The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

What do Alexya Young and Kirk Bullard have in common?

They are the fore-runners in the ladies’ and men’s division in the Big Blue Fitness Club, which is designed to provide a challenge for competitors, not only to lose weight, but become physically fit through their daily sessions from 5:30-7pm at the new Thomas A Robinson stadium.

Young, a 35-year-old school teacher at TG Glover, said a year ago she first saw an advertisement by Delwin ‘Blue’ Scott and she immediately got interested. Having lost 28 pounds since she got started, Young has been named as the most outstanding female for the first quarter.

“I love the way I look and feel right now,” said Young, who refused to give any idea of how much she weighed when she started. “It’s now a lifetime thing. It’s something that I will have to keep working at. I wasn’t on a diet. It’s a lifetime gauge.”

In addition to going through the vigorous workout sessions that Scott designs for them each day, including a strenuous monthly 10-mile walk on a Saturday morning, Young said she has had to change her eating habits, especially removing all fried foods from her diet.

“If I use oil, I would use only olive oil and if I use rice, I make sure and have a measuring stick on hand so I can weigh it,” she said. “I also take my lunch with me to work, so I am able to better watch what I eat. I don’t buy out that much. If I do, I look at what are the healthier items on the menu.

“It’s been a lot of adjusting for me. It takes a lot mentally, but you have to do it if you want to see the progress. I always let all my family and friends know that I am doing it, so they are aware of what to prepare if I am around them eating.”

Having done it, the former shot put thrower at CC Sweeting Secondary High said she wants to encourage the other members in her class to “not give up” and she advises those who are on the outside watching to “come out and join us because it is worth it in the long run.

“Join the club. What we have found out is Blue is not all that concerned about the money. If he did, it would have been higher than he charges us. But he is more concerned about helping us, so come on out, there’s still more room for you to get involved.”

Bullard, a structural engineer at the Ministry of Works, was struggling with his weight for a long time and after he reunited with Scott in the bank after they first met while they were lifting weights in the gym, said from the time he joined in July, he has already lost 30 pounds, which is the most by any male competitor.

“To lose 15 pounds was a big deal for me. I would always lose 15 pounds and gain it again, but after I lost 15 pounds the last time, it stretched out to five more and it consistently started to drop,” he said. “It didn’t happen overnight. It was a steady weight loss of 4-5 pounds a week.

“I feel more energetic and I know if I can do it, a lot of people can do it. I used to be a big fat guy, but now I feel a lot better because my heart is not racing when I go up stairs or steps. I don’t take the elevator anymore and I never try to park in front of a building anymore. I make sure that I burn more energy as I go.”

Having just celebrated his 42nd birthday on October 5, Bullard said he’s looking forward to getting back on the pitch and playing rugby again like he did at St John’s University.

And he had this bit of advice to those who are having problems with their weight.

“Don’t put it off for one day,” he said. “Don’t say ‘I’m going to start January 1, when my cousin wedding comes up or after the church picnic’ because of the food they are going to have,” he said. “You need to start now. Go into the fridge and clean it out and slowly change your eating habits.

“You can start by stop eating all that fried food, which cause you about 1,500 calories a day. Start now and watch the change in your life.”

From the time he’s been in the class, Bullard said Scott has been consistent in his teaching approach and he’s present and on time every day, which has made a big difference compared to some of the weight lifting sessions that he’s attended in the past with other instructors.

“He has some rules up on the door and we either obey them or we leave,” he said.

Scott, an employer at the National Sports Authority, said he’s grateful to Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson, who has provided the room at the stadium for him to conduct the classes.

“When I started this programme, it was for government workers because I realised that a lot of government workers have been sick and not been able to perform every day because of being fatigued or stressed out,” he said. “We have since opened it up to any and everybody who wants to lose weight.

“That’s my target, weight loss. We do polo-metrics and cardio. We lift weights, but we don’t focus so much on gaining mass. It’s all about toning and slimming down. If you don’t lose weight, you will get in shape. If you get in shape, you will lose weight.”

So far, Bullard said he has had an average class of 35 students, but they are now seeing a drastic change and they are using less medicines because of the change in their body masses.

If persons are interested in joining, they can visit Scott at the TAR Stadium or call him at 433-0560 for more details.