Individuals Participate In Largest Loser Competition
Individuals Participate In Largest Loser Competition
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Individuals Participate In Largest Loser CompetitionNick and Reny Missos are competing together again in Kosciusko Community YMCA's Largest Loser competition.
The couple, both 48, Winona Lake, are there to hold each other accountable during 5:30 a.m. workouts and exercise routines throughout the week.
It is Reny's third time for participating in the Largest Loser competition, and it is Nick's second competition.
Reny won the January-March 2010 competition, and lost 26 pounds.
"What is nice is that we are both exercising, and as a couple live in the same house so we are encouraging each other to eat healthy," Reny said. "I feel better about myself mentally and physically and have more energy with my students at school and feel better about myself."
Nick is a tissue engineer at Biomet, and Reny is a teacher at Presby Preschool.
Nick said he did the March-May 2010 competition besides the current competition. He won the March-May 2010 competition, losing 20 pounds.
"I wanted to get involved in the competition because it is a combination of spending time together working out and is a little competition between us," Nick said.
Reny did the competition by herself the first time, and Nick joined her for the second and third competition.
There are 12 individuals, including the Missos, who have the opportunity to lead healthier lifestyles this year.
They are participating in Kosciusko Community YMCA's Largest Loser competition that began Jan. 5, and runs through March 30.
During the competition, participants have measurements, weight and a body composition tests and physical ability tests completed before and after the program to see their progress.
Participants will have the opportunity to attend five classes per week taught by personal coaches, some of which have graduated from the Largest Loser program themselves.
Classes are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 5:30 to 6:15 am. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m.
Joanna Beatson, YMCA volunteer instructor, teaches the class.
Beatson became an instructor for the Largest Loser program in fall 2010.
Beatson, 34, previously participated in the Largest Loser competition in 2009 as a student.
"I wanted that jumpstart to get going to exercise and get motivated," Beatson said.
"I hope those who participate come away with wanting to exercise and realizing it is fun, and opens their minds that there are different kinds of exercises they can do."
A six-month YMCA membership will be awarded to the person who attends the most classes.
During the program participants will meet with trained fitness staff to set up a workout plan in the fitness center that they can do during the program if they cannot make a class.
Every other Tuesday throughout the program, participants will meet from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. to talk about nutrition and healthy living ranging from fad diets to healthy home cooked meals.
At the end of the program the winner will be determined by the highest percentage of weight loss.
"This is one of my favorite programs to work with here at the Y because it truly shows the mission of our organization," said Stacy Thomas, Kosciusko Community YMCA membership development director. "So many great friendships have been made through the program and people's health and lives are truly changed for the better."
The Y has offered the Largest Loser program since December 2009. The next Largest Loser competition begins April 20.
Other current participants said they are benefiting from the program as well.
Joan Barrette, 60, Warsaw, is participating in the competition with her son, Brendan, 31, Warsaw.
It is her second time for participating in the competition. She previously did the September-December 2010 competition with her husband, John. John won the competition in September to December.
Rose Wilcox, 55, Warsaw, is participating for her second time in the competition.
"I was losing some weight during the last competition and I thought if I participated with the group I would have someone to push me harder," Wilcox said.
Connie Jaynes, 58, Leesburg, said it was her second time to participate in the competition.
"I wanted to do the competition again because I wanted to lose some more weight and I like the accountability," Jaynes said.
