School District 146 Employs Losers

School District 146 has concluded a successful District-wide weight loss challenge for its employees. The Biggest Loser-inspired challenge was the brainchild of Central Middle School P.E. teacher Mr. Marc Lewis who pitched the concept during one of the District’s D146 Gets Fit wellness committee meetings.

Mr. Lewis came up with the concept for the Biggest Loser competition for District employees several months back.  He said that when he first presented the plan to the D146 Gets Fit wellness committee he received positive feedback from the group however, there were some concerns. “Weight is a touchy subject, so we had to tread carefully. Our idea was not just about losing weight, but a message about changing to a healthier lifestyle. We wanted to incorporate fitness as well as dietary changes. We wanted them to become the inspiration for others and set off a positive trend.”

Apparently D146 Gets Fit set off a larger trend than the committee ever expected.  School District 146 had 77 employees sign up to take the challenge that began on Jan 24 and ended May 23.  “The weight loss we have seen has been dramatic,” said Mr. Ron Vandewiel, a.k.a. “Captain Wellness”, a P.E. teacher at Kruse Education Center who chairs D146 Gets Fit.  “The desire to change by those employees that participated was inspiring to many people.”  Mr. Vandewiel said that since the D146 Gets Fit challenge began many of the participants’ friends and even other D146 employees (that previously did not sign up for the original challenge) caught the healthy weight loss fever. 

Mr. Vandewiel continued, “D146 Gets Fit is always trying to brainstorm new ways to bring healthy living to our District and the community. Marc’s idea just shows that we are committed to the lifestyle change.” 

Mr. Vandewiel said that at current, some of the participants have branched off and started their own secondary competitions on Facebook and with groups of neighbors.  “They are challenging themselves further and inspiring others to get healthy.  They are leading the way in the war on obesity.  Our weight loss challenge has basically taken on a life of its own.”

Regarding the D146 competition Mr. Vandewiel said, “There were 64 of our participants that lost weight with an overall combined total loss of 664 lbs. We had 23 of our Central employees with a combined weight loss of 331.50 lbs. The District’s top three biggest losers were all from Central Middle School and their loss totals by percentage of body fat lost were inspiring: 22.34%, 22.1%, 21.8%. These people not only look fantastic, but feel better.”

Mr. Vandewiel offers this bit of advice, “If you think of your weight loss efforts in terms of “dieting” chances are your efforts will fail.  If you just shift that focus to a change in eating habits and lifestyle, getting up and moving more, you are far more inclined to have success. Mr. Vandewiel said, “So much of our culture is based on the look of overly-thin models, that is what our kids see, and adults buy in to it, too.  It’s the wrong message.  It’s about health.  It’s about watching what you consume and how active you are versus being a couch potato.”

To learn more about D146 Gets Fit visit www.District146.org.