The Assessment

On day 1 of our journey, Paige, Nickey, and I met at 8:30am at the track to get our starting measurements.  It was a bit hot and humid out, but nothing unbearable.  Maybe, for the first time, Paige would actually HAVE to drink water!  At this point, I hadn't seen Paige's blog post about her "last supper."  Make sure you check that one out! It was her first post in her blog about this journey: http://www.changeforitall.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-last-lunch-and-supper-and-video.html

Paige's Before Photos from 6/29/13

We would do several circumference measures, as well as BMI, Resting Heart Rate, and before photos.  We'd also do several fitness assessment pieces for baseline numbers, such as a Wall-Sit test to analyze leg strength/endurance, a pushup test to measure upper body endurance, a plank to measure core endurance, and a 1 mile walk test to estimate V02max, an indicator of fitness level.  

Paige completing her 1 mile walk test

Ironically, when Paige had joined my bootcamp class back in January for those 2 sessions, we had done several of the same measurements that we did for this assessment too.  So, on one good note,Paige was 7lbs less than she was in January.  BUT, her upper waist measurement (smallest part of waist) was 1 inch bigger, and her lower waist (at belly button) was 2.25 inches bigger!  This is definitely a sign of metabolic syndrome, which we clearly know Paige has.  Waist measurements are a huge indicator of health.   In fact, all of Paige's circumference measures were the same or larger than they were in January with the exception of the shoulders.  So, weighing less, but actually bigger!  A lot bigger.  Time to reverse this! I'd rather Paige weigh MORE, and be smaller!  Boy, do we have our work cut out for us.

 

Paige and Nickey enjoying their Wall-Sit

I also ask 3 specific questions during every assessment I complete.  On a scale of 1-10, what's your energy level?  On a scale of 1-10, what's your sleep quality?  and On a scale of 1-10, what's your stress level.  Paige answered: 3, 4, and 7, respectively.  We MUST improve these numbers, and good thing that a proper diet and proper exercise are the two best ways to improve all 3.   Weight loss will rarely take place if you have low energy levels, poor sleep, and high stress.  So, we have to take an all encompassing approach to this journey, and not ignore these important aspects.

Paige and Nickey doing their Pushup assessment

With our assessment done, we can now begin the plan.   I am excited to repeat this assessment every 6-8 weeks to determine progress and what we need to work harder at.