How are the Fittest Loser participants now?
Wouldn't it be marvelous to finally cross "lose weight and improve fitness" from your annual New Year's resolution list?
This lifetime goal could become your new reality as a contestant in the 2017 Fittest Loser Challenge.
For its ninth year, the health challenge offered by the Daily Herald Media group and Schaumburg's Push Fitness Studio will have a special emphasis.
"This year, we are focusing on veterans," said M. Eileen Brown, vice president of marketing at the Daily Herald. "Due to a number of factors, veterans are at a high risk for obesity and the accompanying health concerns. We wanted to do something to support this group of people, who have given so much of themselves to our country."
Five local veterans will be chosen for the 12-week program, which pairs each contestant with an individual trainer for one-on-one workouts, as well as group "boot camp" sessions.
Contestants receive in-depth health, fitness and nutrition information. Josh Steckler, Push Fitness owner, monitors Saturday morning weigh-ins and the Daily Herald publishes weekly updates on each contestant.
"The Push Fitness program is the simplest, yet most difficult challenge I've done in my life," says 2016 Fittest Loser champion Mel Boldt of Rolling Meadows.
Mel applied for the program last year, weighing in at 340 pounds. By the finale, he had dropped an astounding 73 pounds to capture first place.
Fellow contestant Sharon Miller of Elk Grove Village saw the contest as an opportunity to control her Type 2 diabetes.
"This disease has taken its toll on my life and I was thrilled to be chosen by the Daily Herald for the competition," she said.
Together, the 2016 contestants lost 239 pounds.
While the five Fittest Loser contestants came from diverse backgrounds and had different motivations, all agree that the Fittest Loser experience ran much deeper than simply moving the scale downward.
Now six months after the challenge finale, does everyone still feel that all that was gained, outweighed all they lost?
What changes have stuck like glue and which have slipped away?
Here, we catch up with our 2016 contestants and see where they are today.
Mel Boldt, 45, Rolling Meadows
Starting weight: 340 pounds
Final weight: 267 pounds
Total weight lost: 73 pounds
"What a journey it's been this year!" says Mel.
Stepping into the Push Fitness studio back in February gave him the important elements needed for his success: time, commitment and professional fitness guidance.
"I never had all three together," he said.
The contest called for a serious step-up from his usual exercise routine and a prior knee injury created challenges for Push Fitness trainer Matt Bell in designing Mel's workouts.
"I traded our treadmill for a rowing machine and Matt modified my training to focus more on upper body work. That made a huge difference in both studio and home workouts," Mel said.
Mel's relationship with food has always been challenging and his new nutrition knowledge was put to the test this summer.
"We traveled a lot since the contest ended," says Boldt, "In Washington D.C., we walked over 52 miles in three days. I couldn't believe keeping up with the kids was so easy."
All that traveling added not only miles to the car, but a few pounds back on Mel too.
"When the scale showed I was undoing all the hard work from the contest, I headed back to Push Fitness," Mel said. "The new space is expansive and I've signed on for group classes, which are fresh and fun, while working on my core stability and strength."
Mel says eating right remains a challenge.
"I like to eat too many foods - pizza, bread and pasta - that offer little nutritional value," admits Mel.
But, after years of seesaw dieting, Mel offers his secret to success: "We've found it's much easier to have willpower at the grocery store, than to resist bad food choices once they are in the kitchen. It is work to stay on track, but the results are worth the effort."
Kathy Couston, 57, Schaumburg
Starting weight: 206 pounds
Final weight: 163 pounds
Total weight lost: 43 pounds
When Kathy Couston read about the 2016 Fittest Loser Competition in the Daily Herald last year, she jumped at the opportunity to apply for the contest. She and her husband Tom had just retired from their successful dental practice, and Kathy felt she had the time to devote to improving her diet and fitness regimen.
"I've tried to lose weight in the past with limited success," Kathy said. "For me, the big difference with the Fittest Loser program was the opportunity to work with fitness professionals. I needed this level of vigorous exercise, and to keep encouraging myself I could do it."
Since the contest ended, Kathy has embraced the fitness and nutrition guidance provided by Push Fitness. "I am doing well, feel fine and continue to eat healthfully," says Couston. "I track my daily food, exercise and water intake on a phone app, which has helped me eliminate junk food from my diet."
While a few pounds have crept back on the scale, Kathy continues weight training at Push Fitness and aerobics at Jazzercise.
"My biggest challenge is exercising every day and keeping those sore muscles at bay," Kathy said. "Walnuts, almonds and dark chocolate are my weaknesses!"
What did she learn from the 12 week competition?
