Into the home stretch for community weight loss challenge

MAT-SU — Jeremiah and Amber Bartz couldn’t be happier about being a couple of losers.

With less that two weeks left in the three-month Trim to Win community weight loss challenge, the husband and wife team is pleased with their progress. Both have lost a significant amount of weight while blogging on the Trim to Win digital community at frontiersman.com.

For Jeremiah, the newspaper’s longtime sports editor, Trim to Win has not been a unique experience. In the first event in 2008, he lost more than 50 pounds.

“I remember when I did Trim to Win before,” he said. “I was counting down the days with about a month left. I’ve had a completely different feeling this time around, though. Both Amber and I feel really good about what we’ve been able to accomplish during Trim to Win.”

One of the major differences for the couple this time around has been the help of a personal trainer from AT&T Sports Center, a Trim to Win sponsor.

“The personal training has been a huge asset, having somebody to keep you on the side of progress, even when you don’t see the progress,” Amber said, adding that in addition to being healthier, she feels much better all the time.

“I feel like a totally different person,” she said. “I get up out of bed easier, I’m not hesitant to get down on the floor with the kids.”

Setting and meeting goals has also helped, Jeremiah said.

“We’re seeing results in different ways,” he said. “We’ve both lost a significant amount of weight, and we’re meeting strength and endurance goals. Setting other goals in addition to weight loss has been a big help. Goals like running a certain distance … gives you something else to shoot for. This morning I ran two miles without taking a break. It feels good to be able to do something like that.”

Although Trim to Win may be winding down, the couple’s efforts aren’t, Amber said.

“We’re plotting for how we’re going to continue doing it.”

One of the major changes for Jeremiah has been eliminating fast food from his diet.

“I’ve tried really hard to avoid the crash diet mentality this time around,” he said. “I think that’s why I’m having more success and feeling better about Trim to Win.

“I’ve pretty much eliminated fast food from my diet — except Subway, of course. That’s been a big change.”

As the challenge has progressed, Amber said she’s become more comfortable putting her experiences out to the public on her blog.

“I’ve been more willing to share more as we’re winding things down,” she said. “It’s gotten harder and harder to keep blogging on a consistent basis, but it’s been fine.”

Probably the most satisfying aspect of Trim to Win has been creating new habits, not just dieting, Jeremiah said.

“I know I’ve said this before, but I really think I’ve changed my ways and have created new habits,” he said. “Regular exercise has really been the key. I find myself irritated when I don’t make it to the gym.”

The proof?

“Trim to Win ends on April 16,” Jeremiah said. “But I know I’ll be at the gym on April 17.”

Connect Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.