Valley losers

MAT-SU — The Valley is full of losers, and Joseph Brock is the biggest of the bunch.

Brock was named winner of the annual Mat-Su Trim-to-Win community weight loss challenge, shedding 93.6 pounds over the three months of the contest. The 50-year-old Palmer resident said the loss, which was nearly 26 percent of his total starting body weight, has made a huge difference in life.

“I just feel a whole lot better, that’s for sure,” he said, adding his key to success was following a simple formula. “I ate a lot less and exercised a whole lot more.”

For the 90 days of the challenge, Brock said he held to a 1,000-calorie-a-day diet and worked out often. Having surpassed his original goal of losing 80 pounds, Brock said he intends to continue his regimen to lose another 70 pounds.

“What prompted me (to lose the weight) was my health,” he said. “The contest was also a big incentive. I knew I had to do it. I feel immeasurably better. I have more energy, more endurance.”

The $3,000 he won as the top loser will go to pay some bills, Brock said, explaining that making a mental commitment is key to losing weight.

“What worked for me the best was being very conscious of what I was eating,” he said. “It didn’t matter what I was eating, it was the calories. Just have to have a goal and stick with it.”

Brock’s wife of 14 years, Sara, is also happy with the results.

“There’s a lot less of him to love, but he’s still lovable,” she said. “I’m amazed and very happy. He worked very hard. He got up at 5 in the morning to go to the gym and do his walk. I’m just so proud of him.”

Brock led the way for about 300 hopefuls who weighed in during the January beginning of Trim-to-Win. Of those, about 60 completed the program losing a combined 1,400 pounds — an average of more than 23 pounds a person, said Lynn Pursley, classified advertising director for the Frontiersman and organizer for this year’s event.

“That’s a lot of weight,” she said.

In addition to keeping track of the contest, Pursley participated in Trim-to-Win as a public face, blogging on the Frontiersman’s Web site.

“The experience was great,” Pursley said, adding she lost some weight and feels more healthy. “I wish I would’ve stayed focused longer than I did. … I enjoyed talking to the people and hearing about their experiences.”

Another person who feels better for losing is Martha Happs, a 54-year-old Palmer resident who lost 64.9 pounds and placed third in the contest.

“As my husband puts it, I’m a winner for losing,” she said. “Really, anybody who lost any weight is a winner.”

Happs admits she was lured by the prospect of winning some money — she takes home $1,000 for third place — and far exceeded her initial goal.

“I was hoping to lose 30 pounds, but then after about a month and I went through the psychological (barriers) and realized how much I would have to lose to win it. That put a little bit of hop into my step to try to win.”

Happs followed a strict 500-calorie diet and exercised mornings and evenings.

“I was pretty amazed at how much I was able to get off,” she said. “I’m real happy about it. I’m feeling a lot better. It took that carrot of the money right in front of my face. That did a lot to keep me going harder.”

The $1,000 prize will be used to take a vacation, Happs said.

Wasilla resident David McKenzie-Cole lost 67.4 pounds — or 20.78 percent of his body weight — to win second place and a $2,000 cash prize. Like Brock, he lost by sticking to a 1,000-calorie diet and working out every day.

“I’ve been wanting to lose weight for awhile and the prize money helped the motivation,” he said. “What I did was basically limited myself to 1,000 calories a day and exercise (to burn) about 500 calories a day. Then, one day a week I’d allow myself to eat whatever I wanted. It was a little reward for being good all week.”

In addition to feeling better, McKenzie-Cole, 31, has noticed other pleasant changes.

“I’m finding my pants are extremely baggy,” he said. “The other day I actually had to put more holes in my belt.”

Also sponsored by AT&T Sports Center, Mat-Su Regional Hospital and the Mat-Su Health Foundation, the Trim-to-Win community weight loss challenge is a good way to get Valley residents working toward a healthier future, Pursley said.

“It’s just a great way to get the community doing something together,” she said. “Everybody did such a great job and it’s a great way to give people an incentive to try to get healthier. Everyone who finished the contest said it was a good way to get going and they planned to continue.”

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