Sky Fit Challenge

The Latest Sky Fit Challenger

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Adam Shapiro: Sky Fit Challenger 2

We are excited to announce the winner of the Sky Fit Challenge Giveaway. Adam delivered a fantastic video submission for the Challenge and after meeting him in person we knew he would be the perfect candidate. We will be posting his all of his progress for the next 3 months right here on www.OpenSkyFitness.com and www.HowToChow.com. Adam will be given 3 personal training sessions a week, 1 nutritional counseling session a week (with daily check ins), a personalized cardio regimen, a health food store tour, kitchen makeover, cooking classes, recipes, and more. We are also excited to be adding to each program, one on one sessions with outside health professionals including gyrotonic, pilates, yoga, massage, acupuncture, etc. Adam’s life is about about to change. Help keep Adam motivated by becoming a fan of Open Sky Fitness and How To Chow on Facebook.

Click here to read all of Adam’s blog posts

Blog 1: Sky Fit Challenge Giveaway Winner!

by Rob on January 8, 2010

Adam Shapiro – Application for the Sky Fit Challenge Video from Open Sky Fitness on Vimeo.

We are excited to announce the winner of the Sky Fit Challenge Giveaway. Congratulations Adam Shapiro! As you can see Adam delivered a fantastic video submission for the Challenge and after meeting him in person we knew he would be the perfect candidate. We will be posting his all of his progress for the next 3 months right here on www.OpenSkyFitness.com and www.HowToChow.com, so stay tuned. As the winner of the Sky Fit Challenge Adam will be given 3 personal training sessions a week, 1 nutritional counseling session a week (with daily check ins), a personalized cardio regimen, a health food store tour, kitchen makeover, cooking classes, recipes, and more. We are also excited to be adding to each program, one on one sessions with outside health professionals including gyrotonic, pilates, yoga, massage, acupuncture, etc. Adam’s life is about about to change. Help keep Adam motivated by becoming a fan of Open Sky Fitness and How To Chow on Facebook

If you are interested in taking the Sky Fit Challenge and don’t want to wait, you don’t have to. The Sky Fit Challenge is now open to anyone who wants to take it with all the same perks. Just contact Rob@OpenSkyFitness.com or info@HowToChow.com to get started today.

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What Is The Sky Fit Challenge?

by Rob on January 1, 2010

The Sky Fit Challenge is a 12 Week Life Changing Intensive Program developed by Rob Dionne, founder of Open Sky Fitness with Nutrition development by Christy Meyers, founder of How To Chow Nutrition. Rob Dionne has designed a progressive workout strategy that focuses on core stabilization, strength and power; while never stepping foot inside a gym.

With this tidal wive of Fad Diets, Weight Loss Pills, and Miracle Workout Contraptions, taking steps to getting healthy has become a daunting task for most people. There are so many choices, who really knows the right place to start? Why can’t it just be easy to lose weight and get in shape? What makes it easy for some and so difficult for others? These are all legitimate questions.

The Sky Fit Challenge was created to help answer these questions. Whether you are looking to just lose a few pounds, get ripped or make a complete life change the first step is deciding to commit to something fully. That’s why The Sky Fit Challenge is a 12 week intensive program. After 3 months of eating and working out on a consistent program your body has broken all old habits and is ready for a new life style. Within 12 weeks your body will be in the best shape it’s been ever been. Will this take a lot of hard work? Yes! Will it be harder for some then others? Yes! Is there anything worth fighting for in life that doesn’t answer yes to these questions. NO! If any workout or nutrition program try’s to sell you on the idea that it’s easy to get in shape and lose weight they are straight up lying to you. There is no easy solution. If you’re after the body you’ve always wanted for yourself, it’s gonna take work. What The Sky Fit Challenge provides you with is your road map to get there.

Week 12 with 21 Pounds Lost!

