Sky Fit Challenge

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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
    Post image for Blog 6: Let’s Keep On Track On Vacation

    Blog 6: Let’s Keep On Track On Vacation

    by Rob on August 26, 2009

    I’m lying on my dad’s floor in Hebron, CT watching the Red Sox vs Yankees which means the family vacation officially begins. My first challenge: Don’t raid the fridge, Second: Try to find time to workout, Third: Stick to the plan.

    Before I left on Thursday night Christy and I sat down and made a food plan for the next 4 days. One little Christy secret she gave me was if you can’t find something in small town USA, bring it with you. In my suitcase she put a zip-lock bag of Quinoa that should last the whole time I’m here, a bag a dried organic mango to snack on and some Lara Bars that taste so good.

    As for my workouts, technically I’m only missing my Monday with Rob but it feels like a long time. So, I took Friday off after a killer leg workout on Thursday…those dam stairs. Oh, by the way, where there are stairs there is also a hill. Don’t get me started on the hill. So, Friday off, cardio on Saturday and Sunday, then Rob will email me a workout I can do with bands on Monday. As with the food Christy gave me, Rob sent me with 2 bands, all of which takes up very little room in my suitcase.

    We all know when you’re with your family food can be a little rough. The chip dips seem to line the fridge walls. Your step Mom asks you if you want homemade blueberry or apple pie and the local diner makes some sweet ass pancakes. At least in small town Connecticut they do. So, my challenge is to limit those foods, workout and as some dead English guy said, “stay the course.”

    All in all, 5 weeks are down in the Sky Fit Challenge. I’ve lost almost 10 pounds, I’m down about 3% body fat and I really feel good.

    Week 1

    Week 1

    End of Week 4

    After Week 4

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    Post image for Blog 5: One Month and I Feel Great!!

    Blog 5: One Month and I Feel Great!!

    by Rob on August 18, 2009

    One month is done, two months to go.  12 total workouts with Rob and a month of healthier eating with Christy.

    Here is what I have learned so far:  The workouts are a lot easier for me than the eating.  I show up to my training with Rob, do what he says and an hour later I’m sweating, fatigued and done.  But the food part is everyday, all day.  Christy can’t force feed me and watch every move I make like Rob can for the most part.  So much of eating is instinctual.  I’m hungry, I eat.  But what I put in my body is the rub.  So over the course of the month Christy and I have made foods at home on Sunday that will last all week. Go to my food blog on Christy’s website to see what those foods are. Keeping prepared food in the house keeps me away from going out to get unhealthy meals or bingeing. When we do go out together we share one dish instead of ordering two ( I can’t tell you how much that has helped with overeating).  And the big thing is saving money!  We all know organic food can be expensive at times but this way helps with saving.

    One Month Bicep Pose

    On to the workouts!  First off, what do you think of the shaved chest?  Hair or no hair, that is the question.  Personally, I like my hairy chest but not when it gets so long I look like a wookie from Star Wars.  This is my vein side talking.  After all, I’m doing the Sky Fit challenge for many reason but on a shallow level I want to look good with my shirt off so a little landscaping is needed.  Workouts Jeff!  Talk workouts.

    Rob and I trained on Monday, Wednesday and Friday this past week and I have to say that formula is feeling like it works the best.  To sum up what we do on those days is strength training and plyometric work (including those dam stairs) and on Tues and Thurs I do cardio (run, swim, bike).  I feel like a good rhythm to the week is forming and I think that can stick for a long time.  Cause that’s my long term goal.  Use Sky Fit as a launching point for the rest of my life.  Strength training and cardio throughout the week set to a great schedule that isn’t to much but keeps me in shape.

    But we are not just doing this workout for me.  Were also doing this for you folks out there.  We all have different schedules and for some of you my schedule doesn’t work.  Maybe you get to work to early or the best time for you is in the afternoon or evenings.  What does that do to the body different from morning workouts?  How does your eating change?  In a few weeks Rob, Christy and I will try that out and blog to you lovely readers about what I learn.  But first another obstacle.

    Tuck Jumps

    In the next few weeks I’m going out of town for work and pleasure and were going to really focus on what needs to happen during those times to keep me on the path.  What do you tell your parents when your with them?  Family has a tendency to make you fall back into bad habits.  What do you do when you’re at a hotel and only eating out?  What if there is no gym around?  I will have to face all these challenges but Rob and Christy are up for it!  After all, it’s what they do.

    Week 5 on the other hand will stay right here in sunny LA, sticking to the same formula.  My weigh in with Rob is Monday morning and I expect to be in the low 190’s.  If that’s the case it’s been a long time since I weighed that much.

    Also, remember this is a blog so if you have an questions or comments feel free to write back to me.  I’m very interested in what you have to say!  Thanks all.

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    Post image for Blog 4: Three Weeks In and People Notice a Change!!!

    Blog 4: Three Weeks In and People Notice a Change!!!

    by Rob on August 14, 2009

    Three weeks in and I’m feeling good. One thing that’s nice is people are starting to notice.  Friends here and there have said some nice things about how I look.  Tell you what, when you’ve spent the better part of your life looking a little thick, that’s nice to here.

