'Biggest Loser' contestant helps Iowans lose weight
Angela Nelson, right, gets a pat on the back from Rebecca Meyer, left, after a one-mile run on Saturday. Nelson will participate in the Grand Blue Mile race as one of the Whip It 180 finalists. / BILL NEIBERGALL/THE REGISTER
Angela Nelson, left, stretches out with Rebecca Meyer, right, near Nelson's Des Moines home before running a mile last Saturday. Meyer, at-home winner of the reality TV show “Biggest Loser, “ is helping train and advise Nelson, a finalist in the Whip It 180 Fitness Challenge. / BILL NEIBERGALL/THE REGISTER
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield were looking for some central Iowans willing to change their own lives for the healthier - and someone to help them do it.
Wendy Schmidt, a senior communications consultant at Wellmark, says the idea came from the company's commitment to making Iowa a healthier place to live. Brainstorming sessions led them to debut the five-week Whip It 180 Fitness Challenge. It also led them to Des Moines' Rebecca Meyer, 27, a "Biggest Loser" season eight at-home winner. "Rebecca has a compelling story, credibility and personality. This is an at-home program by design. And Rebecca lost just as much weight at home as she did while at the 'Biggest Loser' ranch," making her relatable to the contestants, Schmidt says.
A couple of years and 140 pounds ago, Rebecca Meyer was a part-time nanny and "kind of going to school."
But after shedding those extra pounds as part of the reality show, Meyer has found purpose and a career she loves in real reality: helping others change their lives from fat to fit as an International Sports and Conditioning Association certified personal trainer.
The idea behind Whip It 180, Schmidt says, was to make it a "conversation starter." And it started a big one. The challenge received more than 1,000 entries (which were narrowed down to three semi-finalists in each of four categories - male, female, couple and family) and 7,000 people logged on to vote for the challenge finalists.
The finalists are:
- Erin, 33, and Brad, 38, Feingold of Bondurant; Erin, teacher librarian; Brad, videographer
- Angela Nelson, 25, of Des Moines; physician assistant student
- Russ Gibson, 52, of Dallas Center; auto parts executive
- Katie Borton, 25, of Des Moines and Rachel Tallman, 19, of Altoona (best friends); Katie, graduate student; Rachel, college student
The goal was to set this handful of contestants on the road to wellness and to running the April 26 Grand Blue Mile, a street race created in 2010 by Wellmark and the Drake Relays. The race has three divisions - invitational, competitive (with age divisions) and recreational. Whip It contestants will be running with Meyer in the recreational division.
The finalists began training with Meyer on March 21 and received everything needed to train at home for five weeks. "I met with each of the finalists to assess their fitness and delivered their at-home workout equipment, new shoes and a BodyBugg (a personalized electronic calorie management system)," Meyer says.
Since then, Meyer has been in regular touch with the contestants via phone, email and text. "Some of them I talk to almost every day and some are more ready to do it all on their own."
Meyer sees this as a way to "pay it forward," she says - using her expertise to help others reclaim their health and their lives. "The program is designed for wellness, and these people are just beginning their journey."
Whip It 180 Progress Report
We checked in with the Whip It 180 finalists last week (about two and a half weeks into their journey). Go to www.whipit180.com to follow their blogs, find information about the Grand Blue Mile and how to do an at-home version of the program.
- Katie Borton:
Katie was down 12 pounds on her way to a weight-loss goal of 120 pounds. Despite a crazy schedule of student teaching, job-hunting, grad school and running a college ministry, she says the program is going well. “The hardest part is just juggling time, fitting in an hour workout six days a week. But I am learning that I deserve to make time for myself.” Katie’s fondest hope is to become a runner. “I am very strong, but the cardio part is hard for me. And I want simple things, like to be able to hike with my husband. I’m just tired of limitations.”
- Rachel Tallman:
Ten pounds lighter than when she started, Rachel says meeting her program commitments is a struggle. “It’s been really hard — a complete and utter life change. I’m a student and a comfort-food person — I’ve lived on pizza and mac ’n’ cheese.” But, she says, she has been surprised at the enthusiastic support and participation of her friends and family. “It’s been amazing,” Rachel says. “I’m a picky eater, but I’m starting to enjoy the healthier foods and my family are good sports and are eating it, too.”
- Russ Gibson:
At the three-week mark, Russ had dropped 26 pounds and is “over the moon” about the whole process. “I am 100 percent confident and there’s no turning back. I hate to sound like a commercial but ...,” he says, waxing ecstatically about the changes in him. “Ask my wife. She’ll tell you I’m in a better mood. I can touch my toes! And I bought two new belts, but they’re already on the last notch!” Russ relies on his BodyBugg to keep him on the straight and narrow and credits it with helping him succeed. “I call it my electronic conscience.”
- Erin and Brad Feingold:
Erin says it’s “going really well” for both of them. “At the beginning I had some knee problems but they are straightening out,” she says. The couple sometimes struggles fitting workouts into busy lives and parenthood, sometimes having to take turns hitting the gym. But, Erin says, “the eating part of the program is going great. We’re eating a lot of things we’ve never had. Like, we didn’t eat tomatoes; now we eat them on everything!” Each Feingold dropped 13 pounds in the first two weeks. They are committed to the program beyond the five weeks. “We’re looking at this long-term, at incorporating it into our everyday lives.”
