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Maintain Your Fitness Goals
Known as the "Bookends that keep all the riff raff in the middle together", Mary Lou and Grant Wehrli are the youngest and oldest of seven siblings. Watching them joke around with each other you'd think they were best friends as well as brother-sister. Back in January the two made a "Fat Bet". Both managed to lose thirty pounds - making their goals. Now, maintaining their weight is the new bet.
"We're competitive, we come from a competitive family, so it's been fun," says Grant. "Diet and exercise is truly critical - portion control and being more cognizant of what nutritional value is out there. Partner that with exercise - and setting short term goals as well as long term goals - My long term goal is getting to January 1st, but the short term goal is that just makes sure I'm in shape for the Thanksgiving morning turkey trot."
"It's a lifestyle change, I've been learning about food. It has been eye opening. Not only did I lose weight, I feel better," said Mary Lou. "I work out at Edwards Health and Fitness unless it's nice out. We have so many great bike trails in Naperville. It's a new lifestyle and I ask myself, 'When am I full?' For example, we had a family reunion in August - I thought, 'so that's the reunion experience'. It's a learning process and each one is an opportunity. You don't miss your bad habits though when you get used to the good habits."
Tips from Mary Lou & Grant:
• Cut up your veggies and keeping them handy in the fridge
• Don't get frustrated - Keep it fun
• Have short term goals as well as your long term fitness goals
• Be Aware of What and How Much you are eating
• Read labels
• Work out with a friend - or sibling
• Make a friendly wager on fatbet.net
• Remember that celebrations are opportunities to practice your good habits
• Test your challenger by dropping off cake and left over candy at their doorstep!
• Practice healthy weight loss, a couple of pounds a week and you're doing great!
• Get involved in fitness in non-intimidating ways like participating in a Get Fit Naperville activity or check out NaperDink next summer! Ages 4-87 welcome!
• Login to fatbet.net to check in on Mary Lou and Grant!
Where to find your daily inspiration:
www.getfitnaperville.com
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About The Writer: Michelle LeBlanc is the Communications Chair for GetFit Naperville. She is also the founder of the Naperville Cultural Center and a corporate accounting graduate from North Central College,, as well as a freelance writer. She is an expert in local and regional media relations and a frequent contributor to newspapers, radio and television. Her column, titled Get Fit Naperville, provides monthly updates and easy tips to getting fit. The concept of Get Fit Naperville is to encourage getting fit in a non-intimidating, natural way. Every month, Michelle highlights quick and easy fitness suggestions that anyone could incorporate into their lives or feature a success story.