Sky Fit Challenge Week 1

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Blog 14: Jeff Lost 21 Pounds on the Sky Fit Challenge!

by Rob on November 5, 2009

Before The Sky Fit Challenge

Well, it’s the end of October and I’m basically done with the Sky Fit Challenge. What a journey it has been. No really, it has been a trek. I’ve had highs and lows, days when I feel great and days when I think there’s no way I can do this. There were weeks that took me out of town and derailed me but when I returned to L.A. I jumped right back into it. Rob made me do some sets where I called him very bad names and Christy put things into my diet that were tough to swallow (pun intended). However, let me say this, down over 20 pounds, seeing abs for the first time and just feeling great was so worth it. I owe the Sky Fit Challenge more than words can describe. During these 3 months I booked jobs on TV shows, worked around the world, made good money and slept better than ever! Christy made it possible that I was never really hungry (ate up to 5 meals a day) and with Rob’s workouts I was getting a great cardio and muscle routine at the same time. It never hurts to hear people tell you that you look great and notice you’ve lost weight. Honestly, it made me feel so much better about myself. A confidence grew over these last few months and the insecurities slowly started to go away.

The real push I will make for what Rob and Christy do and for the Sky Fit Challenge specifically is that it’s not hard to do this! There’s no Master cleanse where you starve yourself for 2 weeks, no boot-camp where someone is yelling in your ear and wont let you up until you finish 75 push ups, no stupid diet that just wont stick or workout that is made for olympians and no surgery that can have complications. Rob and Christy work with you, one on one and they design the plan for you! They listen. Each month is a step by step process and after a while it just becomes a part of your life. Foods start to taste better and workouts become something you look forward to.

Christy’s philosophy is to add healthy organic foods into your life, not take away everything you love. She gets you off the addiction of sugar filled foods and helps you make smart choices through the day. Caffeine, white sugar and white flour are all highly addictive drugs and the food media will do anything to keep you eating them. Working with Christy helps you break that cycle. She doesn’t use the word “diet.” Christy believes no “one” plan works for everyone, so she learns about you and your lifestyle and creates a plan that’s right for you.

Rob has been in and around gym’s for most of his life. Not only has he taken the classes and certifications that make him a highly knowledgeable Personal Trainer but his years of experience in the gym makes him great at what he does. What makes Rob’s training so unique is the way he thinks outside the box. The exercises are complex, fun and keep your heart rate up. He likes working outside, running stairs (oh those stairs), and creating different workouts that are diverse and work the whole body. Nothing about his workout sessions are boring. He pays attention, learns your body and gets you the results you’re looking for.

Okay, enough of those two. Their the best. Period. As for me? For the rest of my life I will have to fight off the love handles, going to Chili’s and sucking down their awesome blossom or eating to many cookies. Hell, things could be a lot worse. But, this week for the first time ever in my life, I don’t have to say maybe tomorrow I’ll get in shape or tomorrow I wont eat as much. My parents can’t say, “It’s in your genes, you’ll always be big.” I’m not quite as cute and cuddly anymore or whatever someone calls the fluffier people out there. Casting Directors can’t look at me and say to themselves, “he should loose a few.” That swim teacher when I was in middle school, that douche bag of a soccer coach, my sophomore college acting teacher they can all kiss my ass cause today I feel like Brando. Surely not as talented but maybe I could stand next to him, shirts off, in a 1953 casting call and feel proud. Some of you might here this and thinks it’s ridiculous but their my dreams and they mean the world to me.
Thanks for reading. More to come.

Brando At His Best

Meacham At His Best

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Sky Fit Challenge Giveaway

by Rob on October 27, 2009

Open Sky Fitness and How to Chow have decided to choose another lucky person to participate in the Sky Fit Challenge for FREE!! Starting on November 30th, 2009 a new Sky Fit Challenger will start his or her 3 month life altering program.

Sky Fit Challenge is a personalized fitness and nutrition program designed to burn fat, build lean body mass and get your body looking the best it’s ever been, in just 3 months. Working 1 on 1 with Sky Fit Challenge creator, Rob Dionne, and How to Chow’s Christy Meyers, you will be molded into the person you’ve always strived to be.

The Sky Fit Challenge includes:

3 one hour sessions per week with Rob Dionne, Personal Trainer
Personalize Cardio Program designed to burn excess fat
Personalized Nutrition Plan with How to Chow’s Christy Meyers
Nutrition Consultation and weekly tracking sessions
Before and After pictures to track results
Monthly Results Tracking – including Body Fat % & Circumference Measurements

This is over a $4500 value for FREE!! All you have to do is join the Open Sky Fitness Facebook Fan Page and send your request to be the next Sky Fit Challenger to SkyFit@OpenSkyFitness.com and you could be NEXT!

