Putting themselves to the test: Fittest Loser contest starts
The battle has begun.
Five people in the Chicago suburbs will see their lives change drastically in the next three months. Sweat, tears and possibly a few ounces of blood will be shed. Their willpower, dedication and endurance will be tested like never before.
For the seventh consecutive year, the Daily Herald and Push Fitness in Schaumburg have partnered to host the “Fittest Loser Challenge.” This year, five contestants have been chosen from more than 100 applicants to participate in a grueling 12-week workout and nutrition program.
The winner — whoever loses the highest percentage of weight and shows an improvement in their overall health — will snag a host of prizes.
Each contestant will work out with a personal trainer at Push Fitness three times a week — as well as on their own during off days. They will be expected to attend “boot camp” every Saturday morning and make drastic changes to their diet. It's not going to be easy and there will be conflict.
In the spirit of competition, “man versus man” applies. But perhaps the biggest conflict that each contestant will face is “man versus himself.”
Each contestant has a similar reason for participating in the challenge: They want to lose weight and they want to be healthier. But the motivation behind their reason for joining the contest differs. Let's meet the contestants and see what drives them. The contestants are:
Deanna Bec
Hiking up Mount Diamond Head in Hawaii is a dream for Deanna Bec, 30, of Berwyn. It's an experience that she wants to share with her sister, who moved to Hawaii a few years ago. Unfortunately, a simple hike in general is a challenge for Bec.
“When I went to visit my sister, she had all these hikes planned for us. But we only did one because I was really struggling,” says Bec.
Though Bec doesn't suffer from any major health issues, she experiences breathing troubles when attempting any type of serious movement. In the next three months, she hopes to bring her weight down from 207 pounds to about 150. Along with hiking up Mount Diamond Head, she'd also love to be physically fit to run a 26-mile marathon.
She knows it will be difficult. But overcoming great odds is not new to Bec. When she was 4 years old, she beat cancer. She plans to beat her weight issues with the same determination.
“I'm extremely determined. I need to do this for me,” Bec says. “I have the opportunity to be healthy and I'm going to take it.”
Bob Coniglio
Chasing bad guys is a rough job. But when you weigh more than 300 pounds, it's even tougher.
Bob Coniglio, 51, a veteran cop for the Arlington Heights Police Department, has been struggling with his weight for about 10 years. While he's able to perform his job, he believes the stress of making daily rounds and a variety of other police responsibilities would be much easier if he lost weight.
“The more weight I lose, the better I will be at my job,” says Coniglio, a resident of Arlington Heights.
But that's not the only reason Coniglio signed up for the “Fittest Loser Challenge.” A borderline diabetic, he hopes that losing weight and learning to eat healthier will improve his health as well.
“And I'd like to be able to run without being out of breath,” he adds.
His goal is to lose roughly 90 pounds, bringing his weight down to around 215. For a man who never really followed a diet, he believes that the toughest part of the challenge will be eating healthy. He'll definitely be asked to say goodbye to fast foods and stop snacking on cookies in front of the TV.
Robert Patterson
Parents should never outlive their children. Robert Patterson, 56, of North Aurora, is among those that experienced this tragic loss.
His 20-year-old son, Christopher, who was a specialist in the National Guard, was killed in Afghanistan in 2012. A day doesn't pass that he doesn't think about Christopher.
To honor his son, who was never a fast runner, Patterson wants to run a half-marathon (about 13.1 miles) in Florida this September. But at 255 pounds and somewhat out of shape, it's not a possibility at the moment.
Patterson hopes to shed roughly 55 pounds and become physically fit to run the marathon. His greatest challenge will be giving up certain foods and snacks.
“I love eating, especially something really tasty,” says Patterson. “I think that's going to be the hardest part.”
But Patterson has no doubts about his commitment to this challenge. The memory of his son will keep him pushing through the toughest parts of it.
“I have no doubt in my mind that before the 12 weeks are over, I will be able to run the 5K (a scheduled event in the competition) but my ultimate goal is the half-marathon,” says Patterson.
Cindy Uribe
Having the physical strength to keep up with their children is a challenge for many parents. It's even more of a challenge for Cindy Uribe, 33, of Hoffman Estates
Weighing close to 295 pounds, she doesn't always have the energy to participate in physical activities with her 11-year-old son Branden.
