After years of neglecting my health;physical fitness and exercise has become a major priority in my life. The first 12 weeks in “O’Connell Extreme Fitness” jump started my interest in health. I have become more conscious about what I eat. Before, I would just grab whatever off the shelf because it looked good; now I have become very disciplined about reading labels. I want to know more about the nutritional value or the harm of the food I am putting into my body.
When I first started exercising seriously, I wanted to lose a lot of weight and body fat. So along with exercise, I tried to reduce the amount of calories and fat I was eating on a daily basis. There is a mathematical formula for weight loss, but I kept it simple. I just decided I would eat no more than 2200 calories a day, because I knew through exercise and my increased metabolism I would burn more than 3000 calories a day. As it worked out I lost an average of three pounds a week which doesn’t sound like much but when you calculate that total over a 12 week period, its a pretty substantial amount. And I accomplished this in a very healthy way.
I feel good physically, but the greatest improvement has been my mental state. It feels good to have people comment on your weight loss and it feels good to look in the mirror and see that my love handles and pot belly have dissapeared. I am also happy to say my fitness journey has inspired a few of my friends to join me at 5:30 in the morning.
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This post was written by rcoleman on February 27, 2009
I just keep looking forward to what is next on the blog day after day….very interesting!! I am so glad that you enjoy the program as much as most everyone else in it! Keep up the good work!!
Rick we are sooo PROUD of your accomplishments! You are a inspiration to many people. Your hard work is paying off!!!
We are looking forward to see where this journey takes you !!!
RUSS and KRISTI O’CONNELL
My son and I saw Rick do a fitness story about his work in the OFX class and then we ran into him while he was covering a UNI football playoff game. His enthusiasm for the OFX program got us fried up and we decided to give it a try. We started the first class on January 12th and have just finished the 7th week. It is an extreme workout but the results are great and we have bonded with our classmates. I can’t say the hour is fun but I do look forward to it. I have already signed up for the next class. Russ is a great instructor. If you want to give the program a try , you will not be disappointed. Tim Luce
Rick you are in good hands. Russ & Kristi are experts in exercise. Your story about neglecting your health and eating anything quick and handy has been my story. I started about a month ago on cleaning up my eating habits also and more exercise. Good luck–and listen to the O’connell’s. Rex Reinhart–Jesup, Ia
Last year, sometime in 2008, the company I formally worked for decided to do their monthly focus meeting on health and fitness. This is when I first heard about OXF when 2 representatives from United Sport and Athlete came to speak about their fitness programs. I was also impressed with the programs they have for our young people in the community, providing some youth the opportunity they otherwise may not have. I didn’t join at the time but kept the program in the back of my head wondering how I would fit this program into my busy schedule. Then several months ago, I ran into Rick Coleman after he had completed his first OXF class and noticing his rather fit arms and new physique, I asked him how he got into such great shape. Then, responding with that smile Rick has he said, “I lift every day.” He said he did Russ’s OXF class at USA Athletic Club at 5:30 a.m. I was inspired. I was excited about the prospect of working out, reshaping my body and seeing changes along the way during this 12-week fitness program. So, I signed up and have been going since January, putting on my boxing gloves and getting better and better at push-ups! Whether I take this class again or not, this class and what Russ has taught us will be a constant measure of all fitness classes to come. This is a beginning of a new lifestyle for me, an awesome foundation for which to build my physical strength and also maintain a healthy mind and a content spirit.