The Herald is working with fitness guru Lee-Anne Wann to get Kiwi men off the couch and get active. The campaign — Men’s Health: Small Change, Big Gain — aims to get four men to lose weight in six weeks. Here’s their report from week five.
Winston Aldworth Herald travel editor
This isn't a competition - it's about getting healthy. (Translation: It's totally a competition.)
Happily - surprisingly - spending last week in New York hasn't derailed my weight-loss mission. In fact, I kept losing weight, dropping another kilo on the road. Which, given the amount of boozing I did, is testament to the power of watching what you eat and running the hell out of a hangover in Central Park.
When my boss first asked me to take part I pointed out that my travel schedule might interrupt the exercise and nutrition routine.
"Mate! That's why you're ideal," he said. "This is all about working exercise and nutrition into busy lives."
And mostly it's working out. We're into the final stretch now, with less than a fortnight to go. I've been following the progress of the other guys closely. A bit of competition is a great motivator.
It's Sunday night, I had a great swim this morning and I might now go for a quick jog.
I wish all the best to the three other guys taking part in this project. (Translation: I just put a packet of delicious looking mini cookies on Chris Reed's desk.)
This week started on Friday night watching the SkyCity Breakers' ultimately convincing win over the Wollongong Hawks - with a dinner of salad and water! I was pleased I was able to stick to that while others were enjoying pasta and potatoes and drinking beer and wine. Then on Saturday, Peter Gordon's fabulous charity fundraiser, Dine for a Difference, where I had just a little wine! On Sunday it was Euro for lunch - salmon and salad and only one glass of pinot. For the next week, Lee-Anne has said no more wine and I've agreed. I'm trying to up the gym workouts - rowing machines, free weights, legs and upper body and focusing on workouts that burn fat and improve posture. In my case, it's pulling back my shoulders to correct the effects of slouching over a desk for far too many years! I reckon it's going to take longer than six weeks to fix that. I've done a couple of good 4km walks which included a couple of (very) short jogs. I'm feeling really good and with plenty of energy. But I still need to work harder at getting rid of that gut.
Chris Reed Herald deputy editor
I feel like an ex-smoker - you know the ones, disapproving looks if someone lights up within 200 miles, lectures about seeing the light. Every time someone asks me how this thing's going I have to force myself to avoid a diatribe that could include any or all of the following: "life-changing", "amazing", "better than I've felt for - ooh years". People are starting to comment on my weight loss now (in a good way, not "oh, you looked so much better when you were a disgusting blob"). I survived the Stones without wanting, let alone imbibing, alcohol. In fact, the only threat to a strong finish is complacency. Lee-Anne has done her bit to prevent that with a robust pep talk about how mad I'd be to chuck away all the good work. I've got some great new recipes to keep my diet varied and a reinforced sense of purpose. I've just got to ensure I don't start being all pursed lip and tutty if I see someone eating junk food.
Jason Winstanley The Hits radio content director
I've had another great week. Yes! I weighed in and I'm another 700g down so I've lost 5.1kg all up. Awesome. My eating has been really good and I'm enjoying the food. I'm working hard on removing all the toxins from my body in all ways possible. BPA I'm told is the bad stuff, especially in plastic wrap, so I'm trying to ensure that most of my food is organic and not in contact with the terrible BPA. The exercise is the hardest part for me. I'm just not an exercise kind of guy. My session with Lee-Anne this week was hard work again. All I hear is "Abs on. Shoulders back. Breathe" over and over and over, but it is clearly making a difference. I went to the NZ Music Awards on Thursday night. A really fun night. Quite a few drinks, and finished up at 4am. A number of people at the awards mentioned how much better I looked, and especially how much weight I had lost around my neck (Thanks Lynn!) I felt so guilty in the morning, but I knew what I had to do to recover. Plenty of water, a run and back on the right food. I hope after the weekend I have recovered and not gone off the rails. We shall see at my next catch-up with Lee-Anne.
Lee Anne's take
Jason: Jason is looking so much healthier and more vibrant than he did just a couple of weeks ago. His Achilles heel seems to be the exercise, which he is still calling horrific and not always happening but as I say, "aim for the stars and reach the moon". Schedule in one or two extra sessions per week, that way when something comes up that stops you exercising you have a back-up option. And working things into your schedule helps.
Chris: Wow, I have to say I am impressed with Chris and his focus and consistency on absolutely everything and the results are speaking volumes of the changes he has made. Armed with some new recipe ideas this week, we are hoping to find some more inspiration in the kitchen.
Nigel: We are really into the swing of things and food and nutrition not even causing a stir with Nigel. I was able to check out his breakfast in person last week and was pleased to see eggs, avocado and spinach on the menu with water and lemons and a long black with a dash of cream - sensational. Also very impressed with the increase in movement and postural changes which will help reduce the stress load on the body.
Winston: Impressive! Off the plane and a day later pretty much straight into body-fat measures and testing. I was very nervous as anything out of routine initially can be a challenge when trying to introduce new habits but he has passed with flying colours. He came back lighter and with less body fat and loving Central Park's running tracks. Let's see how much he can pick up the pace now.
