Nothing to lose – weight loss contestants go ‘all in’ for big gains in health, confidence

Each New Year, people across the U.S. set such resolutions as losing weight and getting healthy. Yet, 80% of those goals fail by February, according to the U.S. News & World Report.

However, 11 members of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command team established a "Biggest Loser"-style competition in fall 2019 and have realized marked progress with sustained success – all while having fun throughout the journey to improve their respective health.

"We started our office weight loss competition [around October] after one of our office staff was encouraged to lose weight to help with some mounting health issues," said Phyllis Simon, a human resources specialist at USAREC. "Weigh-ins are done every Monday morning, and each week a small prize is given to the individual who achieved the highest weight-loss percentage."

Simon said the contest was good natured with everyone actively working to lose weight and get healthier.

"Each contestant had their ow n way to lose weight," Simon said. "The goal was to attain a healthier lifestyle and lose weight. It was competitive, but there was a lot of positive encouragement and recipe swapping, too."

Once Albert Crawford, USAREC chief of Programs Division and manager to nine of the participants, joined the competition, people's desire to win the competition became stronger, said Ken Kispert, USAREC program manager and fellow participant.

"Originally, [the contest] started out for health reasons, but when Mr. Crawford brought that competitive spirit to it, it morphed into, 'We've got to beat him,'" said Kenneth Kispert, a program manager with USAREC. "He's genuinely convinced that he can do everything better than anybody, and he is generally right. He's competitive to an extreme, so we all jumped on that bandwagon."

Kispert said the desire to win incorporated hijinks and good-natured sabotage – almost always aimed at beating Crawford.

"Som e of us are as cunning as snakes, and if I see someone fall off, I'm going to encourage them to continue to make bad choices. I'm an enabler," Kispert said. "We had pizza delivered to [Crawford's] house. We sent cookie dough home with his daughter to bake, and various people would bring in donuts.

"We did any and everything to beat him."

James Pope, a human resource assistant with USAREC, said the program has helped him achieve significant results. "I'm competitive by nature, and I needed to lose the weight anyway," said Pope,. "I started out at 274 and have gotten down to 242 in just a little over two months. It was just what they say, 'Input versus output.' I watched what I ate and I exercised more. It's not a diet but a lifestyle change."

Pope said his wife supported his efforts and has also reaped personal health benefits.

"My wife has been a big help by preparing healthier foods and making sure that we're not eating afte r 7 p.m.," he said. "We're eating the same things, and she's losing weight, too.

"I've gone down a whole pant size, and my wife says that she can wrap her arms around me."

In the end, Crawford won by one pound, and the group lost a cumulative weight of 160 pounds.

The participants said the program was so successful that they decided the six-week competition would be made into a six-month program.

"He won," Kispert said, "but in the end, there were four of us who lost 30 pounds individually and were all within one percent of catching him. Crawford said 'Let's continue on,' and everyone else has agreed."

At 35 pounds lighter, Simon said the results have meant a better lifestyle for her.

"I experience less fatigue and get a better night's sleep," Simon said. "The weight loss has even improved my digestive system. It has helped improve my self-image, too."

She now encourages others to start, regardless of ho w trying the journey may seem.

"You may have issues that preclude you from working out," she said. "Start with your diet – just a healthier diet will yield impressive results."

Date Taken: 01.30.2020 Date Posted: 01.30.2020 18:44 Story ID: 361151 Location: FORT KNOX, KY, US  Web Views: 14 Downloads: 0 Podcast Hits: 0 PUBLIC DOMAIN  

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