    Funny, while I write this my wife is reading over my shoulder and it makes me insecure. Which makes me wonder if I am being totally honest with you? Lets see.  Yes, I have been working hard with Rob.  Yes, my eating has changed so much in the last 3 weeks but my past struggles still haunt me and I worry.  Will this all be for not in 6 months?  After this is over will I go back to overeating and feeling like I should “loose a few pounds”?  Tell you one thing, at the moment, I really don’t want it to. I like this.  No, I love this. Mainly cause it’s not that hard. I’m still eating good food and having fun.  When you think about it, it’s just 3 hours a week with Rob, playing tennis, running, eating healthier foods and being conscience of how much I eat.  My demons tell me to eat a bag off chips with a large sandwich and a cookie but when I get home making a yummy salad with peanut dressing and tuna is just as good.

    Sorry, If I sound a little sappy but I just saw Julie & Julia (total chick flick) and it made me think about my blog and what it really means to me.

    Single Arm Medicine Ball Chest Pass

    So, on to the workouts.  My legs!  Holy god, my legs have been feeling it and I love it.  Totally had one of those mornings were sitting on a chair kinda hurt. The quads are the biggest and strongest muscles in the body & they let you know when they’re sore.  But it gets better a few days later and they feel stronger all ready.  If you don’t know Rob uses bands not weights to do arm workouts.  You big muscle jocks might think that’s lame but it’s not.  They are just as tough if not harder on the muscles.  For some reason it’s really hard to cheat with bands.

    As for my eating, Christy has been introducing more raw foods into my diet.  Instead of pasta with sauce, she served shredded zucchini with raw Alfredo sauce made from nuts.   And just tonight we had veggie burgers topped with a raw cheese sauce (no actual dairy in it).  Pretty cool.   I’ve never ate food like this before and I dig it.  It’s like she’s fooling me with foods I used to like.  Tastes like pasta and sauce but it’s made with veggies and nuts.  As usual if you want to know more about my eating lately, check out my food blog on her website www.howtochow.com.
    Vertical Jump

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    Post image for Blog 3: Working Out is Hard…but FUN!

    Blog 3: Working Out is Hard…but FUN!

    by Rob on August 5, 2009

    My legs hurt!  We did this killer hamstring workout today.  It wasn’t even that much but holy god, my legs burn.  So I’m just two weeks in but already seeing results!  How cool is that?  Rob and I have locked down the 9am hour for working out 3 times a week.  I initially thought the early time would be really hard for me because getting up is tough most days.  Turns out it is hard for me cause of eating late at night.  Christy has me not eating past 8pm and by 10:30pm I’m dead tired.  But all day I have tons of energy from the early workout and multiple meals throughout the day.  I got to say I give loads of credit to those folks who have to get up super early to workout before work, go to work, then go home and be with their kids.  Here I am struggling with 9am cause of my love for late night food.

    Anyway, I’m happy that I’m seeing results but still feel like the ultimate goal is far away and I have lots of work to do. I’m trying my best to not ”settle.” It seems easy to settle but at this point in my life that’s not good enough.  I feel like my next challenge is to keep up with my workouts on the days I’m not with Rob.  We have an in house treadmill which helps but I need to keep doing the early morning workouts so I don’t let the day get in the way and boy is that easy.   Busy or not busy, sometimes 8pm roles up on you quick and you say, “where did the day go?  I didn’t do this or that.”  I hate that!   And I feel like I spent the better part of my 20′s with that problem.  So, no more wasting time.  Workout in the morning, get on with my day and be productive!

    Plyometrics

    As for my actual workouts, Rob keeps changing things up on me to keep me on my toes.  I like that.  We keep the same overall structure but each individual workout changes a little bit week by week.  Last week it was one kind of squat, this week another.  Makes it fun.

    My eating was okay in week 2 until Christy and I had the talk which was basically her sitting me down and saying, “Talk to me.  I want to help you but you have to tell me what your feelings are around food.”  For me, that’s a big one!  But we got through it and it helped so much.  To here more about my conversation with Christy surrounding food go to www.howtochow.com

    Check back in next week after I finish week 3 of the Skyfit Challenge!!
    Abs

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    Post image for Blog 2: Week Two and 3 Pounds Down!!!

    Blog 2: Week Two and 3 Pounds Down!!!

    by Rob on July 28, 2009

    The first week is in the books. How do I feel? What did I learn? Did my body change? So many questions!! It’s hard for me to say, I feel like a lot of things. First off, I do feel great and am excited for more. I worked out 3 days with Rob as well as 3 other days of cardio at his request. Friday was my day off. We worked outside in the morning at this beautiful park on 6th between Fairfax and LaBrea. I like the morning cause it’s not to hot yet but you still get a good sweat on.

