What Mark's Been Up To

Mark took on a pretty major challenge on January 1. He tried out for -- and was selected! -- to participate in an online weight loss reality show through International Sports Clubs. Over 1,000 people from the Greater Lafayette area applied and 22 were selected. He has been working out 6 days per week for 1-2 hours per day. So far, he has lost over 30 lbs and has been in second place in the contest. It's kind of like "The Biggest Loser" show in that they calculate your percentage of weight loss. Mark has changed his eating habits and has inspired not only me but many others around him. Simon cheers him on and says "good job, Daddy!" We miss him in the evenings but we're so very proud of him.

Last night, he was interviewed by our local news station. Here is a link to it and I will put the text here:

When to work through workout pain
The difference between soreness and injuries
Updated: Wednesday, 09 Feb 2011, 12:09 PM ESTPublished : Tuesday, 08 Feb 2011, 9:52 PM EST
Niccole Caan
LAFAYETE, Ind. (WLFI) - Sore or injured? It can be hard to tell the difference when you first start exercising.
In Lose Some, Win Some, NewsChannel 18 looks at how to tell the difference.
Regular gym visits are a new component to International Sports Club's New Year Resolution Reality Contestant Mark Ailor's fitness plan. He said the workouts have him moving in ways he's not used to, and that is causing him some pain.
"Definitely sore, especially those first weeks,” he said.
That pain and discomfort can discourage some from continuing a fitness plan, but International Sports Clubs' Lori Fortwendel said there is a way to tell if the aches are muscle fatigue or an injury.
"If you feel pain in a joint itself, that should really be a red flag that an it's an injury,” said Fortwendel.
For an injury what you need is RICE.
"Rest, ice, compression, elevation and an ibuprofen doesn't hurt either,” Fortwendel explained what the letters stand for.
Call a doctor if the pain doesn't go away in three days. But if the ache is in the middle of a muscle, that can be a sign of soreness. It can last up to two days. Fortwendel said it may feel uncomfortable, but the pain will subside as your muscles get use to working out. Ailor said his right leg often hurts when exercising. Lunges are especially difficult for him to do, so he's found a way to keep going without increasing his pain.
"I've learned to modify slightly some of the exercises,” said Ailor.
So far Ailor has lost 30 pounds and hopes to drop another 30. Some say no pain, no gain, but he believes you don't have be in agony to reach fitness goals.
For more fitness tips and tricks or to see how the contestants are doing, visit: www.newyearresolutionreality.com/

I will update the blog on Mark's progress when the program is completed in March. I hope that you'll cheer him on!!