- Angela Nelson:
Though she was aware of a lot of the basics of a healthy lifestyle, Angela says, “it was a matter of actually implementing it.” She feels like she is able to do that now and the two-week check-in proved her right. “I was down 14.4 pounds and have lost quite a few inches.” Last Saturday, she ran a mile with Rebecca and shaved more than a minute and a half off her previous time. “Seeing those actual numbers is encouraging,” Angela says. “The first week was really, really hard. We’re really social and we go out a lot with friends who are eating and drinking anything they want.” Angela says other people are starting to notice a change in her. “My mood has been better and people have told me that I’m 'glowing’ or that I just look more confident.”
Wendy Schmidt, a senior communications consultant at Wellmark, says the idea came from the company's commitment to making Iowa a healthier place to live. Brainstorming sessions led them to debut the five-week Whip It 180 Fitness Challenge. It also led them to Des Moines' Rebecca Meyer, 27, a "Biggest Loser" season eight at-home winner. "Rebecca has a compelling story, credibility and personality. This is an at-home program by design. And Rebecca lost just as much weight at home as she did while at the 'Biggest Loser' ranch," making her relatable to the contestants, Schmidt says.
A couple of years and 140 pounds ago, Rebecca Meyer was a part-time nanny and "kind of going to school."
But after shedding those extra pounds as part of the reality show, Meyer has found purpose and a career she loves in real reality: helping others change their lives from fat to fit as an International Sports and Conditioning Association certified personal trainer.
The idea behind Whip It 180, Schmidt says, was to make it a "conversation starter." And it started a big one. The challenge received more than 1,000 entries (which were narrowed down to three semi-finalists in each of four categories - male, female, couple and family) and 7,000 people logged on to vote for the challenge finalists.
The finalists are:
- Erin, 33, and Brad, 38, Feingold of Bondurant; Erin, teacher librarian; Brad, videographer
- Angela Nelson, 25, of Des Moines; physician assistant student
- Russ Gibson, 52, of Dallas Center; auto parts executive
- Katie Borton, 25, of Des Moines and Rachel Tallman, 19, of Altoona (best friends); Katie, graduate student; Rachel, college student
The goal was to set this handful of contestants on the road to wellness and to running the April 26 Grand Blue Mile, a street race created in 2010 by Wellmark and the Drake Relays. The race has three divisions - invitational, competitive (with age divisions) and recreational. Whip It contestants will be running with Meyer in the recreational division.
The finalists began training with Meyer on March 21 and received everything needed to train at home for five weeks. "I met with each of the finalists to assess their fitness and delivered their at-home workout equipment, new shoes and a BodyBugg (a personalized electronic calorie management system)," Meyer says.
Since then, Meyer has been in regular touch with the contestants via phone, email and text. "Some of them I talk to almost every day and some are more ready to do it all on their own."
Meyer sees this as a way to "pay it forward," she says - using her expertise to help others reclaim their health and their lives. "The program is designed for wellness, and these people are just beginning their journey."
Whip It 180 Progress Report
We checked in with the Whip It 180 finalists last week (about two and a half weeks into their journey). Go to www.whipit180.com to follow their blogs, find information about the Grand Blue Mile and how to do an at-home version of the program.
- Katie Borton:
Katie was down 12 pounds on her way to a weight-loss goal of 120 pounds. Despite a crazy schedule of student teaching, job-hunting, grad school and running a college ministry, she says the program is going well. “The hardest part is just juggling time, fitting in an hour workout six days a week. But I am learning that I deserve to make time for myself.” Katie’s fondest hope is to become a runner. “I am very strong, but the cardio part is hard for me. And I want simple things, like to be able to hike with my husband. I’m just tired of limitations.”
- Rachel Tallman:
Ten pounds lighter than when she started, Rachel says meeting her program commitments is a struggle. “It’s been really hard — a complete and utter life change. I’m a student and a comfort-food person — I’ve lived on pizza and mac ’n’ cheese.” But, she says, she has been surprised at the enthusiastic support and participation of her friends and family. “It’s been amazing,” Rachel says. “I’m a picky eater, but I’m starting to enjoy the healthier foods and my family are good sports and are eating it, too.”
- Russ Gibson:
At the three-week mark, Russ had dropped 26 pounds and is “over the moon” about the whole process. “I am 100 percent confident and there’s no turning back. I hate to sound like a commercial but ...,” he says, waxing ecstatically about the changes in him. “Ask my wife. She’ll tell you I’m in a better mood. I can touch my toes! And I bought two new belts, but they’re already on the last notch!” Russ relies on his BodyBugg to keep him on the straight and narrow and credits it with helping him succeed. “I call it my electronic conscience.”
- Erin and Brad Feingold:
Erin says it’s “going really well” for both of them. “At the beginning I had some knee problems but they are straightening out,” she says. The couple sometimes struggles fitting workouts into busy lives and parenthood, sometimes having to take turns hitting the gym. But, Erin says, “the eating part of the program is going great. We’re eating a lot of things we’ve never had. Like, we didn’t eat tomatoes; now we eat them on everything!” Each Feingold dropped 13 pounds in the first two weeks. They are committed to the program beyond the five weeks. “We’re looking at this long-term, at incorporating it into our everyday lives.”
- Angela Nelson:
Though she was aware of a lot of the basics of a healthy lifestyle, Angela says, “it was a matter of actually implementing it.” She feels like she is able to do that now and the two-week check-in proved her right. “I was down 14.4 pounds and have lost quite a few inches.” Last Saturday, she ran a mile with Rebecca and shaved more than a minute and a half off her previous time. “Seeing those actual numbers is encouraging,” Angela says. “The first week was really, really hard. We’re really social and we go out a lot with friends who are eating and drinking anything they want.” Angela says other people are starting to notice a change in her. “My mood has been better and people have told me that I’m 'glowing’ or that I just look more confident.”
No comments:
Post a Comment