Two local teams among biggest statewide (weight) losers

In this spring’s Shape Up Missouri weight-loss challenge, a team from the University of Missouri Biographical Records Department finished first, and a team from State Farm Insurance finished third.

Captains from the two teams said encouragement from their colleagues helped them eat less and exercise more.

“We sent e-mails out encouraging everyone to work out,” said Anita Cline, captain of the MU Shape Up Missouri (SUM) team called the Downsizers. “Whenever I said things like, ‘I really need some ice cream,’ they’d talk me out of it. But we would get ice cream together sometimes, so we were all being bad.”

Not often, apparently, because the seven members of the Downsizers team lost almost 14 percent of their original team weight during the three-month period ending April 21.

Cline said her 11-year-old daughter joined the effort and as a result lost an inch from her waistline and has become more health conscious. “When we go out to eat now, she avoids carbs and eats more salads and veggies.”

The competition, which also includes an exercise challenge, is sponsored by the Show-Me State Games and the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Health.

“If you’re going to participate in SUM, you definitely need a good team,” Cline said. “Not only people that you work with or that you’re close to but people you know will stick with it.”

The State Farm Insurance Central Imaging Department team, the Strutters, lost 8.7 percent of its original team weight.

After team captain Kate Mears noticed on the office billboard that SUM representatives were coming to State Farm, she sent out a mass e-mail message asking about interest in starting up a team.

“If State Farm wouldn’t have brought SUM to our office, I never would have heard of it,” said Mears. “Our department supervisors were all 100 percent behind us.”

The 12 members of the Strutters kept the motivation up and the weight down by talking throughout the day and sending e-mail to each other with dieting tips and supportive messages. There was no official “weigh-in” involved, but members submitted their weight to Mears on a weekly basis.

“I was sworn to secrecy by each member that I wouldn’t pass on their weight,” said Mears. “I’m bad with numbers, so I think everyone felt comfortable with me, considering I wouldn’t remember two minutes later.”

The Strutters’ most valuable player was Donna Ford, who dropped about 30 pounds during the Shape Up program, and has lost 12 pounds since.

“Having the support of my co-workers is what helped me the most,” said Ford. “I had been dieting already, so when I heard about the program, I thought it would be a great opportunity to have motivation on a daily basis.”

Several of the Strutters stayed late or came in early to work to walk together on the mile-long sidewalk surrounding the State Farm property. Ford, who had hip replacement surgery last January, bought an exercise ball as well and built on the exercises she had learned in physical therapy.

“The feelings in my joints and legs, my increased energy and people noticing my weight loss are the biggest rewards. I’ve had several people ask me about my success,” said Ford. “The program has also helped my two sons in the long run as well. They’ve learned to cut portions and keep sweets a weekend thing.”

Mears said one of the largest keys to the Strutters’ success was that the members didn’t share their goals at the beginning. Once a week the team members would simply respond to Mears that they were eating the fruits and vegetables they were supposed to and exercising.

“We didn’t monitor each other,” said Ford. “If I wanted something sweet or high in fat, I’d go ahead and eat a small portion of it. I even kept a candy dish on my desk and really learned to build up my willpower.”
SUM participants receive biweekly newsletters full of information on exercise and nutrition, including recipes, and they’re awarded monthly incentives and prizes.
The SUM fall session runs from Sept. 17 to Nov. 19, 2007, and the next spring session is from Jan. 21 to April 15, 2008. Both sessions focus on weight loss and/or physical activity, and teams are required to have two or more people. For more information visit www.smsg.org, or contact Larry Luetjen, Shape Up Missouri Coordinator, at (573) 882-7326.