The numbers are astonishing on what I was able to accomplish over ten weeks, but my journey is just beginning.

I needed a change in my life as I found my health decreasing and that my weight was at the highest its ever been. I am getting married this December and I want nothing more than to look great for it. Being very timid, I walked through the double doors of Farrell's and everything changed.

The program features 45 minute workouts six days a week. Three days are spent on cardio kickboxing, while the other three are resistance strength training. I wanted to make sure that I got the most out of the 10-week challenge and I did not miss a single class.

It's easy to come on here and just tell you about my results. In a nutshell, I lost 24 pounds, dropped three inches off my chest, thighs, and waist, quadrupled the amount of pushups in a minute, tripled the amount of sit-ups in a minute, and took three minutes off a mile run/walk. Over the last 10 weeks, I have found out that this program is much more than just numbers.

Ten Things I Learned on My 10-Week Farrell's Extreme Bodyshaping Challenge

1) Don't let the name scare you!
- This is a big one. People tend to hear "extreme" and get scared. Yes, the workouts are very challenging but it is also designed to work for each individual at their pace. People of all ages have done the program and I promise that if I didn't die during it, you won't.

2) Your body is capable of doing things you don't expect
- I can't tell you the amount of times I said "There is no way I can do those!" and somehow managed to pull out about five of the reps on the first time. Doesn't matter if it is box jumps on a fun Friday, or a pyramid of kicks and sit-ups, the more you conquer the "I can't" the better experience it becomes.

3) Time is NOT an issue
- 45 minutes a day. You can achieve your goals in that little of time per day. When people hear six days a week they initially get scared by it. Truth is, that is 4.5 hours of exercise per week. Not to mention, the 45 minutes goes by super fast.

4) Nutrition is KEY
- Beating a dead horse here I'm sure, but a lot of my changes have been because of a switch in my nutrition. I have focused on limiting my portion sizes and taking in more protein. Truthfully, I could have even done more and could have had better results if I followed the program more closely. One member lost almost 40 pounds during this 10-week challenge while sticking religiously to the nutrition program.

5) Community is important
- Accountability. We've all been there before where the gym membership is signed and after a couple of weeks it becomes just a keychain. Having a team keeps people accountable and leads to a better experience. In ten weeks I feel like I have made many new friends and even a workout family. PEOPLE THERE WANT YOU TO SUCCEED!

6) Resistance bands DO work!
- This one is more for the guys. I did this also and I know many, many people have done it in the past and will continue to do it. "Where are the weights!?!?!?!" The idea of resistance bands usually make people scoff, but they provide some of the most intense strength training that I have gone through. You'd be surprised on how tough it can be to use bands and how much you can get out of them.

7) It ISN'T about the numbers during the process
- The first day you are asked to make a pledge that you won't step on a scale. We all know that we do it because we always want to SEE results through those means instantly. The important aspect to it though is that people can quickly get discouraged and dropped off. It's a process that lasts over 10 weeks and not three days. Testing is done at the five-week mark and then at the end of the 10 weeks. Those numbers will show much more than just a number on a scale.

8) There is no such thing as a bad day
- I can verify that I had many of those "bad days" where all I wanted to do was go home and relax. I fought through it and went through the double-doors of Farrell's anyways. That experience has proven to me that there really aren't any "bad days." Any time I walked into a kickboxing workout "not feeling it" I usually cranked out my best workout of the week. Again, you'd be surprised on what your body is capable of even when attitude is struggling.

9) You have to BELIEVE in YOURSELF
- Cliche. I get it and you're probably thinking in your head "Just stop it Jerry!" I never believed that I would get through 60 workout programs. I never believed after day one that I would be where I am right now. I even asked my coach to make sure that I wouldn't quit on myself. It was about week three where my attitude switched and I started to believe that I could accomplish my goals. Everyone else believed in me, and I just needed something to show that I could believe in myself. Trust me, your hardest enemy or critic is yourself.

10) A lot can happen in 10 Weeks, but it's just the start of the journey
- My journey is just beginning but I am extremely happy with my results so far. It's amazing how much momentum the body gains over 10 weeks, but even more amazing on how quick it can shut down after stopping. It is also incredible on how fast 10 weeks goes by. This program was not only a great start, but is a great launching point to get to where I want to be with my fitness and health.

Farrell's Extreme Bodyshaping has two locations in Sioux Falls. The summer 10-week session will begin on July 9th.

 

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