Six months ago, eight employees of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council set out on a journey of self-improvement as they paired up and entered a weight loss challenge sponsored by a local gym.
"The NTC started offering some fitness classes through work," said participant Holly Massop. "It corresponded with a "Biggest Winner" challenge at Alberni Fitness. You needed a partner, so I kind of badgered a co-worker into joining with me."
Massop said weight loss is easier to do with support, rather than doing it alone.
"It was just time to get fit. You get sick and tired of being sick and tired."
Since beginning the challenge Massop has lost an impressive 65 pounds.
"I would love to say there is an easy magic cure, but there is not," said Massop. "It's hard work, diligence, and personal sacrifice."
She stressed the importance of managing time and accepting that it's okay to be selfish with your time to work out.
"Nobody is going to be mad at you. You're doing it for yourself and you're doing it for your family in the long run."
Massop loathes running, but enjoys spin class. Her favorite cardio and strength workout comes from roller derby training.
"I play for the Alberni Valley Roller Girls," said Massop. "We play on quad skates. Right now we're working on endurance, so we skate the dyke, we skate at Glenwood, we skate for two hours at a time. Anything you can do on sneakers, we can do on skates—planking, crunches, squats."
She is still getting used to her new thinner self and thinks it's funny when people ask her questions about weight loss.
"Because I've always been a big girl and not the person you would come to for fitness advice."
Massop's mantra is "You're never too fat to be fit." She has a few words of advice to share with people who might be considering starting a weight loss challenge of their own.
"Start educating yourself about eating. Once you know there are 350 calories in a small McDonald's French fries, you will know that the rest of your life."
Besides feeling healthier she said she has developed an extreme love for shopping. "The smaller you get the more clothes you need."
Sterling Watts is the only male participating from the NTC employees’ team. He said he was already starting to modify his eating habits prior to participating in the challenge.
"I'm a big fan of Biggest Loser and I remember on one of the episodes a guy had only lost two pounds, but the week before he had lost 14," said Watts. Apparently the competitor had only consumed one large meal per day.
That show taught Watts it was better to eat three regular meals and small snacks throughout the day to maintain a healthy metabolism.
Shortly after that he began to change his eating habits.
"I don't normally weigh myself, but I came down about two sizes, just from diet," said Watts. "Right now my weight has stabilized. I'm sitting at about 240. That's down from about 252 before the challenge.”
Watts said the challenge includes a weigh-and-measure-in every couple of months. The next one is Sept. 16.
He too stressed the importance of support from family and friends. His wife Vicky is in the challenge, so they support each other.
"We have a son who's 13. At times we tag off, who's going to be with him at supper and who's going to go to the gym." Watts said he recently started jogging with a cousin.
The biggest challenge for Watts, he said, has not been changing his eating habits, but trying to consistently increase his activity level. But he really enjoys spin class. The large volume of NTC staff members attending spin class has led to the scheduling of another class at Alberni Fitness.
All the effort does have its rewards.
"It's nicer being able to walk into a store and buy a shirt that is XL, than having to look for a 2XL." said Watts.
"I don't consider myself a role model right now, but maybe I will in about 20 pounds."
Watts had a message for everyone who thinks they might like to get in shape someday.
"Don't plan it in the future. Plan it now. Tomorrow never comes. Start today. There are people who have advice to offer. Just open up your ears a little bit."
Fellow weight loss challenge participant Delavina Lawrence shares her office with her bicycle, which she uses to commute to work whenever there are dry skies over Port Alberni.
Lawrence said changing her eating habits has been more difficult than finding time to be more active. "I want to change it for the rest of my life now. That has been a challenge."
She too has a good support network.
"My boyfriend cooks healthier now. He's changing his eating habits, eating more vegetables and fruit," said Lawrence. "He's changing the way he cooks. So it works out really great."
She said she looks for different ways to eat healthier food and has discovered some new favorites.
"The last two months I've been replacing potatoes with yams and sweet potatoes, and that really changed the way I eat. I've replaced pasta with whole wheat pasta."
Lawrence said she feels great about being thinner and healthier.
"I don't go to the doctor very much. My self-esteem has improved. It just goes along with my positive attitude. I think it has really de-stressed my life because I don't really have health issues to worry about anymore."
Lawrence said she hopes to be a healthy lifestyle role model for her adult daughters and future grandkids.
Her advice to people who want to develop healthier food choices is to set goals, to make one change per month, or even one change per year.
"Take out pop or chips and replace it with water or healthier snacks," Lawrence said. "Don't give up. Keep going. If you eat something bad then try the next day to keep on eating healthy."
Start with Delavina's yummy yams
Cut yams or sweet potatoes into thick wedges - skin on
Toss lightly in cooking oil
Season with your favorite herbs
Spread on a baking sheet
Bake in a 400 oven for 20 to 30 minutes until tender
