5K down, grand finale left to go for Fittest Loser candidates
Twelve weeks seemed like a lifetime when the Fittest Loser contestants first stepped into Push Fitness Gym.
Now they're facing just one week until the grand finale.
The time flew by quickly as they reshaped their bodies, minds and lives.
At first, weights almost scared Sharon Miller out of the Push Fitness Studio. "I've learned that I'm not really afraid to use weights while exercising," says Sharon. "And who knew the stairs were so good for you?"
Contestants also worked furiously to train for the DuPage Human Race 5K and Walk. For many, it was their first race.
"Before the race, I was so fearful about stamina to run the entire race," says Janet Ford. "I practiced at home, running 2 trial 5Ks without stopping. The morning of the race, all I could think of was, 'Run Forest, Run!"
Brisk cool weather and misty sprinkles did nothing to dampen the contestants' spirits and goals to run across that 5K finish line on Saturday morning.
"I started early in the challenge to train for this event," says Kathy Couston. "I was concerned that running would irritate my legs and I wouldn't finish the race. The race atmosphere felt exciting, but the best part of this 5K will always be when my trainer, Michelle (Jeeninga), ran together with me across the finish line."
Sharon Miller reached out to a higher power on race day. "I was afraid before the race, just praying for strength not only to finish, but to have my time be under an hour," Miller says. "It helped to have my trainer Patrick Stille, at my side, along with fellow contestant Mel Boldt and his trainer Matt Bell. Patrick keep urging me on, playing the Rocky theme song for that extra push, when needed! Thank God we crossed the finish line in under an hour."
In it's fifth year, this event raises funds for local charities.
With the 5K race now in Fittest Loser history books, our contestants reflect upon their journey, and the special experiences they shared during the 12 weeks of this competition.
Mel Boldt
Fate intervened to change Mel Boldt's life path.
"One morning in January I sat drinking coffee with a plate of pancakes. I realized not only was I starting my day with a platter of sweetness, but sent our daughter Molly off to second grade on a sugar buzz." Mel says.
"Right then, I decided to change and find a healthier way to eat and feed my family," says Mel.
Reading the Daily Herald that morning, Mel's answer jumped off the page to him. It was the last day to submit an application for the Fittest Loser Challenge.
"When this challenge started, I was out of shape and could barely get through a day. For meals, I ate whatever tasted good, usually a combo of fat, sugar and starch," he says. "The lessons I have learned over the last three months have been eye opening. One of the most important was at Valli Produce, with Josh Steckler taking us through the grocery store and explaining what we should be eating."
Mel's results have been visually startling and he talks about his incredible transformation. "When I used to think about weight loss, I thought how great it would be to lose 20 pounds, walk a mile, and stand for more than 30 minutes," Mel says. "Push Fitness has shown me I am capable of so much more."
Mel has lost almost 60 pounds and can walk 10 miles without pain.
"Family and friends are so proud of what I have accomplished. I just needed a little push," he says.
Janet Ford
Finding a Fitbit under her Christmas tree set the stage for a new year of healthy resolutions for Janet Ford.
"It got me moving again," she says. "Seeing the Fittest Loser application, I thought this would be the scariest, but most fabulous opportunity to get myself back into shape.
"At first I hesitated with going public about my weight and food struggles. But my gut won out, and I applied. Being chosen really surprised me, as the interview felt like everyone thought I was crazy," she says.
Janet's come a long way in 12 weeks.
"I was in the worst physical condition of my life and very unhappy," Janet says. "After all, as a health care practitioner, how can I expect patients to live a healthy lifestyle if I can't do it myself. I was extremely frustrated with eating what I thought was a nutritious diet, and still gaining weight. The real me was crying to get out."
Learning in-depth about food turned Janet's life around.
"Now I know the timing and content of meals to be so important. I'm eating five meals a day, gluten- and dairy-free. I love to cook, which helps motivate me to shop more frequently for fresh fruits and vegetables."