"For me, realizing just how much diet is the main player, no matter how much I exercise. And that losing weight is a lifestyle change, rather than a specific diet," Kathy said.
Jiten Patel, 41, Hoffman Estates
Starting weight: 302 pounds
Final weight: 239 pounds
Total weight lost: 63 pounds
"When the competition started back in February, I was a mess: physically, mentally and emotionally," said Jiten Patel, or "J" as he likes to be called. "I wasn't happy with the way I felt or looked."
Push Fitness trainer Steve Amsden offered advice that J took to heart: "Steve explained if this continued, I would be miserable. I use his advice every day. This wasn't a temporary for me, it was a lifestyle change," adds J.
What turned J's fitness life around was a strength training approach by Push Fitness. "I always thought loads of cardio would drop the pounds," shares J. But the emphasis on weights and core strength helped J gain confidence and lose weight.
"After the contest, I took some time off from regular exercise and watching my food choices," admits J. "The most challenging part has been making time to work out. But what I learned and the tools I was given at Push Fitness have helped me get back on track."
J has a message of encouragement for all vegetarians who are hesitate to apply for the Fittest Loser Challenge: "The thing that has stuck with me like glue is the eating plan developed specifically for me at Push Fitness. I learned a lot from my trainer about what nutritious food to eat, and being a vegetarian it made it a little harder to do. However, the eating regimen Steve created for me was life changing and I continue using that as a food guide every day."
Sharon Miller, 59, Elk Grove Village
Starting weight: 243 pounds
Final weight: 211 pounds
Total weight lost: 32 pounds
For Sharon Miller, a fear of weight training and the "stairs" were no match for her determination to control and reverse Type 2 diabetes.
"The next step was insulin to control my blood sugar," shares Sharon, "And I desperately didn't want to go down that path."
A year ago that was the bleak future she was facing. Sharon decided her key to success lay in getting the whole family on board with the new eating plan.
"I now shop for everyone, per the Push Fitness nutritional guidelines," Sharon said. "The most challenging part has been dealing with the family sneaking our old bad food favorites into the house."
When it came to exercise, Sharon and her husband were seasoned veterans of the walking trails. But she credits her Push Fitness trainer with helping her overcome her gym fears.
Six months after the end of the Fittest Loser Challenge, Sharon received great news from her doctor, who is very pleased with her latest A1C number of 4.9 for diabetes. "I cannot remember a number that low," Sharon said excitedly. "Now my doctor suggests further weight loss is my next goal and I'm on board."
Sharon remains a big convert for the Push Fitness nutritional plan.
"I love my healthier lifestyle now," Sharon said. "My food bill is much less with a cart filled with fresh produce. Whenever possible, I walk to the store instead of driving and enjoy the double workout by carrying the groceries home. My go-to beverage remains fresh lemons and water."
Janet Ford, 51, Elk Grove Village
Starting weight: 226 pounds
Final weight: 198 pounds
Total weight lost: 28 pounds
It seems counterintuitive, but working in the health care field actually derailed Janet Ford's diet and fitness efforts.
"I was in the worst physical condition of my life," Janet said of the time before she applied for the Fittest Loser. "And I was very unhappy."
Long hours and unpredictable shifts created a whirlwind of nutritional chaos. "That recipe for disaster leads directly to a fast-food drive through late at night," explains Janet. "I never thought it possible to fit regular workouts in a busy work schedule like mine.
Janet was a bit hesitant to enter the contest because she wasn't sure she wanted to share the details of her journey.
"I saw this as the most fabulous opportunity to get myself back into shape, but the public nature of the contest terrified me," Janet said. But, deeply motivated to change her life, she took a deep breath and forged ahead.
Push Fitness trainer Laura Philbin provided Janet with a game plan that became the cornerstone of her success: plan ahead for meals every day and lean on family for help.
"Stocking a cooler helps me eat regular meals when working long hours and exercise fits nicely into my schedule with help on home chores," Ford said.
"I continued personal training two days a week with Laura, through August," Janet said. "And was thrilled when Push Fitness opened group fitness/boot camp style classes. My new work out schedule fits in three mornings a week, with cycling classes and the occasional yoga session near my home."
Janet remains motivated to keep those healthy changes in her busy life.
"My weight is holding in the 190s and it takes effort. I added grains back to my diet, but the scale didn't like that change. It was back to the Push Fitness and gluten-free menu for me."
Successfully running the April 5K as part of the Fittest Loser Challenge gave Janet renewed confidence that continues to inspire her every day.
"I'm so grateful for this great gift of health and awareness," Janet said. "And I'm looking forward to my son's wedding next summer."