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Fittest Loser follow-up: How are the participants now?

Once you've spent a dozen or so Saturday morning boot camps with someone, you get to know them, like them and get used to rooting for them. That's what happened when the five people who were chosen to be contestants in the Daily Herald's 2014 Fittest Loser Challenge joined ranks last February.

They represented the sixth group selected by the Daily Herald and Push Fitness in Schaumburg to participate in the annual "Fittest Loser Challenge." And once again, it is time to select a new group of people willing to take on the rigors of the 12-week workout and nutrition plan and see who, based on percentages, will emerge as the Fittest Loser three months later.

For three months straight, the 2014 group worked one-on-one with personal trainers, and alongside one another, competing, but equally supporting one another, too. After weeks of food confessions, drenched floor mats and eventual thinner thighs and waistlines, one winner emerged: John Bohanek of South Elgin.

The 47-year-old, who works for a local grocery chain and weighed in at 361 at the beginning of the contest, lost a whopping 87 pounds in 12 weeks! And the other contestants all had success stories of their own to share as well.

As the first-place winner, Bohanek won a vacation for two and extended workout privileges with his Push personal trainer Michelle Amsden. Others won stays at The Biggest Loser Resort in Itasca, among other notable prizes. And during the competition, each contestant received ongoing personal training sessions at Push Fitness; had the oversight of a weight-loss physician; and had their journeys documented weekly in the Daily Herald.

Altogether, they lost 285 pounds and 42 inches from their waists.

But after the hoopla died down following a ceremonious finale in May, they all had to return to real life. Some had unexpected medical conditions to deal with, while others still had to confront the same food temptations and fitness challenges they did before. Yet, by and large, they all learned to strike a balance, find a healthier comfort zone and navigate through the normal, everyday pitfalls of life.

John Bohanek

Age 47, of South Elgin

Starting weight: 361

Finale weight: 274

John Bohanak had a lot of bad habits when he started the Fittest Loser Challenge.

He ate fast food late at night, opted for large portions of fried, buttery stuffs whenever cravings hit, and he consumed candy and other sweets regularly.

But during the competition, he rediscovered his moxie and decided he'd never return to that state again.

Not only did that determination help him to win the competition by losing 24.1 percent of his original body weight, he set health goals then that he has since reached after the competition.

"The Fittest Loser campaign has been ongoing for me," says Bohanek, who won two months more of free training with his Push trainer Michelle Amsden. "I feel great and have now made working out part of my life four to five days a week."

In fact, he's turned it into a bit of a science.

"My trainer Michelle made a list 40 types of exercises that I can do on my own," he explains. "We created a list that looks like a menu, and you pick one from each section. I try (during) each workout to push myself for five minutes during the workout to reach a new goal.

"I have one day of rest and two days of modest activity," he explains, "like shopping at Woodfield, so I can get a good three- to four-mile walk in."

But he, too, says he misses the 12 weeks that helped to change his life, and he misses the other contestants who played such a big role in that transformation.

"I miss not seeing the group and doing the weekly boot-camp workouts," he says. "It is great having a friend to workout with, but is makes it much more rewarding when we were sharing our successes as a group and encouraging each other to do better."

Yet, Bohanek's commitment has encouraged countless other neighbors and co-workers to join him and strike out on their own journeys to better health.

"Over the past four months, several co-workers have told me that I have inspired them, and that is the best feeling in the world," Bohanek says. "There are about 15 of my co-workers from Jewel who meet at Planet Fitness several times a week and mornings, afternoons or nights, whenever we can get in a workout. We encourage each other to be strong and do better than last week."

Bohanek sticks very closely to the nutrition plan outlined for him during the Fittest Loser Challenge.

"I continue to eat five meals a day, making sure that I continue to eat vegetables at every meal," says the guy, who once drank a case of soda a day. "This not only helps keep me full, but I know they are nutrient-rich foods that are low in calories."

He allows himself time to live a little outside of the plan, too. "I have a cheat day once a week," and on those days, he says he only eats one meal a day. "If I want a piece of cake, I just make sure it is about four ounces and not a pound piece of cake."

For Halloween, Bohanek enjoyed a treat or two - but that was it.

"I did enjoy my Twix candy bars, but having one or two fun-size bars is a big change from when I could sit down and eat 15 to 20 of them."

He has no plans of returning to his old habits, or body.

