719's Six Week Challenge Leads To Lifestyle Changes

Since opening two years ago, 719 Fitness Center in Neligh has maintained a goal of wanting to help people develop a healthier lifestyle through a number of programs and offerings. Their latest endeavor to reach that goal has proved to be their most successful yet.

The downtown gym recently wrapped up their Six Week Challenge. More than 50 people completed the challenge that focused on nutrition, a diverse workout program and accountability.

“We had a meal plan for them, we had recipes at home for them, we had workouts at home for them and they also got to meet with us three times a week,” explained Shelby Snodgrass, who owns 719 with her husband, Seth. “Then they had the accountability component of it which included a Facebook group where they could talk amongst themselves and they had to post their groceries every week just to be accountable.”

Each individual had a very specific goal for the six weeks, depending on their gender. Females were aiming to lose 20 pounds or five percent of their body fat while males attempted to lose 25 pounds or six percent of their body fat.

Overall, the challengers lost 701 total pounds throughout the six weeks, including a number of individuals that hit the 20 pound mark. One of those successful individuals was Dave Jacobsen, who lost more than three pounds a week in the six weeks.

“It helped me break through a plateau,” Jacobsen said. “I had already lost 23 pounds before the challenge, but the pounds were coming off slow. Having to be there three times a week with Seth and Shelby helped. They made you push yourself harder each workout with more reps and weight each time.”

The program, which Shelby describes as a physical therapy-based program, was done in a group setting. Each challenger was required to attend three sessions a week and were asked to schedule those sessions ahead of time to help maintain accountability. Each session was designed to improve the individual’s performance outside of the gym as well.

“It gears towards your everyday life, basically. Whether it be getting out your car, getting off the couch or lifting boxes at work,” Seth explained.

Challengers ranged in age from 25 to 66 years old. The program was flexible enough to make it beneficial for everyone regardless of age. The progress made across the board for members was phenomenal, according to Shelby.

“We had a few people who couldn’t do any sit ups at all, for example. By the end (of the six weeks), they were doing sit ups with weight.”

719 has offered a number of different options to help people hit their goals in the past, but this challenge was by far their most successful. What made it such an outstanding program?

“Just us being there 24/7,” Seth said. “Every question they had, they asked and we had an answer for them. That helped a lot.”

“I would also say the accountability. They had to check in on Facebook,” added Shelby. “That and the group environment. It was motivating and we all became like a little family.”

719 plans to offer more challenges after the holidays. In addition, a majority of those that completed the first challenge chose to continue on to a second challenge, also beginning shortly after the holidays.