Get Fit challenger Peterson hits home stretch with head of steam

Ten professionals and 10 teams are competing in the 2014 Get Fit Challenge, a spinoff of IB’s popular Fittest Executive Challenge. Who will earn the healthiest marks? Follow along on Facebook and then find out at the In Business Expo & Conference on Oct. 22. This week, IB checks in with Kevin Peterson, owner of Peterson Technology Group, who is competing in the individual challenge.

The In Business Get Fit Challenge is winding down. We are more than three months into the competition with less than two months to go until the final weigh-in. As anyone competing in a race or striving for a goal would do, I’m assessing where I am and what needs to be done to complete this challenge and be satisfied with my performance and results.

So how have I done so far? I have lost more than 15 pounds, am healthier, have more energy, and feel much better than I used to. My clothes are fitting better, even to the point where I may need to re-wardrobe instead of sucking in to button my pants. I hit my initial goal of losing 15 to 20 pounds but have decided to lose about 10 more. I have lost the weight and continue to lose it, mainly by eating healthier.

I used to wake up many mornings with a sore throat, which I attributed to the amount of sugar I inhaled. Since I started this challenge, I have had only one or two sore throats, and those have indeed come after eating a lot of sugar. My kids joke that I don’t even eat sweets anymore. That’s not quite true; I just eat a lot less.

When we used to go out for sweets, I would get a large dessert, finish it, and then finish off whatever my family hadn’t yet finished from their small desserts. Last week my wife and I split a medium Culver’s Concrete, a favorite of ours, and that was plenty for me. I’ve also stopped eating just to eat. I try to eat when I’m hungry and have plenty of healthy snacks available. The food I eat tastes better as I’m taking time to savor it more.

I haven’t done much to change my exercise routine yet. I recently bought a new hybrid road bike, but I haven’t gotten into a good routine with it. The lack of exercise has been my biggest frustration. Since the competition is more than half done, I need to start kicking it in and figure out how to exercise more. I’m thinking I might have to start waking up early to get some long bike rides in. While I’m not looking forward to the early mornings, I really do enjoy the rides when I go on them.

(Continued)

I have four goals for the Get Fit Challenge: lose 15 to 20 pounds, eat healthier, get into a good fitness routine, and win. I’ve read all of the Get Fit Challenge blogs and noticed many of the competitors are happy to be getting healthier and don’t seem to be as concerned about the final outcome. While I am glad to be much healthier, I want to win as well. This is, after all, a challenge.

I am excited that I’ve hit my weight-loss goal and have decided to lose some more. I am eating much healthier and enjoying it. I intend to take exercising more seriously. I’m approaching the final stretch in the same way I would any other competition, goal, game, or business opportunity. My goal is to win. If I put my best effort in, I should have a good chance of winning, and that gives me the drive I need. The way I see it, if I didn’t think I could win this, I shouldn’t be competing.

So how do they select the winner of the Get Fit Challenge? At the end of August we will have a final weigh-in and assessment during which we will all be judged on our improvement on weight loss, BMI, cholesterol, flexibility, number of push-ups, and a treadmill stress test. With less than two months to go, I know where I am and what adjustments I need to make to finish the Get Fit Challenge strong.

Meet all of the competitors here, and see who wins at the In Business Expo & Conference.

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