I was looking for a kick boxing class because I just wanted to hit something! I came across the Operation Boot Camp site and signed up that day, a month in advance, $300+ down, no turning back, and Brian thought I was wasting my money. I told him, "it's my money and I'm investing in myself!" Really, I said those words.

Little did I know that it was my turning point to a new path. Fast forward over a year later, I would volunteer as an instructor for that same class, become one on the "Dark Side" and earn my "Pink Lady Jacket" and thus, changing my course forever. OBC taught me how to be confident again. I learned how to motivate people, I watched people change and learned I had the gift to help them see their potential. I conquered so many of my own goals and faced my own fears with OBC. Really, I look back on that time as my "training" for my new career as a coach and trainer at Versus Strength & Conditioning. Not knowing then I would end up back in Hattiesburg and working at Versus that has become my home. There is no way I would have been able to handle my first VSC class BY MYSELF without the experience and confidence instructing at OBC gave me. I will forever remember my support system at OBC and be forever thankful for Hollis for starting that first TMP class in May 2008. Without it, I would not have had the confidence to start my fitness journey again at Versus S&C after I had a baby, my biggest weight challenge ever. And in the end, I would not be the coach I am today and would have not helped the people I have.

So now its January, beginning of the year and a fresh start if you want it to be. If you have been on the fence about starting a new habit or workout plan, just go ahead and JUMP. Start today. Sign up for for that boot camp today, even if the start day is tomorrow or weeks away. Call and sign up even if that camp has started this week! Tomorrow you will have wished you had. And you never know if that one crazy thing you took a chance on, just might change your life. It might sound cheesy, but seriously its 6 weeks that will change your life. Just ask anyone who has stuck with it. They are changed forever. You may fall off the wagon here and there even after a boot camp session, but you will always remember what you learned during that time. You will always know what you need to do to get healthy, how to eat, how to exercise. You will know the path you need to take. You just have to choose whether to stay on it.