With a little over a month left in the Kin's Green Challenge, a 13-week health and fitness make-over, Delany Dunn Bramley is worried that he has plateaued.
Sure, he has lost 20 lb. and two inches off his waist since he started the challenge, sponsored by Kin's Farm Market and Black Press (owner of The Tri-City News) but Bramley would like to be in even better shape.
He would like to get down to 200 lb. to hit his body mass index weight for his 6'4" frame but even Bramley knows that goal is unrealistic in such a short time. Still, he wants to make sure he doesn't gain a few pounds - the goal is to come in at 241 and he's only one pound shy.
"I'm trying to keep the intensity up, making sure I'm getting to the target heart range, that is key for weight loss."
How is he doing it? Bramley has been eating green veggies and fruits as well as lots of fish protein, and he also gets up every weekday at 6:30 a.m. to hop on the elliptical trainer.
Bramley climbs on to the pain machine and puts as much effort into the marching gait as possible in 18 to 20 minutes. It's not easy, he admits, and sometimes he dreads doing it. But with perseverance and happy thoughts, he keeps going.
"I try to think about what keeps me inspired," the marketing and communications consultant admits. "It's my girls, my family."
That and the possibility of winning a cruise to Los Angeles and maybe adding an excursion to Disneyland with his wife and his twin two-year-old daughters.
Bramley is also hitting the gym more regularly during this last stretch to make sure he gets the most benefit from this health and weight loss challenge. He has been up and down on diets before - a few years ago he weighed in at 400 lb. - and knows that a loss of motivation can mean missing his goal.
"It's crunch time. If I've got a chance to win this thing I've got to move now."
DELANY'S NUMBERS
Weight goal: 241 lb. by the beginning of June
Current Weight: 242 lb.
Weight loss since beginning of Kin's Challenge: 20 lb.
KEEPING TRACK
In June, we'll catch up with Bramley to see how he made out. For more information, read Bramley's blog at: www.bclocalnews.com/SpecialEvents/GreenFighters/204858491.html.