"I have worked too hard and feel too good to want to go back," he says. "To make sure, I have started getting rid of the 'Big John' items. I just made a donation to Goodwill of 34 pairs of pants. When I started the competition, I was in size 56, and by the end of the 12 weeks I was in size 44. I continue to shrink my midsection, and now I'm in pants that are 38 or 40, depending on the cut."

And even those are loose fitting. "I have not worn size 38 since high school," he says, incredulously.

Bohanek says he doesn't keep a food journal anymore, but he still sticks to a diet of "clean, natural and unprocessed" food, and he drinks a gallon of water a day. "I still have my food scale on the counter and spot check to make sure that my portion sizes are not growing," he says.

And, he hasn't gained an ounce!

"Since the end of the contest, I am down 19 pounds," he says proudly. "I continue to drop a little less than a pound a week, but my clothes keep getting looser."

Push Fitness owner and personal trainer Joshua Steckler leads a crew that is dedicated to being top-notch professionals in their field. More importantly, they know how to motivate all fitness types, from the couch potato to the fittest of fitness buffs.

And if you're seriously ready to make the sort of changes these contestants have made, they encourage you to apply for next year's Fittest Loser Challenge!

Chris Kalamatas

Age 64, of Lake in the Hills

Starting weight: 262

Finale weight: 226

Chris Kalamatas, a retired school principal, is quite comfortable in his skin now.

While he's gained back about 6-8 pounds more than his weight during the May finale, he's still considerably healthier than he was before the competition.

"My carry-over from the contest is ongoing," he says of his commitment to continue with structured exercise. "Although it is not as intense now as it was when I worked out at Push with my trainer, Brodie Medlock, for three days a week, plus boot camp one day, and usually two days on my own. I now try to work out three to four days a week."

Like everyone in this group, Kalamatas said he misses the camaraderie and support of the other contestants. Plus, he says, he misses the added incentive the contest offered to try harder and dig deeper.

"I miss the intensity and drive I had each day and week to move toward a goal of fitness, weight loss, and the accountability within our group to succeed," Kalamatas says.

He now tries to re-create the workouts he did with his trainer, but understands that there are limitations.

"Even though I push myself in the gym and understand the value of cross-fit training, my workouts are not the same and are not as intense as they were when I was under the watchful eye of a personal trainer," he insists.

But Kalamatas is learning what it means to live a healthier lifestyle. He watches what he eats, but gives himself permission to take liberties, too.

"I will never go back to my eating habits before the contest began. I was taught enough about proper nutrition to now know that when I look at a food item I know whether or not it is good for me," he says, adding, "And 90 percent of the time I make the right choice; the other 10 percent I chalk up to being human!"

He echoes the sentiments of the entire group when he says, "I will not return to my old ways. I learned enough about myself during the 12-week contest to know that I have to eat right and make exercise a priority."

He and others are doing just that. He says he no longer keeps a daily food journal, but he does not really feel that he needs to, either. Plus, he has his family and friends "checking" on him to be sure that he stays true to the new routines.

Kalamatas admits that he is not in the same physical shape as he had been right after the competition, but he is at a point where he can manage his weight and feel proud.

"That was a 12-week period of five to six days a week of intense training and a very rigid food plan," he recalls. "I knew when the contest ended my eating habits would change slightly, my workouts would not be as intense, and in all probability I would gain a few pounds - and I did. But I am satisfied with that. My new clothes still fit, and I feel good overall."

Cheryl Seibert

Age 41, of Joliet

Starting weight: 263

Finale weight: 220

This was not Cheryl Seibert's first attempt at weight loss, but the Schaumburg Fire Department firefighter and paramedic was determined to make it the most successful one.

"Every day poses different challenges, but I feel I am more prepared to handle them because of what I had learned during the 12-week challenge," says Seibert.

By far, she says, Saturday morning boot camps were the hardest; but it grew on her.

"I never thought I would say this, but I miss the weekend boot camp the most. I really enjoyed working out as a group and having the chance to connect with everyone else," she says. "We had such a supportive group, always celebrating each other's victories and encouraging each other through struggles. We would all laugh about how sore we were and push each other to do our best during the workout."

Now, Seibert has taken what she's learned to the firehouse to continue to work toward reaching her workout goals.

"Typically I join the guys I work with because they push me hard and keep it interesting by changing it up," says of the mother of toddler twins. "On days I am not at work, I often take classes at the gym."

Seibert's also been able to reach some milestones on her own, too. Following the finale, she wanted to lose seven pounds, to take her weight loss to 50 pounds.

And since May, she managed to do that.