Because we are offering this program ABSOLUTELY FREE it is very important for us to know that this new Challenger will be 110% dedicated. That is why we are requesting a short explanation of why you should be the next Sky Fit Challenge success story along with a full body photo. All applicants must email their requests by November 16th and the lucky individual will be announced on November 23rd.

Don’t forget to sign in on the right side of this page to get a FREE workout and nutrition plan to help you get started today!

Unfortunately this offer is only for Los Angeles residents at this time.

Jeff Meacham, the last Sky Fit Challenger!

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Blog 13: How Do I Keep Healthy At Work?

by Rob on October 18, 2009

Check out this week I had. Flew to Atlanta on Saturday only to fly right back to LA on Sunday to shoot an episode of Big Love on Monday. Finished shooting at 8:45pm, went home to kiss my wife goodbye, drove to the airport and took the red eye back to Atlanta. Arrived at 7am and was working a trade show by 9:30am. Spent the next 3 days doing multiple presentations and partying hard with the company at night. This company’s philosophy is “work hard, play hard.” Trust me when I say – they live by that.

So, what I’m getting at is the body took some hard hits this week. I barely got a chance to work out and the food at the hotel and late dinners were good but not healthy. And that’s okay cause life can get in the way from time to time. I surely don’t have a 9 to 5 schedule and sometimes I have to travel last minute. The solution is: Don’t give up. In the past I might have quit because I feel like it’s never ending but with 10 weeks of the Sky Fit Challenge under my belt I just come home, eat what Christy suggests and jump right back on the horse with Rob. I started the day with 2 eggs and veggies, worked out with Rob from 9-10am, had a mid morning protein shake, played tennis with my buddy Blair, had lunch at 2pm that was asparagus and a Organic Chicken Hot dog with no bread and an apple and peanut butter for an afternoon snack. Just right back to it and I feel 10 times better already.

Week 1

Week 10

Okay, two weeks left in the challenge. Rob and I are making plans for the post Sky Fit and it involves some SoCal winter half marathons and triathlons and maybe a 2010 Marathon. Who knows? The Sky (fit) is the limit. Ha-ha. I’m still a dramatic dork at heart but now I have abs.

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Blog 12: Jeff Lost 17 Pounds So Far!!!

by Rob on October 6, 2009

After I found I out that my weight went down to 184 pounds the other day Rob asked me when was the last time I weighed that much. You know, you were thinner at some point, when was it? I thought about it, was about to give the stock answer of sometime in college (which is a lie) or sometime in High School and the truth is I did weigh that much at some point but it was never at a time when I felt good about myself physically. So, I’m in uncharted territory and I cant wait to see where it goes!

With nine weeks down in the Sky Fit Challenge here is what I’ve learned so far. For workouts, three days a week over a five day period seems to be perfect. Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays is ideal giving me one weekend day off. I prefer Saturdays off and do my long runs on Sundays. Since the beginning of this challenge Rob has not laid a single weight in my hand. We have used pull ups, resistance bands and my own body weight and at the end of every workout my muscles are sore and pumped. The movements we do are never just simple up/down up/down. Instead he often uses multiple moves in one set. Like a squat with shoulder press or a lunge with an arm curl. This gets my heart pumping and my muscles working so I’m burning calories at a fast pace.

On the other three days I do cardio. If you’ve read my blogs you know I love to run on the treadmill but I also spin, play tennis, football, softball and whatever pick up sports friends invite me to. On my very regimented weeks I run and play tennis on Tuesdays, bike on Thursdays and do a long run on Sundays. I watch TV on my computer for most of my runs and I need to make a special shout out to the instant player on Netflix. I have become an avid fan of the Dillon Panthers on the NBC show Friday Night Lights. That show is a guilty pleasure and like so many I have fallen under the spell of Taylor Kitsch.

Like I’ve said before, working out is the easy part for me. The true test in making this challenge work is in what I eat. Most people I know that want to lose weight say they need to start working out. Take it from me if you struggle with weight, you can workout and do cardio all you want but until you change your diet you will not lose that fat. The simple way of putting it is if you put more calories into your body than you burn you will not loose weight. Most people don’t have the time or discipline to workout long enough to keep up a diet of coffee, muffins, snacks from a vendor, sandwiches and chips, soda and a dinner out with co-workers or family. Christy does not have me on a diet. She hates that word! Over the course of the challenge we have added good foods into my life and slowly the bad foods are being replaced. So now I’m simple eating healthy and having foods that keep my energy up and not feeling stuffed anymore. Do I still indulge in sweets or better yet cookies from time to time? Sure, but they come from restaurants, stores and other places that use all organic ingredients and natural sweeteners. Trust me, for a guy who lived on cookies, I have found the best organic and “better for you cookies” out there (as well as other yummy sweets).

