When losing is good
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involved making small adjustments like eating smaller, healthier meals more frequently, and taking simple steps to be more active while teaching the kids to adopt a healthy lifestyle, such as going for a family walk after dinner instead of staying inside.
The first few weeks in the Lose Big program were difficult for many participants who expected to see tangible results immediately.
Like most, the Griffins learned that results don’t usually come right away. Between weeks three and four, Derek and Angie finally noticed some changes. Clothes fit differently, they were less stressed out, and they finally had more energy to keep up with their children.
Although each of the Griffins has lost 20 pounds, neither is stopping now that the contest is over. Derek hopes to lose 10 more, while Angie’s goal is to make exercise and nutrition permanent habits. “I’m not losing weight, I’m shedding. It’s not coming back,” she says, adding that she is buying some new clothes now so she’ll notice if the weight does start to creep back. The YMCA’s nutrition classes, a required Lose Big component, were important for the Griffins, who say that not knowing how to eat healthy was their main barrier to weight loss. Now, they’ve replaced potato chips with multigrain varieties of chips.
They talk about nutrition and healthy cooking like experts, but Angie insists it was an easy change. “You learn a few tricks. We buy healthier foods in bulk and make it last. We buy smart,” she says. The kids are getting healthier too, although they might not realize it because the results are still years away. “It’s a lifestyle that we’re teaching them now so they will be healthy adults,” Derek says. The Lose Big program changed both Derek and Angie’s lives. They know how to exercise, how to eat well, how to have a healthy lifestyle and how to teach others to do the same. In fact, Derek will serve as a captain for the second YMCA Lose Big competition set to begin on May 11. The Griffins both suggest that a beginner start small and try a lot of different activities to find out what works best for him. The key, they say, is not to be discouraged by a bad week or a slip in diet. “We don’t eat salads for every meal, either,” Derek says, adding that they are still able to live their normal lives and have fun. “I think people will see that it’s not that hard, that they’ll make some friends, and that they’ll want to keep doing it. That’s what happened to us, and if we can do it, anybody can,” he says.
The second Lose Big contest runs from May 11 to July 27, and is $25 for Y members and $199 for nonmembers. Payment is due by May 4, and the initial weigh-in is on May 8. There are four official workouts/classes, nutrition classes and one weigh-in per week. Prize packages will be presented to the top two males and top two females with the largest percentage of weight loss. Rules and registration forms are available at the Springfield YMCA, or online at Springfieldymca.org. For more info, call (217) 544-9846.
Zach Baliva is a filmmaker currently living in Springfield.