Sharing her story also feels easier. "I have not wilted or suffered with having my personal struggles published every Monday," she says. "Maybe someone with the same challenges will be inspired with my successes."
Jiten "J" Patel
On the first day of the contest, J's trainer, Steve Amsden, set the ground rules for their relationship. "When this competition started I was a mess, physically, mentally, and emotionally," says J. "However, Steve sat me down and explained that if this continued throughout the entire contest, I would be miserable."
J's learned this contest is about more than numbers.
"It's a lifestyle change, not a 12-week temporary modification. I have used Steve's advice and it really helped," he says.
The motivation to join the Fittest Loser contest keeps him dedicated to the program. "When my weight ballooned to over 300 pounds, I realized I wasn't happy with myself … the way I looked and how badly I felt. It felt like the weight of the world on my shoulders when I first walked into the Push Fitness studio," he says.
While the weight has come off, he has gained insights into food and fitness. "I remember eating lots of junk food, but still feeling hungry," says J. "Now I know how many different healthy foods are available that help me feel full and satisfied. I always thought lots of cardio exercise would drop the pounds. Steve changed my whole way of thinking about weight and strength training."
J likes the confidence gained in the gym. "Now I know I can push myself harder then I ever thought I could," he says. "When I began training, Steve, had me doing jumps on the step with just one block. Last week I jumped using the 6-inch step. I still remember how scared I was the first time I jumped on the one block. I'm not saying it was easy to jump the 6-inch step, but it felt good to do it."
Sharon Miller
Right from the beginning, Sharon Miller's diabetes topped the list of her challenges with the Fittest Loser competition.
"Type 2 diabetes has taken its toll and I desperately needed to lose weight and manage my health better," says Sharon. "The next step for me was insulin to control my blood sugar, and I didn't want to go down that path. I didn't know how to help myself."
Now in the home stretch of the program, Sharon absolutely loves all the knowledge gained to help fight diabetes. "The diet is one I will follow the rest of my life," she says. "It helps my blood sugar numbers stay in line, and the small meals all day keep me satisfied. Squeezing lemon or lime in my water is very refreshing and the increased liquids fill me up. I don't know if it's a wife's tale or not, but I also read that increased water intake helps keep wrinkles away."
Sharon credits Push Fitness trainer Patrick Stille for helping her overcome a fear of weight training and a rocky start holding planks. "Planking is so much easier for me now," she says. I couldn't be happier with how far I've come since week 1 of the contest. Patrick is an amazing instructor, I am truly blessed to have him as my trainer."
She'll miss the camaraderie at Saturday boot camp.
"Push Fitness has such positive and motivated trainers, you can't help but succeed with your health and fitness goals," Sharon says. "This has been a life-changing event for me and I couldn't be more grateful to everyone for helping me with my fight against Type 2 diabetes."
Kathy Couston
At the beginning of the Fittest Loser contest, Kathy Couston would have told you that she wasn't very athletic. But that's all changed.
"I learned that I am strong physically, but mentally and emotionally, needed to tell myself that I could do it," says Kathy. "The workouts at Push Fitness are intense. You can't expect to improve athletically, without working on the physical and mental components."
After reading about this competition for several years in the Daily Herald, Kathy was ready to join the team.
"I've tried to lose weight with different exercises such as swimming, walking and dancing. There was counting points at Weight Watchers and several diets which helped maintain my weight, but not lose it," she says. "Now I understand these exercises were not the vigorous workout I needed and, with food, it's about what you are eating and when."
Saturday boot camps gave Kathy some worry, but workouts with fellow contestants helped keep her motivated.
"On several Saturdays, coming up short on my weight-loss goal for that week, I pushed hard back through the disappointment," she says. "I am not afraid of the scale, as I know what it takes to lose weight.
"Losing weight and getting closer to my goal, I want to continue toward becoming a healthier person overall. I don't want to gain the weight back and that could happen if I fall back into my bad habits. I want to continue this lifestyle change and believe it or not, wish I had more time with this program."