Yet, that's not to say that there haven't been challenges. "My goal is to figure out how to make better choices while still eating at the firehouse and living life," she says.

Seibert found that things like vacations can foil her best efforts.

"Recently, I was on vacation and struggled with food choices and not working out," she says. "I gained four pounds back, so I am back to eating better and working out a little harder. I don't want to let the weight creep back up again."

Now she and others must face the holidays for the first time since their dramatic weight loss. Seibert plans to set limits and to be realistic.

"My plan is to maintain through the holidays and then try for another 20 pounds after the beginning of the year," she says. "I have to say that my family, friends and co-workers have been very supportive. The positive feedback from them is a wonderful reminder of the transformation that has taken place. A friend of mine said I was always a happy person before, but now I radiate happiness, and I definitely feel happier and more full of life."

Tim Lange

Age 57, of Algonquin

Starting weight: 236

Finale weight: 187

In many ways, Tim Lange says his commitment to the nutrition and health plan he signed on for during the Fittest Loser campaign continues, at least to some degree.

"After the contest ended, I was still seeing my trainer, Steve Amsden, for two months. That's what I miss the most now, working out with him and the group," says Lange, an occupational therapist.

Lange continues to work out, but he admits that the intensity isn't the same. And eating has become an adventure in itself. "I do eat what I like but it's definitely in moderation. Chinese, anyone?

"My old ways of eating and drinking have not returned. No late eating for me. Every day is a new challenge," he says. And life continues to test his fortitude.

"I have been working longer hours, and I can see how you can get back into bad habits," he says. "And, during the summer, we went on a cruise, which was really fun. But oh my, did they have the food!"

He calls his wife his strongest supporter. "We challenge each other on what we eat every day," he says.

Lange says that he now maintains a weight that is within 5-6 pounds of his finale weight. But he continues to focus on his goals, like the one he had this spring to participate in a triathlon following the group's participation in a local 5K.

"I did complete a triathlon during the summer. I was the last runner in," Lange says, "but everyone was waiting for me."

His newest fitness craze is a hot yoga and Pilates class. "I go with my two daughters three times a week," he says, "and it's wonderful."

Allie Monroe

Age 30, of Schaumburg

Starting weight: 334

Finale weight: 264

Allie Monroe of Schaumburg used to have her ankles wrapped before she worked out during the Fittest Loser workouts.

What she thought was just a pulled tendon, or achy feet at the time, turned out to be something much more serious that started well before the competition.

"I found out that the ankle pain that I had for the last few years was a torn ligament and tendon, and I had to have surgery on them," says Monroe, who still managed to lose 70 pounds during the competition. "In fact, I just had my second ankle surgery."

Monroe says having to have multiple surgeries has meant lots of dependence on others these days. "It's been pretty tough to get around lately, and I moved in with my mom for a while," says the 30-year-old actuary. "It's been super-tough, as I can't do much for myself. But I'm getting there slowly."

Her mom, a fitness manager at Prairie Stone Sports and Wellness Center, has been a support on many fronts, including helping to encourage healthy choices.

After the finale, Monroe tried to keep up with her fitness regimen.

"I kept up with working with a trainer at another gym for a few months," she says. And when her ankles heal, she plans to resume workouts with her Push trainer, Wade Merrill.

Even with her current physical challenges, she continues to try to keep her diet as healthy as possible. "I have continued to keep as many vegetables and fruits in my diet," she says. "And when I go out, I am mindful of the choices that I make."

To better monitor her consumption, she cooks most of her food these days, and takes her lunch to work. But on occasion, she admits to giving in to temptation. "I think the one way that I have returned to my old ways is going out with friends and having a few drinks," she says. But less time is spent on emotional eating these days, she says.

Monroe, an athlete who comes from an athletic family, can't wait to return to a regular exercise regimen.

"When I am able, I hope that I can run, and this time without any pain," she says. "Once I'm healed, I can get back on track and push even harder."

She has gained back about 10 pounds since the finale, but Monroe says, "I plan on getting that off when I'm able to be more mobile and can get back into some sort of workouts."

How to apply

  John Bohanek of South Elgin, who won the Daily Herald Fittest Loser competition, runs with his dog Yoplait. Bohanek said he was only able to walk with her before he lost the weight from the competition. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  Fittest Loser contestant and physical therapist Tim Lange works Fabian Esparza at Asta Care in Elgin. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  Fittest Loser 2014 finalist Cheryl Seibert works out with fellow firefighters at the Schaumburg Fire Department firehouse on Wright Boulevard. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
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