They did it! A recap of the ProvinceTOWN Fitness Challenge
By Laura Shabott
April 10th, 2012
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Newcomer Michael Eckman went from a one minute squat to eleven minutes during the Provincetown Fitness Challenge (PFC), a twelve-week program designed by trainer/coach Denise Gaylord. It was a delight to witness a crowd of happy people dipping themselves into the ocean at Herring Cove (in April?!!?) to celebrate their completion of this intensive.
It was a delight to witness a crowd of happy people dipping themselves into the ocean at Herring Cove (in April?!!?) to celebrate their completion in this intensive.
A thirty-year Outer Cape resident, Gaylord had worked one-on-one with individuals as a personal trainer and life coach for twenty years. Creating the PFC has melded her skill set into a group phenomenon. She says that “this program integrates all the things that need to happen to make someone healthy.”
Participants competed against themselves with the support of an entire community. Lynne Martin lost 18 pounds and 3 ½ inches and friend Barry Cook lost 15 pounds and 2 ½ inches. While most people shed between fifteen to twenty pounds, the PFC had a much larger scope than just weight reduction. Gaylord said, “I designed a book utilizing a star system based on a twenty minute workout, but how do you measure a marked increase in confidence and joy?”
Christie and Njina waiting for their After pictures.
Both Christie Hardwick and Ngina Lythcott, waiting to take their “After” pictures, had the glow of fit folks; a vibrancy uncommon in Provincetown during the offseason. They both remarked that their perceived fitness level had doubled and it was great to make new friends.
Gyms, fitness studios, restaurants, retailers and hairstylists opened their arms to PTC participants throughout the twelve weeks. A great percentage of the collective will continue on, buying memberships and frequenting these supportive vendors. There are online reinforcements as well, with a Facebook page and website.
Provincetown Fitness Challenge: The Documentary, co-created with Daniel Gomez Liata of Outermost Media, will be complete by the end of April, airing on Provincetown TV sometime in May.
Kudos to you, Denise Gaylord! She will continue to transform lives individually while she prepares for the next challenge. Contact her at dgaylordcoach@gmail.com.
“Notes from Lands End”, by artistic bon vivant Laura Shabott, is a weekly account of the people, places and events that make our town so special.
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