Lutherans happy to lose in Meltdown

By ANNE KAZMIERCZAK Register Reporter

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HUMBOLDT — They are there to work, and they are there to laugh. And there are lots of them.
The “Lumbering Lutherans, Plus One” have a few additions, besides the official one Methodist among them. The team of ten women have extras who come for the fun, joining them at regular workouts in their quest to succeed in the Allen County Meltdown.
The group, led by Sherry Herder, meets two nights a week in Terry Butts’ garage in Humboldt. They do a classic work out, complete with dumb bells and mat work. The group starts their hour-long routine with prayer. They add stretching and a warm up, then move into floor work, lifting weights, more stretching and a final cool down.
“Several of us have talked about continuing to do this after the Meltdown ends,” Herder said.
The women have different motivations, but it all boils down to health.
“I want to be around when my grandkids are older,” said Carmen Huse.
“It’s the energy factor,” Butts said. “It’s about getting to a place where you have more energy.”
“I’m not very good at doing it on my own,” said Herder. “The hardest thing is getting focuses and staying focused.”
“Well, I’m fat,” piped in Sunny Shreeve, an unofficial group member. The whole garage began to cackle.
Shreeve belongs to a different Meltdown team, but joins her neighbors for their twice-weekly workout.
Most of the women know each other through church, St. Peter’s Lutheran in Humboldt. They range in age from 19 to 71.
There is one mother-daughter pair, and one such trio.
They all try not to miss a meeting.
Some of the women work at home, and the group provides a welcome break to their routine. Some have young children and this is their only “adult time”.
“Dr. Phil says you need an intentional reason to leave the house,” Herder said.
“My husband feels better about me leaving the house if I’m going to exercise with the church ladies,” Hull added. The women laugh.
The laughter keeps the group together, but they don’t take the workout lightly.
“I just really felt walking and cardio is not enough,” Herder said. “I believe in strength training.”
Herder received her exercise instruction through “a degree in home video,” she quipped.
“I’m not an expert,” Herder said. “We go slow.”
But the women work hard, doing reps with 3-, 5-, 8- or 15-pound weights. They do lunges and abdominal crunches. They do pilates poses and “feel the burn” booty busting strecthes. “If someone needs to stop, they stop,” said Huse.
“It’s all about knowing your own body,” Herder said.
Some women in the group have physical limitations, though Herder said “It’s amazing how exercise helps that.” There is no shame is stopping, or working at a slower pace.
“It’s all about support,” said Mona Hull.
Support and camaraderie are a strong incentive to the group. They have lost 37 pounds so far, and intend to keep right on losing.

4/21/09