Local Biggest Loser Crowned at Spring 2009 Streamwood Park District Event
Fifty-six men and women competed in a life-changing, 11-week program at Streamwood’s Park Place Family Recreation Center that ended May 30, 2009...
"This support group always helps people come out of their shells a little. They laugh a lot and they gain some new friends and workout partners that can challenge them to get to the gym even after the challenge is over. "...
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Local Biggest Loser Crowned at Streamwood Park District Spring 2009 Event
Written by: Alison Migala
Fifty-six men and women competed in a life-changing, 11-week program at Streamwood’s Park Place Family Recreation Center that ended May 30, 2009. Streamwood’s Biggest Loser, a spin-off of ABC’s television show, The Biggest Loser, welcomed the participants at an opening group orientation meeting where the initial, discreet weigh-in occurred. Participants were treated to 2 seminars at the orientation session. One seminar conducted by Schaumburg’s Dick Pond Athletics personnel discussed the benefits of proper athletic footwear. A second seminar educated the participants on values of monitoring the heart rate making their workout routines more efficient and enhancing weight loss. After the seminars the individuals met with their assigned trainer/coach duos and got acquainted with their fellow teammates.
The Streamwood participants worked around their daily life activities to fill in exercise and maintain proper nutrition for the duration of the program. The participants, split into four teams of 14 people, were coached by the trainers/coaches Lisa Breu and Cari Rivas – Blue Team; Tracie Dziagwa and Larry Huro – Red Team; Sarah Mary Borden and Sarah Wahl – Green Team; Michael Laskowski and Leanne Wadmann – Black Team. The trainers focused on improving each participant’s overall exercise routine and instructed them in building a healthier nutritional foundation to create a caloric deficit to aid in the weight loss process.
The program was developed by Fitness Supervisor, Nancy Thiemann, and her fitness trainers and staff. Theimann stated, “We offered our 2nd Annual Survivor Challenge, which was to start in January 2009. We ended up cancelling it since it didn’t meet the minimum number of participants. We had such a great time with previous years’ challenges and with this canceling I felt guilty like we were letting people down. I really like to help people challenge themselves and challenge each other to accomplish their health goals. This support group always helps people come out of their shells a little. They laugh a lot and they gain some new friends and workout partners that can challenge them to get to the gym even after the challenge is over. I mentioned the Streamwood Biggest Loser idea to a few of my trainers and staff and they got so excited. We created the program, got the staff on board and the name sold itself. It was such a quick transition but it worked and was worth every extra minute my team and I put into it!”
The program was promoted internally through flyers in the winter programs; Swimming, Pre-school and soccer and also announced during group exercise classes. Outside of Park Place, flyers were distributed throughout surrounding businesses to gain further attention for participation. Upon closing enrollment for the program, the Park District had to create a waiting list because of the popularity of the event. Eleven people did not make it on the initial roster.
The enrolled participants received 7 group training session with their color-respective teams. These sessions consisted of Circuit Training ,Pilates, Spinning, Kickboxing, Yoga, Pool activities based on the knowledge and expertise of the team trainers. Two 30-minute, one-on-one sessions were also given to the competitors to use with their respective trainers on areas of their choice. Some participants focused on nutrition while others did core exercises or various cardio activities specifically geared for them by the trainers during these one-on-one events.
During the course of the program, team challenges occurred each week to further tax the participants and push their limits. A 500-mile cardio challenge was given during one week. Participants walked, ran, bicycled or used the elliptical equipment to track their miles during the week. It encouraged the participants to bond as teams and work together toward a common goal. Other weeks the trainers gave their teams challenges to cut out certain foods from their weekly diets, or do assigned levels of activities in aerobic and anaerobic exercise. A seminar on “Portion Distortion and label reading” was also offered.
The final weigh-in for all participants occurred on Saturday, May 30th in the Park Place gymnasium. Of the initial participants only forty-one competitors completed the entire program with a weigh in. The challengers were honored to a healthy, continental breakfast and then participated in an outdoor 1-mile “Fun Run/Walk” event. Following the run/walk, the participants sat with their respective teams to complete a final competitive game show challenge of nutrition and fitness questions.
While the results were being tabulated of the winners, the participants shared with the trainers their accomplishments from the program. Competitors radiated a new and powerful sensation according to Thiemann. “From more endurance and smaller clothes to be purchased, to no fear in the fitness room, aerobic studios and life, they all exuded an “I can do anything now attitude,” stated the Fitness Director. “Weight loss per team varied yet the inches, the support and the experience was immeasurable.”
The winners were chosen based on the percentage of bodyweight lost. Forty-one out of the original fifty-six participants collectively lost 421.6 pounds, an average of 10.2 pounds per person. The team with the highest percentage of weight loss, the Black Team coached by Michael Laskowski and Leanne Wadmann, lost an average of 14.3 pounds per person. Trainer, Laskowki said, “Email and our one on one sessions were a big asset to our team. We used these for educating & encouraging our team members about exercise goals and their diet. Leanne made sure that people were responsive and kept them motivated. In an email you can hide some things. Face to face workouts made them accountable.”
Black Team member, Rob Feiss, was crowned ‘Streamwood’s Biggest Loser’ with a weight loss of 40.4 pounds. Feiss lost 15.2 percent of his bodyweight to be named the competition’s winner. Feiss was overwhelmed, with the announcement of winning the competition. He said that, “This totally helped me realize that I had to do something for myself. I can safely say that this program has changed my lifestyle for the better!.”
Second place was awarded to Lisa Arcos from the Black Team who lost 31.6 pound and 13 percent bodyweight loss. Third place went to Blue Team member, Larry Wilson who lost 37.4 pounds and 11.8 percent of his bodyweight.
Each team was also represented with a winner of overall weight loss. Black Team member Mary Beth Allen lost 14.8 pounds totaling 9 percent bodyweight lost; Blue Team member Chris Schneider lost 12 pounds at 6.1 percent bodyweight lost; Red Team’s Marilyn Prepost lost 20 pounds at a 9.1 percent bodyweight loss; and Julie Ferguson from the Green Team lost 29.6 pounds at 7.7 bodyweight lost.
Spirit trophies were given out to the “Most Motivated” members of each team. These winners were Black Team’s Rob Feiss, Red Team’s Liz Moeller, Blue Team’s Alison Migala and Green Team’s Denise Iwicki. Four other participants received trophies as the “Most Supportive” team members. Winners included Black Team’s Lisa Arcos, Red Team’s Vicky Bryant, Green Team’s Julie Ferguson. The entire Blue Team was nominated for this single trophy by their trainers; however the team decided to award the trophy to team member Larry Wilson because of his successes.
A 10-week extension was given to the participants to continue their weight loss efforts and maintain their already-shed pounds. The participants ewxonvened on Tuesday, August 11th at a Streamwood’s Biggest Loser Family Picnic.
Overall this program was an economical fitness event with lots of perks, according to Nancy Thiemann. “With three wellness seminars and all the group and one-on-one training this was an inexpensive personal training with so many more life changing perks!” One of those perks that Thiemann has created is a SBL Fit Club exclusive for the past participants of this program to further their overall healthy and wellness.
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