Retiring teacher, coach urges Colony grads to ‘find their 68’
By Jeremiah Bartz Frontiersman.com A football coach using a hockey reference as the centerpiece for his keynote address may
2 min read
Wow, can you believe we only have a week left in this challenge? The time has gone by so quickly, at least it has for me.
I have mixed emotions in realizing the challenge is coming to an end. I’ve found solace in blogging about the experience, and even greater strength and inspiration in reading the blogs of other participants. The personal emails some of you have shared with me over the course of the contest have also helped spur me on.
I’m still amazed at how many people ask me about how I’m doing on the challenge, including people in Anchorage. We may not have the national exposure of The Biggest Loser, but we have absolutely made our mark in Alaska!
While I think The Biggest Loser show has help inspire others to lose weight and change lives, I have also found that it has set unreal expectations for some who struggle to lose even a few pounds. When you see someone lose 10 to 15 pounds in one week, or 100 pounds in 3 short months, it’s hard not to wonder what’s wrong with you when you only lose 1 or 2 pounds a week or 20 pounds in 3 months.
We all need to remember that the contestants on the show are losing weight as a full-time job. They are working out 6 plus hours a day and have a host of professionals helping them choose meals and exercise regimens virtually 24 hours a day. Their access to favorite comfort foods is limited, and although they face temptations during the challenges, it’s not as easy to grab a candy bar at the campus as it is for us to swing by the nearest convenience store.
In the real world, we have jobs to go to every day. We have families to tend to every day. We have temptations put in front of us likely several times every day.
I had one Trim to Win contestant (and dear friend) call me today to tell me she wouldn’t be weighing in next week because she didn’t think she’d lost enough weight. I reminded her that any weight loss is a success and should be celebrated. Every pound, even every ounce, counts as a victory.
So, whether you’ve lost 1 pound or 100 pounds, I hope you’ll all see the program through and weigh in by next Tuesday. Collectively, we can accomplish great things, including better health.