Fit 4 Life | ‘Twas indeed a Fit in 5 grand finale

Time sure flies when you’re having fun, and it races even faster when you’re having fun getting fit. For 12 weeks, since September 21, The Gleaner’s Fit 4 Life took fitness buffs and beginners alike on a journey to a healthier, fitter life, which ranged in intensity from gruelling boot camps to relaxing yoga, for Season Three’s Fit in 5.

In conjunction with our fitness partners – TrainFit Wellness Club, Sweet Energy Fitness Club, Body By Kurt and TaylorMade – Fit 4 Life kept muscles active and bodies reeling from the sometimes unfamiliar demands.

With no two workout sessions similar, participants were in for a treat each Saturday morning, starting at 6:30, for the negligible cost of zero dollars and lots of sweat. Not to mention lots of refreshments and prizes from our sponsors.

The season featured free boot camp-style workouts, lifestyle and fitness tips, challenges to win great prizes, demonstrations and samplings from sponsors and partners, health checks, full body massages, lots of giveaways, among a host of exciting things.

So on Saturday last when the programme rolled back into 7 North Street – the venue where the season kicked off – expectations were high for a final fête, which would not only include elements of the weeks leading up, but one which would surpass the others by far.

With MCs Robert ‘Astro’ Whyte and Sheena-Kay ‘Livewire’ Sinclair in control, the Grand Finale Sweatfest Party was bound to be seriously high intensity.

MYERS BROUGHT THE BURN!

The line-up of Tareeq from TrainFit Wellness Club; Endevarous Dancers from Sweet Energy Fitness Club; Andro from TrainFit; Kurt Dunn from Body By Kurt; Jo-Hanna Taylor from TaylorMade; and special guest Randy Myers from Myers Fitness Centre delivered a fast-paced dance party which had the participants rocking with the popular local dance moves. Never mind rhythm, or lack thereof, it was all in good fun.

The fitness experts kept the crowd in motion, in keeping with our title sponsor’s mandate – Jamaica Moves.

Straight out of Ocho Rios, St Ann, Randy Myers and his Unit 1 team brought the burn! As the specially invited guest, Myers was tasked with giving the workout enthusiasts one last high-intensity ‘Fit in 5’ set before the final cool-down.

He delivered beyond expectations.

It was near pandemonium as he brought those in attendance from one end of the courtyard to the next with wild abandon, all the time declaring his love for fitness. The faint of heart fell to the sidelines.

After all that intensity, a cool-down session was a must, and Jo-Hanna Taylor was on hand to help the fitness fanatics with their stretches in the only area of shade that remained after the sun had opened its arms to embrace the courtyard at The Gleaner.

And in the spirit of good humour, Fit 4 Life Brand Ambassador Dr Alfred Dawes challenged 77-year-old Gloria Allen to a dance-off – to ska, no less. Who won, you may wonder. Let’s just say the audience voted for Dr Dawes … to stick to medicine. Big up Gloria, a real general both in ska and fitness.

Many of our Fit 4 Lifers who had been with us from day one were gifted tokens of appreciation from our sponsors in the form of well-conditioned baskets containing goodies from their various brands.

Till the very end, Fit 4 Life sponsors Jamaica Moves, WATA, PowerAde, Foska Oats, Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Milk, Elle & Vire, Caribbean Choice, Gustazos, Eden Gardens Wellness Resort & Spa, JP St Mary’s, Medical Associates Hospital & Medical Centre, and GraceKennedy Money Services offered sweet reward for those who acquiesced to the stern commands of the unrelenting trainers.

ULTIMATE FIT IN 5

What’s a Fit 4 Life season without the challenges to win fantastic prizes … and the grand finale featured the Ultimate Fit in 5 Aerobics Burnout Competition.

The winners were:

n First place: Faith Browne

– Weekend for two courtesy of Gustazos

– Six-month gym membership courtesy of Gustazos

– PowerAde gift basket

– WATA gift basket

n Second place: Gavin Francis

– Weekend for two courtesy of Gustazos

– Spa day courtesy of Gustazos

– Chas E Ramson gift basket

– Medical Associates basket

n Third place: George Thorpe

– Six-month Gym membership courtesy of Gustazos

– Caribbean Choice gift basket

– WATA gift basket

n Fourth place: Arlette Robinson

– Spa day courtesy of Gustazos

– GraceKennedy gift basket

– Tru-Juice gift basket

n Fifth place: Andrea Clarke

– The Gleaner’s Fit 4 Life duffle bag

– Caribbean Choice gift basket

When the sweat began to dry, it dawned on many that this was the end … at least for this year. It was a bittersweet moment, as some who had formed pseudo workout crews scrambled to exchange contact information to ensure they keep in touch and in shape during the off season.

Until next season, we’re Fit 4 Life!

Continue to follow Fit 4 Life on The Gleaner’s social-media platforms Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and The Gleaner’s website using the hashtag #fit4lifeja for more details.

Season 3 may have come to an end, but the Fit 4 Life programme continues every week. Check out the Health section every Wednesday in The Gleaner and at www.jamaica-gleaner.com for all you need to know to be Fit 4 Life.

For more details email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com