Week 1: Get to know the YMCA

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - After finding out they were the winning family, the Reneau family wasted no time starting the Extreme Family Makeover. They hit the ground running, literally, in week one.

Fort Wayne Cardiology Testing

The first order of business was a treadmill test at Fort Wayne Cardiology.

"We're making sure they are healthy enough to go on an exercise program safely," Cardiologist Mark O'Shaughnessy said.

Mark and Amie Reneau both took the test. Dr. O'Shaughnessy measured their endurance and noted their baseline for physical activity.

"I felt nervous at first, but it was easy and went really well. It felt like you were walking up a hill and you could feel your legs being stretched," Amie said.

Mark was also nervous at first.

"I wondered if I could do the whole thing. I'm not on a treadmill very often, or I wouldn't be here," he laughed.

They also both had blood work done.

"I'm mainly looking at cholesterol for cardiovascular disease risk. I'm also looking at high blood pressure and diabetes," O'Shaughnessy said.

Amie's blood work all came back normal.

"I was pleased with the results. It's average, but it's better than being under average," Amie said.

Mark has high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes, which all risk factors that can go away with the makeover exercise program.

Dr. O'Shaughnessy stressed to talk to a physician before starting a new exercise routine.

" You can't modify risk factors if you don't know what they are. You can't rely on the physician to know what they are, you have to know," he said.

Both Mark and Amie were given the go-ahead to start the makeover challenge exercise program.

Getting New Athletic Shoes

The next stop in week one was at Fred Toenges Shoes and Pedorthics for new athletic shoes. The store donated a new pair for each family member as the week's support gift.

When buying shoes, it's important they fit correctly.

"If the shoe fits improperly, the foot could slide around if it's fit too big," Pedorthics Manager Steve Bumgardner said. "If it's too small, you can get corns, disrupt bones in the feet, pinch nerves, and get blisters."

The staff at Toenges are trained to fit the shoe to the person's foot.

"We look at how the shoe fits from the heal to the ball of the foot. We make sure the widest part of the foot is in the widest part of the shoe and that there's appropriate room at the end of the shoe for toes," Bumgardner said. "[We also look at] how it laces, the room around the ankle, if there's a gap at the heal ... there's so many things to look at and that's where someone trained can really do that."

Once fitted with new shoes, the Reneau family was all set to start exercising.

Get to Know the YMCA

One the first trip to the YMCA, the Reneaus signed all the necessary paperwork, got registered for their membership and toured the Parkview facility.

"I really liked all the different things you can choose from," Mark said. "If you don't want to do the machines, you can go to the pool, the racquetball courts and it won't have the drudgery. It will be fun to learn new activities with the kids."

Physical Activity Coach Brian West is an Exercise Specialist at the YMCA. In the first meeting he also took a baseline physical fitness test and taught the family how to take their pulse. He also measured their blood pressures.

West said it's best to take your blood pressure and pulse in the morning to get the most accurate results. 

West then taught the family how to use a few pieces of the exercise equipment: the bicycles, ellipticals and the treadmills.

"I probably like the bikes the best because I like to go bike-riding," Chloe, 10, said.

Her brother, Riley, 11, liked the treadmills and the rock wall.

"You can't see it all in one day," he said. "You just have to keep coming."

While they did learn how to use the equipment, West said they shouldn't feel like that's all they can do.

"My emphasis to them is to make sure they incorporate more than coming in here [to the gym]. The rock wall, pool, Dance Dance Revolution (a dancing video game) all still counts to their daily activity," West said.

West advised the family to start coming to the YMCA three to five times a week.

"Three really in the magic number. We want them to get into a routine, and we don't want to throw them too many days too soon and they get frustrated," he said.

When they are working out, West recommended 30 minutes of cardio activity.

"It can be accumulative. It can be ten minutes on the treadmill, and ten minutes on the elliptical and ten minutes on something else," he said.

And he had advice for anyone starting an exercise routine.

"It's important to start slow and go longer. If you used to be a runner, and haven't exercised in a long time, you won't start where you were. It's better to go slow and build up from there so you don't do too much too soon," West said.

The last thing on the YMCA agenda for week one was learning some stretches and cool down moves. The day made reality sink in even more for Amie.

"It's emotional for me," she said. "I'm done being who I am right now and this is only going forward now. There's no turning back. It's a life change."