With food, most days consist of five meals that are broken up into the usual breakfast, lunch and dinner with two snacks. I have found that quinoa in the morning with a little Tamari, almonds and raisins is awesome, I love my post workout shakes and home made salads are a man’s best friend.

That’s my quick overview of what I’ve been doing so far. Keep reading as I go into the home stretch of the Sky Fit Challenge. I’m all ready starting to make some long term goals after the challenge is over. I would love to do an olympic distance triathlon and maybe tackle a marathon in 2010. Those should keep me motivated for the future.

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Blog 11: One Month Left of The Sky Fit Challenge. I’ve Lost 15 Pounds!

by Rob on September 30, 2009

We are officially two thirds done with The Sky Fit Challenge with just one month to go! At the moment my weight is 186 pounds, down 15 pounds from the start. My body fat is 13.8% down 5%. Feels really good and I cant wait to see where I’m at when this is over.

I had something really exciting happen this past weekend. I was coming home from playing football for almost 3 hours with my buddies and I had forgotten to eat dinner. In the past I would have been so excited. That feeling of working out then being super hungry was something I was addicted to. I would rush to my favorite takeout restaurants or the food bar at Whole Foods and stuff myself when I got home. At this point it would be late at night and with a stomach full of food I wouldn’t go to bed till 2 or 3 in the morning. But not this time. As I drove away from football and thought about what I was going to eat the feeling never came, that love for food and dessert that comes over me like a high school kid seeing the girl he likes walking down the halls just didn’t happen. Swear to god, that is how much I love food and want it when I’m hungry. But that feeling didn’t come this time! I’m not saying that because of this challenge I’ve lost my love of food, far from it. What I’m saying is the addiction is going away, I’m starting to see food for what it is: fuel for the body not the way I used to see it as a sport or a hobby.

After working out on my own for almost 2 weeks it was great to be back with Rob. We got back to our old schedule of 3 days a week with him and 3 days a week on my own. Generally I take off Saturday and do my long run on Sunday. Everyone who runs has there favorite way. There is the outside runners, the treadmills runners, the road runners, the trail runners and so on. Then you have people who use Ipods, others who need TV’s or just plain old nothin’ but your thoughts, those people are machines in my opinion. Me? I like the combo of treadmill and TV. Specifically my computer and Netflix instant player. I can watch more crap movies and TV shown while running to the end of the earth (of course, in reality, I’m running in place in the corner of my living room). But with those movies I’m lost in a world of Mad Max and Rambo or lately season 2 of Friday night lights. That show is like crack.

So, on to the final month! Wish me luck.

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Blog 9: 8 Weeks Down. Good Bye Vienna, Hello Sky Fit Challenge!

by Rob on September 28, 2009

I’ve been gone for a while! After a week long job in San Diego I was asked to work the next week in Vienna, Austria. So I went from daily workouts and healthy food to long days of work and eating out. It took a little toll on the love handles but nothing to keep me from my overall goal.

There is a lot of obstacles while traveling and trying to staying fit. Both while working and on vacation. Number one is you’re out of your daily routine, whatever that may be. For me I had Christy to help me with food each day and I knew no matter what, I would see Rob 3 days a week. Though they cant do everything for me, it is easier when they are both right here. On the road, I have to eat out and try to make the best of what’s around and hope the hotel I’m put up in has a gym of some kind.
Thankfully all the hotels did have a gym but let me tell you in Europe they work in kilometers and on the treadmill it threw me for a loop. Maybe I’m not the smartest kid in the class but I’m just used to miles and running 10 kilometers per hour is not as fast as it seems.

The big solution with working out while away was “the bands.” Rob insisted that I buy SPRI workout bands, the ones we use in the park. They can be bought at almost any sports store and the cost isn’t bad. Having the 3 different bands, lets call them light, medium and hard, was awesome. Rob sent me 3 workouts that I did on Monday, Wednesday and friday of each week and I could do the workout anywhere, even if they didn’t have a gym. Somehow it never feels quite as hard as when you do them with your personal trainer but it was much better than having nothing at all. I also brought a jump rope. All four pieces took up little space in my bag and weighed no more than a pound or two.

