Jul. 30--Debra Craig and Eric Morken knew they needed to lose some weight.
It took a wellness challenge, with their employers working with Gundersen Lutheran, to get both of them started on the right path to a healthier lifestyle.
"I just felt I wanted to get back into shape, and this was a way to do it," said Craig, a teacher's aide for the Bangor School District. "We had teams, it was competitive and I like to compete and I wanted to be healthier."
Morken, who works in sales at Dahl Automotive, said he wanted to lose some weight after his wife had lost a lot of weight.
"The challenge gave me an excuse to do something about it," Morken said. "I knew I had to do something, and this program got me started."
Craig was the top female and Morken the top male in Gundersen Lutheran's "Smartest Loser" challenge sponsored by the Coulee Area Regional Employers (CARE) Health Action Cooperative.
Morken and Craig each won $500 as individual winners and Jiggle and Sweat, a Bangor School District team of Cheri Horstman, Jody Kotek and Mary Jo Kabat, won the top team prize.
Paula Jacobson, Gundersen Lutheran wellness specialist, said 190 employees at 11 workplaces lost a total of 1,145 pounds during the 12-week spring challenge.
Craig lost 39 pounds during the challenge and now has lost of a total of 50 pounds. Morken lost 41 pounds during the 12 weeks.
"I feel a lot better, and I feel a lot better about myself," Craig said. "I coach middle school cross country in the fall, and now I'll be able to keep up with the kids better."
Craig said she would like to lose another 10 pounds.
Jacobson said Gundersen Lutheran staff trained wellness champions at each workplace and they helped run the challenge. Weekly challenges including eating breakfast daily and adding more fruits and vegetables to the diet. Participants also had a goal to engage in 30 minutes of physical activity or walk 10,000 steps five days a week.
"It was a good jump-start for a lot of people, and they received some education and ideas about how to eat healthy and add more physical activity to their lives," Jacobson said. "It's a great thing because we're seeing results with these challenges and hitting a new group of people."
Craig said she made changes in her eating, but the biggest change came in physical activity.
"I started walking seven days a week and then I started running," Craig said. "Exercise was the big thing."
She said she watched her food portions, added more fruits and vegetables and cut out snacks. "I found the nutrition information was valuable," Craig said.
Morken said he knew he had to change his eating patterns and he did during the challenge.
"Snacks, potato chips and anything fried, I ate it," Morken said. "I'm a big-time snacker, so I cut out snacks, drank lots of water, and paid attention to carbohydrates. I cut out the pasta and bread.
"I felt so much better, my knees and my back didn't hurt, and I didn't mind seeing my reflection in the mirror," he said.
He said he has gained a few pounds back, but he knows he has to get back on track.
"I believe the forced weigh-in and actually paying attention to what you eat helped the most," Morken said. "But I also liked the team aspect of the challenge."
Jacobson said she would like to try the challenge again in the fall.
"I think part of the draw for the challenge is the team concept because you have two other team members who are counting on you," Jacobson said. "I think the competition really draws males."
She said 41 men participated in the spring challenge. "We usually don't get a lot of males," Jacobson said.
Jacobson said some people didn't lose a lot of weight, but they said they felt and slept better eating healthier and exercising more.
Dave Trapp, a consultant for CARE Cooperative, said the challenge was successful because the program documented weight loss and workplace health awareness.
"We're hoping more and more businesses become a part of these challenges and initiatives which can improve the quality of life for employees and reduce the cost of health care for employers in the end," Trapp said.
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