Our HRYMCA fitness experts are committed to leading Team Tupelo to victory! Three of our YMCA Personal Trainers have been paired with WHMP radio personalities as they embark on adopting heart-happy lifestyles by means of personalized fitness programs and smart nutrition.

Y Personal Trainers are working one-on-one with Team Tupelo —ready to share their fitness and motivational expertise. Martha Grinnell is coaching Chris Collins, Erin Mcdonald is working with Jaz Tupelo, and Lynne Marie Wanamaker is heading Bill Dwight’s fitness program. These three certified trainers are confident that they will lead their team members to victory!

8/6 We asked YMCA Personal Trainers — We are more than halfway through the WHMP Fitness Challenge. At this four-month mark, how is your client doing?

Martha Grinnell talks about Chris Collins

Chris has lost about 3.5 inches from his abdomen (where he is holding most of his weight). He has dropped a total of about 14lbs and his body fat has decreased over 1%. So, he's coming along and progressing at his own pace.

Erin McDonald talks about Jaz Tupelo

Jaz is doing (and looking) fantastic! In terms of weight loss, she is just shy of the 25-pound mark. Her workouts are going great; she is staying committed to early morning exercise, commuting in on her bike most days of the week. Our latest work together is focused on training for Smith College's Fall Fit 5k at the end of September. If she maintains her level of dedication I am confident she will have a finish we are both proud of!

4/6 Starting Date: We asked YMCA Personal Trainers to tell us something about their clients — what are the first steps?

Martha Grinnell talks about Chris Collins

Chris knows he is at high risk for some serious health issues and with this being said, he is taking this program VERY seriously. I'm really proud of his determination and respect for the challenge. He has been working very, very hard from the start and has to fight his demons on a daily basis.  He knows that the first month of the program really sets the tone for the remaining months. 

My plan of action for Chris involves "phasing his training." Becoming more fit and losing weight is a process so we need to progress gently, especially at the start. Chris has prescribed heart rate zones and our initial phase has him limited to the lower zones as he lays is initial aerobic foundation. We're including resistance training sessions 2x per week. Chris has a written plan for the month and is working out 5 days per week. He has weekly goal training minutes to attain which increase each month. Slow and steady is our plan to avoid injury and allow for gradual gains in fitness, gradual losses in weight. Chris is also working on making better dietary choices.

Martha Grinnell has been coaching endurance athletes since 1992. She holds a BS in Health and Fitness from Springfield College and a MS in Exercise and Sport Studies from Smith College. She is a certified USA Triathlon coach and also an American College of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer. Visit her web site for more.

Erin McDonald talks about Jaz Tupelo

Jaz is really committed to getting fit, and she has made some great strides already. One of her biggest challenges is finding time in her busy schedule for exercise, so she has been making it to the YMCA in the very early morning for her workouts. She also came up with a healthy solution to the logistical challenge of sharing a car with her husband by riding her bike to and from work. Jaz has had success in the past with adhering to a prescribed fitness regimen, having most recently trained for and finished the Northampton Hot Chocolate Run. We are working on getting her back into a routine with a moderate intensity program, including cardiovascular exercise most days of the week and 2-3 weight training sessions per week. She is very motivated and has a great attitude!

I really like this quote below that I found in one of my ACSM newsletters. I like the parallels that can be drawn to the relationship between personal trainer and client: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." – Lao Tzu

Erin McDonald is an American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Personal Trainer. She believes exercise must be a priority in our busy lives and designs customized, simple and effective workout programs that best suit her clients interests and lifestyle.

Lynne Marie Wanamaker talks about Bill Dwight

Bill and I are in strong agreement that weight loss is not the most important goal for him. We are talking about a life-saving life-style change. Bill has been open about the health conditions and risks he faces. The research shows that a sedentary thin person has more risk of death and disease than an active person who might fall into the "overweight" category.

Movement matters! In this early stage, I am educating Bill about different levels of exertion vis-a-vis cardiovascular exercise and encouraging him to mix it up and work at a higher intensity some of the time. I'm helping him to build on some excellent existing habits, such as walking to work and working out at home in the mornings. I'm also going to teach him about effective strength training: which exercises to do, how many sets and reps, and how to select the right weight.

Lynne Marie Wanamaker is a personal trainer and fitness instructor, a martial artist, an anti-violence educator and a mom. For nearly 20 years she has been privileged to work with women, men, teens and children in movement disciplines that strengthen body, mind and spirit. Lynne Marie works with individuals and groups in many Northampton locations.
Learn more at www.compassionateconditioning.com.

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