“My number one motivation is my son,” she says. “I want to be healthy for him and to be able to keep up with him.”
Unlike the other contestants, Uribe already started her weight-loss journey about two years ago and has been successful at losing a significant amount of weight. Adopting a low-carb diet, she has lost more than 65 pounds to date. But diet alone has not given her the results she seeks.
“The most difficult part of this challenge will be exercise, and doing my exercises when I'm not with my trainer,” she says.
But Uribe is determined to do the work. She wants to make her son proud.
Heidi Wiltse
In the past three years, Heidi Wiltse of Arlington Heights has faced one obstacle after another. Her nephew died, she battled shingles and almost died in a car accident. It appeared that whenever she tried losing weight and adopting healthier eating habits, life threw a monkey wrench into the equation.
“Every time I've tried to make a change, there's been a roadblock,” she says. “But I can't let these road blocks get to me.”
A mother of three children, her health has become extremely important to her. She wants to live long enough to see her children grow up and fears that if she maintains her current path, it will become a burden for them.
Wiltse's father was only 46 years old when he had his first heart attack. She is currently 43.
“For me, the weight loss will be a fringe benefit. I just want to be healthy,” she says. “I don't want to be a burden to my kids and my husband.”
Currently weighing about 280 pounds, Wiltse's goal is to reach about 150. In addition, she hopes to be healthy enough by fall to participate as a spectator when her husband engages in an Iron Man Triathlon.
By the numbers
<span class="fact box text bold">Deanna Bec,</span> 30, Berwyn
<span class="fact box text bold">Height:</span> 5 feet, 5 inches
<span class="fact box text bold">BMI:</span> 34.4
<span class="fact box text bold">Body fat:</span> 37 percent
<span class="fact box text bold">Body age</span>: 41
<span class="fact box text bold">Starting weight</span>: 207
<span class="fact box text bold">Current weight: </span>202
<span class="fact box text bold">Weight lost:</span> 5 pounds, 2.4 percent
<span class="fact box text bold">Bob Coniglio,</span> 51, Arlington Heights
<span class="fact box text bold">Height:</span> 5 feet, 11 inches
<span class="fact box text bold">BMI:</span> 42.4
<span class="fact box text bold">Body fat:</span> 37 percent
<span class="fact box text bold">Body age:</span> 60
<span class="fact box text bold">Starting weight</span>: 304
<span class="fact box text bold">Current weight:</span> 297
<span class="fact box text bold">Weight lost:</span> 7 pounds, 2.3 percent
<span class="fact box text bold">Robert Patterson,</span> 56, North Aurora
<span class="fact box text bold">Height: </span>5 feet, 9 inches
<span class="fact box text bold">BMI:</span> 37.6
<span class="fact box text bold">Body fat: </span>36 percent
<span class="fact box text bold">Body age:</span> 65
<span class="fact box text bold">Starting weight:</span> 255
<span class="fact box text bold">Current weight:</span> 247
<span class="fact box text bold">Weight lost:</span> 8 pounds, 3.1 percent
<span class="fact box text bold">Cindy Uribe,</span> 33, Hoffman Estates
<span class="fact box text bold">Height:</span> 5 feet, 7 inches
<span class="fact box text bold">BMI:</span> 43.8
<span class="fact box text bold">Body fat:</span> 45 percent
<span class="fact box text bold">Body age:</span> 45
<span class="fact box text bold">Starting weight:</span> 280
<span class="fact box text bold">Current weight:</span> 278
<span class="fact box text bold">Weight lost: </span>2 pounds, 0.7 percent
<span class="fact box text bold">Heidi Wiltse,</span> 43, Arlington Heights
<span class="fact box text bold">Height:</span> 5 feet, 4 inches
<span class="fact box text bold">BMI:</span> 49.1
<span class="fact box text bold">Body fat:</span> 49 percent
<span class="fact box text bold">Body age: </span>51
<span class="fact box text bold">Starting weight: </span>286
<span class="fact box text bold">Current weight:</span> 277
Weight lost: 9 pounds, 3.1 percent