    Of the 3 days with Rob, the first was the toughest. Not because it was any harder than the other 2 days but because it was the first and my body was shocked to say the least. After Tuesday’s cardio, I was ready for workouts number two and three and by the end of the week I felt soar but really good! Friday was a much needed day off. I went away on business over the weekend but kept up with my cardio by running on the hotels treadmill. I’m actually a big fan of the treadmill, I can put on an action film and run forever. And when I say forever, I mean about 5 miles. I’m a work in progress. I say action film cause I’m an emotional guy and let me tell you running and crying is tough, same goes with laughing.

    Something else I liked that Rob does is an active warmup. Instead of “stretching” we actively warmed the body up. Sit ups, squats, Jumping Jacks, etc. Really gets the body ready for what’s ahead. Their is also a set of long stairs at the park and without giving his workout away…he uses the stairs.
    Skaters

    So, I’m really pumped. I think I can do this. My main goal is to stay focused and consistent. Try not to miss a day with Rob and stick to the plan Christy and I have worked out with food.

    As for the food, what a week! I’m no longer eating red meat, cut down my cookie intake, portion controlling and not eating past 8pm. You would think that’s a lot of change but it really doesn’t fell like it. They’re simple steps. Christy refuses to call it a diet. Instead she says were just adding foods into my daily routine. I like that. Doesn’t make me feel like I’m giving up to much, just enjoying healthier foods. PS- cutting out red meat was my choice. Read the book Skinny Bastard or Fast Food Nation and you’ll see why I stopped.

    For my complete food blog go to www.howtochow.com

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    Post image for Jeff Meacham: Sky Fit Challenger 1

    Jeff Meacham: Sky Fit Challenger 1

    by Jeff on July 21, 2009

    Jeff Headshot 5Hi. My name is Jeff Meacham and I’ll be taking the Sky Fit Challenge for the next 3 months and want to share my journey with you. Basically, it goes like this. I’m in decent shape, I work out, play sports but I also eat a lot and don’t stay consistent with my workout. So, that means the love handles don’t go away and that layer of fat doesn’t leave. So, what happens when I take my buddy the personal trainer (Rob Dionne) and my wife the Holistic Health Counselor (Christy Meyers) and have them put me on a 3 month plan? Listen, I’m not one to go crazy like Arnold in the 70′s and eat a full cow & protein shakes all day. I also don’t want to work out so hard that I throw up after the workout and can’t lift the cell phone to my ear for 3 hours. So what does it take? Portion control? No late night eating? Making sure I don’t cheat my workouts? etc, etc. Maybe? Or maybe it’s more than that. I don’t know, so that’s what I’m going to learn from these two pretty people and then share it with you.

    Okay, so that’s my intro to what is going to happen. Here is more about me. I’m from the east coast but have lived in LA for 2 1/2 years. I, like so many in LA, am an actor and hoping to make it big. I’ve been married to a wicked awesome lady for 1 year but we have been together since 2002. I grew up in Connecticut and Florida, splitting time between my parents. School in FL, summers ad vacations in New England. I love movies, sports, my crazy family and having to shave my chest hair down cause I have Irish blood that gives you a hairy body and a thinning head. I went to college at SUNY Purchase and have a BFA in Acting. I just turned 30, enough said.

    Day one was Monday July 20th. I started the day at 8am (waking up early is also a problem of mine) had a piece of Organic Spelt bread w/ hummus from the Hollywood Farmers Market and sliced cucumber. At 10am I did my first workout with Rob that consisted of Chest & Back workouts with abs & legs being a constant through the next 3 months. Rob works outside using bands, balls, stairs and a super cool homemade pull up bar. It was warm out but growing up on the humid east coast I did okay. By the end of the hour, my abs were soar, I was sweating up a storm and ready for more food and a cold shower. At 11:45 I made myself a post workout shake using RiceDay One BodyDream’s Chocolate Rice Drink, one scoop of Whey Protein Power (Biochem Raw Foods & Whey Vanilla flavor), berries and Vitality SuperGreen. For more info on that green drink or foods I’m eating go to Christy’s website www.howtochow.com. But no worries, as we go along, I’ll have more info for you on these products. Lunch was at 2:45. Salad with Chicken (the Chicken came from the Chicken guy at the Hollywood Farmers Mkt. It is unbelievable!). Dinner was at 7pm, we had Fish (on sale at Whole Foods) with roasted Sweet Potatoes and broccoli. Day one in the books. Feeling good, little soar.

    Couple more things for you to know about me and this whole experiment. I love cookies, those are my nemesis and I will not give them up. So, I will help you and me by finding the best cookies in town that are not filled with sugar and processed junk. I know a lot of people work during the week and don’t have time for cooking all day. No worries, I’m going to search for all the best lunch & dinner places in LA with good , healthy, organic food cause Christy wont have it any other way. I’m not a wealthy person (at least not yet) so I will help you and me buy finding what is good for you but wont break the bank. As for the workouts, I have so much to learn from Rob and will share my new knowledge with you. As the weeks move along I will give you pics of my bodies progress and tell you what worked for me and what didn’t. Join in, read along and hopefully I can be proof that a little more effort and guidance from 2 people who have already changed so many lives can really make a difference for me.

    Click here to read all of Jeff’s blog posts

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