The Rocky Fitness Challenge

Source: By Lisa Ryckman, Health & Fitness Editor, Rocky Mountain News February 22, 2005

Forget the ripple effect. The Rocky Fitness Challenge has made waves. For some of our nine moms, the Challenge has been like a boulder thrown into the wading pool of their lives. In the past four months, many of the people they love - spouses, siblings, kids and in-laws - have gotten drenched by the splash.

The cheerleaders have joined the team. Couches have been emptied, pounds have been shed and tofu is on the menu.

The Challenge has gotten Judy Lutkin's triplets up and running and has inspired her twin, Jody Drajem, to join Bootcamp360, where our moms work out under the expert guidance of drill sergeant Denise Tryner.

"Just sitting around is now out of the question," says Lutkin's husband, Russ, who has started working out, too. That means trying to keep up with three energetic 12-year-olds, but it seems to be working.

"Me and my brother and sister can play a game against Mom and Dad in basketball without them forfeiting," Audrey says.

Mallory loves her "new and improved" mom, she says. "She used to call herself a fat pig. When she said that, I would reply, 'You're not a fat pig - you're a skinny pig,' and she would laugh. I liked it when she laughed. She laughs with us a lot now."

Kyle says there have been unexpected but welcome benefits to his mom's workout regimen.

"If she's mad at us on a Thursday and Saturday, she can go to her friends and talk to them at boot camp and release the stress. When she's at boot camp with her sister, they can talk and have fun with each other and get healthy at the same time."

Sister Drajem says she was in the worst shape of her life when the Challenge began.

"I jumped headfirst into my own personal challenge and haven't looked back," says Drajem, whose daughter now races her down the street and whose husband buys only healthful items at the grocery. Drajem has lost 21 pounds, 19 inches overall and 4.2 percent of her body fat.

"We have turned this challenge from what could have been a dreaded diet to a welcome lifestyle," she says.

Lisa Lowe's husband, Michael, was an avid racewalker sidelined by an injury. He hadn't worked out in months and was starting to pack on the pounds. Now he's the one dragging her butt out of bed.

"He's lost over 19 pounds, is racewalking 20 miles a week and is working up to a half-marathon in a month or so," Lowe says. "And his comments about how great I look mean more to me than all the chocolate at Ghirardelli's." Michael says Lisa's determination has given him the boost he needed to turn his workouts from sometime to all the time.

"In the beginning, Lisa was concerned that she might not be physically up to the challenge of the workouts, especially boot camp," he says. "It's great to see her determination, both in the way she tackles her workouts but also with the way she looks at herself. This challenge has been an inspiration to Lisa, and Lisa's been an inspiration to our family."

And it didn't stop with her husband.

"My brother's wife, who joined boot camp to be with us, has lost 20 pounds, looks absolutely fabulous and is learning more and more each day about good nutrition and healthy eating," Lisa Lowe says.

It couldn't have happened at a better time. Lowe's brother has just been diagnosed with diabetes.

"Jenney has big challenges now, cooking and preparing meals for him," Lowe says.

The Challenge was a family affair from the start for Lowe, whose daughter, Kevala - mom to a 14-month-old daughter - is also one of the crowd. Kevala's husband, Marcus Opsahl, has been supportive all along, but he hasn't been so quick to jump in himself.

"My husband has been struggling to quit smoking for a couple of years now," Kevala says. "We have made joking comparisons about how he spends about the same monthly amount on cigarettes as I do on my gym membership." Brett Fielder has seen wife Heather go from self-conscious mom to energetic go-getter.

"Every time I turn around, my wife is doing jumping jacks or squats," he says. "The funny thing is, it doesn't matter where we are. She's no longer worried about what others think."

Heather's newest goal is to run a marathon - with Brett by her side. Meanwhile, the Fielders - including sons Joshua, 6, and Matthew, 4 - struggle with the change in their diet.

"The healthier eating habits have my two boys shocked," Heather says. "We've tossed all the candy from the holidays. We've substituted fruit for sweets and rice cakes for chips."

Food has been a huge sticking point for Barb Richardson, who says she's turned into the "No" mom, as in no candy for breakfast, no soda late at night, no extra salt on food.

"The family will not eat anything that I make even halfway healthy," Richardson says. "Not enough fat or salt, I guess. Tofu and soy milk are not things they have embraced."

Patty Foxx has seen a big change in her youngest son, Patrick, 11, who decided he's going to get into shape, too.

"He has (physical education) now every day at school and has cut out the carbs and sweets from his diet," she says. "He's lost 10 pounds so far and is doing great!"

La Shon Vincent's three athletic daughters all played sports in high school, so they understand the exercise piece. But she's not sure they're on board with the family's new diet of brown rice, lean ground turkey and whole-wheat pasta.

But Brianna, 16, thinks her mother is an inspiration to a lot of people around her.

"She has inspired me to eat healthier than I have been, and I know that she's inspired the people at her work to start working out," Brianna says. "My friends always comment on how much younger and slimmer she is. One of my teachers asks me every day about my mom, and I can't help but brag about how much weight she has lost and how good she looks."

Maria Gonzalez's 13-year-old daughter, Yasmin, has started reading nutrition labels and counting calories for the whole family.

"Sometimes when we sit down for dinner, she'll challenge us to guess all the calories that we're eating," Gonzalez says.

Yasmin has started to judge what all her classmates are eating, too, which Gonzalez fears might make her less than popular. "She'll come home and say, 'Mom, you would not believe all that such-and-such person ate today.' " But Gonzalez is glad that her children have embraced a healthier lifestyle; her own exercise and diet goals had driven a wedge between her and her husband, Franco Vasquez, who didn't understand her desire to work out and eat better and had no interest in joining her. But that's changed. "Now that he's seen all my progress and dedication, he supports me," Gonzalez says. "We're starting our own workout routine that can help us spend more time together."

Diane Vollmer says losing weight can be a touchy subject when you come from a family that has struggled with being heavy.

"Occasional words of encouragement are the most I expect and get," she says. "I'm glad no one is sabotaging me!"

Vollmer says her boyfriend has been very supportive, swimming with her once a week and making gourmet salads or grilled fish for dinner.

"He tells me not to lose too much weight," she says. "I know he's lying, but I appreciate the sentiment."

Just five weeks to go!