If you are looking for the best program to make a complete healthy lifestyle transformation, look no further than the 10-week challenge.
==========================================================================================
Have you ever had one of those moments when all the stars seem to “align” and you find yourself at the right place at exactly the right time? It is those “perfect” opportunities that make you wonder if there is something bigger “operating in the background”…
Well Mary McKernan, had one of those moments when she discovered CKO/2.0. Mary went out for a random bike ride. This bike ride was “random” because Mary’s dog had just died, and well, as you can imagine, Mary was depressed. So to help with the grieving process Mary decided to go for a bike ride. As Mary put it, I didn’t know what to do with myself, so I just decided to ride my bike around the shopping center near my house… It was in this shopping center where Mary discovered CKO/2.0 and well the rest is history…
So in just 10-weeks Mary lost 13-inches and 16-lbs! In addition she improved her max push-ups (in 2-mins) by 19, her max goblet squat (in 2-mins) by 12, her max sit-ups (in 2-mins) by 30, and her flex arm hang by 16-secs.
To learn more about Mary’s 10-week journey, read the interview below.
September 2015 (left) – November 2015 (right)
Besides being an absolute warrior in the gym, what is your day job?
I am a photographer/writer and photo editor.
Do you have any hobbies?
I love bicycles…and when I travel it usually involves a bike tour.
How did you learn about the challenge and was it a hard decision to sign up?
I had just moved into my apartment and I decided to take a ride on my bicycle to check out the neighborhood. Instead of going south on Greenwood, I went north and I was riding through the parking lot and I stopped at CKO Seattle. The guy at the desk told me about 2.0, so I rode over and noticed the chalkboard with the 10 week challenge information. It wasn’t a hard decision to sign up because I was told that I could get my money back if all the terms of the challenge were met. I liked that idea. Also, unfortunately, my dog had passed away 2 days before and I was grieving and I missed her terribly and I was depressed. I knew that I had to get out and exercise. I needed something structured and I think it was almost serendipitous that this challenge began in less than a week. I hope this doesn’t sound too ridiculous but going to the boxing classes and working out with others helped me through the grieving process. I still miss my dog but I’m not depressed anymore and this challenge helped me through it.
Mary (back row, 4th from right) competed another 2.0 Bootcamp
What was your favorite aspect of the challenge?
I enjoyed the camaraderie. I liked that we were treated as a team and that I was able to see other challengers’ progress. I liked that all the instructors were so friendly and inviting. I also liked the music that was played at 2.0 Fitness and CKO Seattle. I think watching the documentary Fed Up was a big help to understanding food. I can’t think of one favorite thing because there were so many.
What was the hardest part about the challenge?
Taking a photo of myself in the mirror was the hardest part. For the first 10 days I wouldn’t even look at the photo. I would just send it to Jessica. At about day 26 I finally started to see a change and then I actually looked forward to taking my photo.
Doing deadlifts (2.0 semi-private training)
What motivates you to walk through that door day after day and continue to push yourself?
I look at the 70 photos I took of myself over the course of this challenge. I see the changes in just 10 weeks.
Check out Mary’s 70 day (10-week) “selfie transformation:
What’s one thing you still find yourself struggling with?
I wish that I would do yoga and stretch more.
What would your advice be to some considering doing a 10 week challenge?
Sign up immediately! Keep track of your workouts and your food. Remember, you are going to change habits and the weight will come off and you will get into shape.
Mary (far left) celebrating another completed workout with fellow 10-week challengers
Have you tried any other challenges (with our gym or another)- if so what made this one different?
I belonged to another gym when I lived in Fremont/Wallingford and it wasn’t a challenge but a group “meet-up”. I could never get into it and I wasted a lot of money. I belonged to a lot of gyms in the past but I could never get the momentum that I seem to have now. I know that has a lot to do with how structured and planned the workouts are and all of the instructors, of course.
Working the bag at CKO Seattle
What can we do better to help you actualize your true potential?
I think you are already doing it but I’ll say it anyway. Change up the workouts. Maybe post more articles about fitness and health on social media. More mini-challenges. I think I saw at another gym that everyone can put money into a pool and if you miss a workout you get less and less of your money back and the people who go to all the classes get more than they put in. (Is that even legal? I find money very motivating…ha! It really is fun to talk about when you’re at work).
Share any relevant information you’d like about yourself that other team members might not know about you (also a good place to talk about any success you have had since joining the challenge)!
I hadn’t seen my family since before I started the challenge and when I went home every single one of my family members saw that I had lost weight and told me how good and healthy I looked.
It is amazing the amount of change possible in just 10 short weeks!
Congratulations Mary, your 10-week transformation is impressive. We (CKO/2.0) are so glad you decided to ride your bike around our parking lot!
