Fittest Loser contestants start to see changes
Seven weeks into this year's Fittest Loser Challenge and the five contestants are beginning to see and experience significant improvements in their health, weight and body shapes.
It's more than just a changed image looking back in the mirror at Push Fitness studio. These courageous participants now feel that the noticeable differences happening to them are here to stay.
Sharon Miller says her biggest change is her treadmill workouts.
“I feel stronger exercising on the treadmill. In the beginning I started at 2 mph and now my start speed is 2.5 mph, with a work up to 3.1 mph,” says Sharon. “When you feel in control of your body, there's a more positive outlook on life.”
Kathy Couston says her motivation has improved over the last seven weeks.
“The greatest change for me is that I like to exercise now,” says Kathy. “I simply tell myself that I can do it.”
For those who think they can't kick the fast food habit, Mel Boldt offers inspiration for success: “The greatest change I have noticed has been my mindset with choosing and eating nutritious foods. It's a welcome change to drive past familiar restaurants and not be tempted to stop in for a quick meal,” he says.
None of these fitness and food changes are easy to execute, day in and day out. The challenge for these contestants lies in keeping the noticeable changes permanently in their lives.
Mel Boldt
When it comes to noticeable changes, Mel talks about the ups and downs of his path to fitness and weight loss.
“My body shape and the scale numbers often seem out of sync.” Mel says. “The weeks I lost only a few pounds, my clothes felt looser. When I thought for sure the scale wouldn't budge, that week was my biggest weight drop of the contest.”
Seven weeks of consistently good food choices have paid off for Mel.
“The moment I truly got all starches and sugars off my plate, my hunger leveled off,” Boldt says. “I couldn't believe I forgot to eat lunch one day. I feed my body now with what it needs, not just what my taste buds desire.”
Friends and family notice the physical changes also.
“My body is healthier and I'm sleeping consistently,” says Boldt. “People have noticed the changes to my face and body with the weight loss. I couldn't have come this far without the positive support of my friends and family.”
Wardrobe updates have now become necessary.
“I'm trying to make do with old clothes from storage,” says Mel. “New clothes are on my summer agenda.”
Janet Ford
An important yardstick for Janet to measure changes in her body lies in her clothes closet.
“One of my greatest changes so far has been in the fit of my wardrobe,” says Ford. “I have a closet of size 10 and 12 clothing, waiting for me to wear them again, and I'm working hard at making that continue to happen,”
Fitness and stamina also show marked improvement for Janet.
“I ran a mile this week on the treadmill, without stopping,” Janet says. “That hasn't happened since my freshman year in high school. I feel stronger, especially muscle tone in my legs. Pulse and blood pressure numbers have improved.”
Janet also likes what she sees in the Push Fitness mirror these days.
“Friends say my face looks thinner and now I see that noticeable change too.”
Jiten ‘J' Patel
“The greatest change I have noticed over the last seven weeks is my energy level,” says J. “Before starting this contest, I felt sluggish and tired. It seems counter to what you think will happen, but with all the workouts and training, I actually have much more energy than before.”
People in his life have taken notice of the changes. “A few friends recently mentioned that I look like I've lost some weight,” says Patel. “I know the scale hasn't shown a drastic weight loss as the changes have been steady and gradual, but it shows in my face and how much better I feel.”
Midway through the competition, a few new items of clothing were a must for J. “I needed a dress shirt for a wedding in Thailand, and it felt good that nothing in my closet fit properly,” he says. “Most pants hang loose now and I just noticed my belt ran out of holes. The plan is to toss all my old clothes into a donate bin when this contest is over.”
Sharon Miller
For Sharon, the outstanding change so far has been on the culinary front.
“Before this contest, I thought healthy eating simply meant adding vegetables to family meals,” says Sharon. “Now I know the secret is how you prepare food and how to portion correctly. Fresh vegetables is the best choice versus canned, to control sodium and other additives.”
Learning about healthy food is also helping Sharon control her Type 2 diabetes.
“There is so much involved in living a healthy lifestyle,” Sharon says. “It's a balance of good food choices, exercising every day and ensuring enough sleep.”
Sharon's family has seen her body change with her 20-pound weight loss so far. “My clothes are feeling much roomier,” she says. “While I haven't replaced any clothing, my goal is to lose 40 pounds.”
The entire Miller household often feels the pressure from weekly Saturday boot camp weigh-ins. “When they see me off to the wellness center to exercise on Saturdays, everyone knows I'm not happy with my weight loss number for the week,” she says.
Kathy Couston
Kathy likes that friends and family see her weight loss and continue to offer encouragement and support.
“I'm now wearing clothing that I haven't worn for some time,” she says. “Some items have come out of hiding from the back of my closet.”
Kathy sees other changes as well. “The bad news physically is that soreness continues to be a challenge, especially with my knees. The good news is that I am more flexible, energetic and sleep better now,” she says.
Kathy keeps up her healthy meals, but still craves pizza.
“I plan and cook healthy meals,” she says. “There's no short cut to good food in the kitchen. My goal is to add green to most every meal and continue with nutritious menu choices.”