Lose to Win Helping People Shed the Pounds

Are you a fan of NBC’s Biggest Loser? Want to join a local version? The Indian Valley Family YMCA in Ellington has a program called Lose to Win, which is its version of the reality weight loss show.

In this program, participants work together in a group to reach their personal health goals. They have the supervision and guidance of a personal trainer and a certified nutritionist. The groups meet twice during the week and also have challenges on the weekends.

Everyone receives a t-shirt and prizes are awarded to top team and top individual performers.

Right now, there are three sessions for beginners and three sessions for advanced participants. Currently there are 23 people in the program.

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Hank Taylor participated in the beginner program and is now in the extreme group with trainer Pam Lonsdale. Taylor began working out at the gym when it first opened, participated in the Lose to Win program, and then continued to work out after. In those few months, he lost 53 pounds.

He says that his biggest accomplishment was becoming healthy and staying healthy. He said that was also important to his family.

“I know I’ll remain healthy,” he said. “I’ll never see that (weight) again.”

Taylor said that he was one of those people who always wondered how people could become overweight, after all, you look at yourself all the time. However, his clothes still fit, so Taylor didn’t realize what was happening. He said that he had always been a steady weight but then got into a very stressful job.

“When came home, I thought I deserved to sit down, relax, and veg out,” he said. “I started to eat junk.”

Taylor quit that job and went on vacation and it was then that he realized what was happening.

“I looked at pictures and didn’t believe it was me,” he said. “I said, ‘I have to do something.’”

The YMCA had just opened so he joined. Taylor said his goal was to get down to what he weighed when he was married – which at the time was 43 years ago. He was successful in that and now has the goal of losing a few more pounds and getting down to what he was before he was married.

He said he decided to do Lonsdale’s extreme program because he got out of working out for a few months – due to vacation, illness, and injury – and while he didn’t gain much weight, his mindset changed. While the gym had been a priority – workout then mow the lawn – daily life became more important than the gym.

“I needed a change of what’s going on in my head so I got into the extreme program with Pam,” he said. “I figured she could kick my butt.”

Taylor feels that the program – which is open to anyone over the age of 12 – helps a lot of people – and the general issue of obesity – and does it within the philosophy of the YMCA of being helpful and active in the community.

“The trainers are great motivators,” he said. “They’re all phenomenal. Very encouraging, very positive.”

He says that the program also gives the participants a sense of accountability to the others in the group, not just to themselves. He said that he bonded with a couple of the women in his first session, and when he didn’t see them for a couple weeks after the session ended, he called them up.

“Saw them here the next day,” he said.

At the end of October, new sessions will be starting for both the beginner and advanced groups. Check out the YMCA Web site if you are interested in joining.

The YMCA servies the region, including Vernon.

Editor's Note: I was invited to participate in a session of this program, and I took Pam up on her offer. I went at 5 a.m. this morning and worked out with the extreme group that works at that time. That is one strong group of women right there, let me tell you. It was definitely a great workout and I'm grateful for the offer to try it out.