What time to workout out when traveling is something I had to set. Because If you think you can play it by ear inevitable something comes up and the day gets past you. Someone wants to take you out for drinks, sightseeing, family, you’re tired, surprise meeting, etc. Something will come up. I say do it first thing in the morning, just get it out of the way. It’s hard but no one will give you crap, you can just get up before everyone else and just do it. Your body will be sore during the workout but always seems to feel better during the day and that crap food you eat wherever you are wont make you feel quite as guilty. Mind you, thats me. I also saw coworkers workout between the end of work and before dinner. Those are usual the ones who drink a little heavier and need those few extra minutes in the morning.

So, I’m back! About 5 weeks left in the sky fit challenge. I’ll do a weigh in tomorrow to see the damage and get this body working hard again. Just a little detour in the road, no worries. In the past I might have just forgotten but not now, this is the new me. After all, there are pictures of me with my shirt off on the internet.

Week 1

Week 8

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Blog 8: I Lost 12 Pounds Doing The Sky Fit Challenge!

by Rob on September 7, 2009

How about that! Down in the 180’s for the first time since….. lets call it forever. 189 to be exact. The first thing that comes to mind is that I feel like I look better in clothes now. I always complained of clothes not fitting well but now I see it was me who didn’t fit well in clothes. Another thing I’m noticing is that I don’t fuss with myself as much. Being self conscience of my body I touch my belly a lot, pull my shirt out, etc. So that’s two positive signs and overall I’m feeling and looking better.

Week 1

Week 6

After being back in LA for a week and doing 3 solid workouts with Rob I am back on track. I’m noticing my abs and core are feeling much stronger. That same place I used to touch on my tummy might still have some fat on it but right below is some strong muscles. Feels good!! As for the cardio, that is where I’m feeling a huge difference. It is taking harder and longer runs to give a good workout and that is great for me cause one of my long term goals is to run a marathon. As for biking/spinning and swimming I’m still not doing them enough cause getting to the gym is more work than hoping on the treadmill at home. That is about discipline for me and it is still a weak spot I can improve on.

Unfortunately, I’m going out of town again on Sunday for a week of work. The good news is I’ll be at a nice hotel with a gym and good food. This will be a whole different challenge for me. I’ll be with colleagues who can drink and party a lot. I’ll be interested to see how that affects my workouts and sleeping. Will I workout on hungover days? On days with a ton of work will I still find time for the gym? We’ll see and I will report.

As for eating, it is just so much easier when you’re home. The routine is easier, I don’t crave as much crap food and my wife is right there to help out. So, again, it is about discipline and I’m working at it.

So, this is life. I’m a actor and my jobs come up at the last second and I have to learn to adapt to stay in the shape I want. It’s a challenge that I’m ready for.

I've Got Abs!

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Blog 7: Jeff Is Seeing Major Results, Let’s See The Numbers

by Rob on September 1, 2009

It has been six weeks and we are half way through the Sky Fit Challenge.

Rob has created a six day workout regimen for Jeff. Three days out of the week Jeff trains with Rob doing a combination of circuit training and plyometrics. The remaining three days Jeff has been performing a high intensity cardio program on his own. What type of cardio? Well, because Jeff has a treadmill at home this seemed the easy solution, but to mix it up he has also been swimming, cycling and playing tennis.

Jeff has seen some major results in the last six weeks. From his weight to his waist line. If he’s had this much success so far, how much will he achieve by the end of these 12 weeks? Check out his results so far:

Results Chart

Jeff has lost a total of 12 pounds in 6 weeks and decreased his body fat by 4 percent. That is an amazing accomplishment. He has also lost an inch in his waist and legs, but everything else has pretty much stayed the same. Why? Well, Jeff is converting his fat to muscle mass. We may not see it clearly with the circumference measurements, but we have to remember muscle is denser then fat. So, as Jeff works out his body my get bigger where he’s building muscle, but it will shred fat in other places. Let’s see a progression of Jeff from week one to week six.

Week 1 Week 6

As you can see Jeff has had significant fat loss throughout his midsection. In the first week there were no signs of oblique muscles along the rib cage, but now we are starting to see some real definition there. And he has obviously lost quite a bit of that tire around the waist line.

Way to go Jeff, you’re looking great! Keep up the good work!