Into the home stretch

MAT-SU — Nearly two months into their Trim to Win weight-loss challenge, Frontiersman Sports Editor Jeremiah Bartz and his wife, Amber, continue to be the public faces of the contest and report some success.

With about five weeks to go, Jeremiah has lost 31 pounds so far and Amber’s loss is also in double digits.

“Recently, we hit the point where we were really starting to see significant changes, and it’s nice because others are noticing too,” Jeremiah said.

One of the changes he said he’s enjoyed is working out at the AT&T Sports Center with a trainer.

“Regular exercise has been a big part of our success,” he said. “We set small goals for ourselves, such as running a certain distance or time, and we’re hitting them. Every time we reach one goal, we’re setting another. … Amber’s made great progress in the gym.”

Since Jan. 18 when Trim to Win began, Amber said she’s become a fan of working out.

“I’ve figured out that I really do like going to the gym,” she said. “I really like having a positive personal trainer. It’s been a huge impact. It’s made a huge difference for me. When I feel down or feel like I can’t do something, she’s there to encourage me, challenge me to go even further than I ever thought I could.”

One of the most helpful things realized during Trim to Win is that losing weight isn’t about dieting, Amber said.

“I tell myself I’m not dieting, that I’m just making more healthy choices,” she said. “I think people get that dieting mentality and they think they can’t have a burger, pizza or ice cream. But really, it’s all about choice, finding healthier options. If we want ice cream, we buy the Skinny Cow, the low-fat ice cream, and it’s good.”

Jeremiah said his success has also been helped by being more portion-conscious rather than depriving himself of every type of food he likes.

“We’re eating right, but we’re not just surviving on food that rabbits would typically eat,” he said. “We have our steak dinners, but we also pay attention to our portions, what we’re eating with that steak and how often we have the steak dinner.

“I know that I’m not going to go the rest of my life without having a steak or grabbing a burger and a beer. I am just trying to be smarter about it. The days of fast food for breakfast, a burger for lunch and pizza for dinner have to be in the past.”

The couple has also been blogging regularly as part of the Trim to Win online community, sharing their daily experiences with other contest participants. Visit online at www.frontiersman.com and click on the Trim to Win logo on the front page.

Following is a sampling from some of their latest blogs.

JEREMIAH’S BLOG

Just Call me Jared

Even before I started the Trim to Win challenge, I hit Subway to grab a sandwich on a somewhat regular basis. But since, I’ve found myself stopping by Subway much more. One of my goals has been to try to avoid the typical fast food burger factories as much as possible. I’m proud to say that since this contest started, I have stayed away from those restaurants completely. … Subway sandwiches are a nice alternative. I obviously have to avoid the meatball sub or anything with bacon or salami. I pass on the cheese and mayo. Actually, I usually get the same sub all the time. It’s oven-roasted chicken breast on wheat bread with most of the vegetables and the fat-free honey mustard sauce.

Charging through …

Tonight after work I sat in my recliner with two bags of frozen vegetables. I know I’m supposed to incorporate more vegetables in my new healthy lifestyle. But tonight it was a little bit different. I wasn’t exactly having these veggies for dinner. I sat in my recliner, feet propped up, with a bag of frozen carrots on one knee and a bag of frozen corn on the other. The last few days I have thought I must know how it feels to be Mark Schlereth. For those of you who don’t understand that reference, Schlereth, a Service High School graduate who went on to star as a National Football League lineman for the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos, underwent 15 knee surgeries during his career. Frankly, my knees have been killing me.

AMBER’S BLOG

DDD and no, I am not dieting

In our household DDD usually means that you are watching “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” on the Food Network. We are addicted to the Food Network. Why, I do not know, and how it happened I do not know either; however, today DDD stands for something totally different in my mind — Double Digits Down! Yes, that is correct, I have finally hit the double-digit loss on the scale! I have seen changes in other ways and other people have stopped me and said that they see quite a difference and that was doing OK for me — motivating me — but in the back of my mind it was still a question of when would I see at least 10 pounds gone. Well, the answer came today! YEA!

Week 7

Well here it is Monday March 8, the seventh week of the 2010 Trim to Win contest. We’ve got just another five weeks ahead of us before the weigh-out is scheduled to happen. Where will I be then? Who knows, all I know now is where I am now and I am indeed proud! I have changed my thoughts about foods that I can and should eat. I have learned to make healthier choices when I want foods that may not be the best, and I have discovered a whole new passion for actually getting off the couch and actively participating in an exercise program. It has quickly become easier to get down on the floor and play with my kids. Most importantly, I feel better about myself. I have cut my caffeine consumption (not completely), I sleep better, and I am most definitely drinking the water my body has been begging me for for quite some time now.