At Work teams lean on each other, families

For nine weeks, our Fittest Loser At Work Challenge teams have fought fatigue and frustration but haven't given up.

When times were toughest, team members leaned on family, friends and colleagues.

“Team and family support have kept us on track with our goal to lose weight and win the Fittest Loser competition,” says Hanover Park Police Department, Team Pounds for Blue, captain George Sullivan.

“Our wives have become walking/training partners, which makes it easier to push yourself harder,” Sullivan says. “My 11 year-old son is now the refrigerator door monitor, keeping me honest on this new food plan.”

The Pounds for Blue team remains on track to reach the 100 pounds lost mark at this week's weigh-in.

Elk Grove Park District, Team Wii Gettin FIT captain Aileen Tischauser credits registered dietitian Kim Jurkowski with supporting their team members.

“Kim has helped with a great tool, fitness pal, which easily tracks food intake. In addition, she has followed up with numerous texts to the team, commending and encouraging healthy choices,” Aileen says.

Families support their new lifestyles. “My youngest son, who has always encouraged me to eat healthier, now says I motivate him. How awesome is that?” says Team Wii Gettin FIT member Brenda Piscopo.

THD214/Forest View 2, Team Fighting Flab Five, captain Jessica Franco thanks friends and the team for their continued support of her 50-pound total weight loss.

“In celebration, my co-workers held a healthy breakfast for me,” says Franco.

Fellow member Janet Mercer also says support has been a key to her weight loss. “Friends and family are following my healthy path and are also losing weight with changed lifestyles,” says Mercer.

Other Team Fighting Flab Five members chime in on support. “It's difficult when the scale doesn't budge,” says Kim Kauth. “We continue to encourage and support one another.”

Rose Collins relies upon team support to keep her exercising. “They helped me survive the entire orangetheory workout,” says Collins.

Benefit Express, Team The J-BACKS, understands and appreciates the importance of family support in this competition.

Team member Kacy Koperski stepped back out for a 5K race with her cousin Courtney.

“It had been a while,” shares Kacy. “It was nice to have someone take into account my fitness challenge, and plan a healthy get-together,” says Kacy.

Vacation plans that include packing a swimsuit also offer support.

“We're on vacation next week. And fitting into that swimsuit has most definitely been my motivation,” says Kacy.

WINGS Program, Inc 1, Team Soaring Eagles captain Irene Rozansky eloquently sums up the importance of support to those deep in the trenches of challenging competition: “Support is the friendship, tolerance, concern, kindness and the thoughtfulness we show for one another,” she says.

Soaring Eagles captain Irene Rozansky shares how their team supports each other. “Courtney, who works off-site, continues to send encouraging emails with updates on projects we need to participate in so we can win this challenge,” says Rozansky. “If there were a prize for the most supportive team in this challenge, I'd not only nominate WINGS Soaring Eagles, I'd gladly buy the prize to give to these wonderful women.”

Your At-Work Challenge quote of the week: “Nothing is Impossible. The word itself says I'm possible.” Audrey Hepburn