Weight loss challenge boosts health and esteem
By Sandra Jordan Of the St. Louis American
We at the American are a quarter of the way into our six-month journey down the scale to healthy weight loss, and there is considerable progress to report in our quest for better bodies, smarter food choices, active lifestyles – and, let us not forget, the grand prize: the choice of a three-day trip to Vegas, a $1,000 shopping spree at Macys or a $1,000 Schnucks gift card to make over the pantry.
Sixteen staff members in tandem weighed 3,715 pounds in early January with a goal of losing 653 pounds by the end of June. Six weeks in, and I am glad to report that together we have lost 205.5 pounds. More importantly, we are all still friends.
Individual stellar performers to date include Kenya Vaughn, Earl Austin Jr. and Kevin Jones.
The team known as the “Transformers” has been top winners for three out of the five weeks. It includes Vaughn, Robin Britt, Mike Terhaar and me (Sandra Jordan).
“Girth, Wind and Tired” and “The Fat Attackers” each won one weekly team award of Wal-Mart gift cards. The competition has been pretty close a couple of times, and we have confidence our fourth team will grab the ring any week now.
It is interesting what you discover about your colleagues when you take on an ambitious personal and group journey such as ours.
Those who think they have lost a lot of weight for the week are very glad to see me arrive to work on Friday mornings. In fact, I can count on a line of three or four hovering near the entrance, one peeking around a cubicle and others who alert their team members that “she’s here,” so they can jockey for turns to get on the scale (before lunch, of course).
Unlike those who are “weighting” at the door (pun intended), the few who may not have been on their best food behavior usually have to be reminded in person that it is time to see what’s up for the week – and, hopefully, it’s not pounds.
The explaining and justifying begins even before our shoes come off – or the jackets, heavy fuzzy shirts and, yes, belts if it will mean weighing an ounce or two lighter.
It’s during these verbal confessions when I discover things about colleagues that I didn’t know before, like:
One challenger weighs himself two to three times a day.
A confessed saltaholic said if she could lay off the salt, she would do all right. She did – and did all right.
Confession is good for the soul – but not always for the scale. Those who struggled for a couple of weeks also had some successes. Even when challengers don’t fare as well individually, they never want to let down their team members.
A neat outcome of the weekly challenge is when someone is surprised at how much weight he/she has lost. If you earnestly put forth the effort (even if you hate it at first), you will see results.
A couple others have shared what is helping them lose the weight.
Kenya exercises twice per day in addition to eating healthier.
Earl exercises, avoids fast food and counts carbohydrates in his diet.
Another woman works out faithfully five days a week – and was doing so long before the staff weight loss challenge.
One fellow backed off the brew and discovered his suds affair had been bubbling up his belly. One simple change turned his waste-line into a waistline again.
Another young man who is doing very well with his weight loss discovered that Red Hot Ripplet chips are only 150 calories per serving. He barely eats them during the day and, when he does, it is only one (small) bag at a time.
We thank American readers, family and friends who are keeping an eye on us in a positive way, and we hope that other workplaces and groups will put together a plan of success.
Should you decide to do so, check with your doctor first before starting any diet/weight loss program. A combination of regular, exercise, weight training and a sensible diet leads to sustained weight loss. And drink more water.
Three other things I observed thus far along the way:
Onye and Kate consistently have the best pedicures.
The exercise equipment in my basement really does serve a purpose.
And, you can make it through a Superbowl Party without gaining weight!