Be Active
By Abi Bond, Service Purchase Unit Manager, Challenge Trust
Introduction
The Biggest Loser*
Getting to grips with healthy lifestyles
The final weigh-in
More information
Thanks to...
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*Note: this was not the internationally broadcast TV competition, but Challenge Trust's own weight loss and healthy lifestyle competition.
Introduction
Challenge Trust (www.challenge.co.nz) is an NGO that started operating in 1994 with one facility and five staff providing residential services to four mental health clients. Today, it is an organisation of 228 staff operating out of 23 sites in Auckland, Northland and the Bay of Plenty, providing services to in excess of 1,000 people (affected by mental illness, physical disability, intellectual disability, addictions, dual disability and dual diagnosis).
Services provided include 24-hr residential accommodation, community support to people who live in their own homes, educational services, employment and life skills training, advocacy, information, employment opportunities, family/whānau support and the provision of housing options.
The organisation is committed to providing the best possible recovery services for its clients and it is currently engaged in a number of initiatives to improve the physical health status and promote healthy lifestyles and physical and mental wellbeing for the clients who access its services.
The biggest loser
It's not often people compete to become the biggest loser, but clients and staff of Challenge Trust joined forces in August 2009 to shed the kilos in one such initiative - which focused on supporting clients and staff to educate themselves on healthly lifestyle choices and sustainable exercise options.
Photo: Two hopeful participants before the Biggest Loser Weigh in on the 3rd August 2009
Competition coordinator, Abi Bond, says mental illness and poor lifestyle choices and eating habits can go hand in hand.
"Last year I lost colleagues I'd known and worked with for a very long time. It made me think about the staff and clients across the organisation, and what could be done to support people to make better lifestyle choices," she said.
Nationally, more than 100 people registered for the competition. On 3rd August 2009, 57 clients weighed in with an average weight of 107.5kgs. A total of 73 staff also weighed in with an average weight of 100kgs. The combined weight of the total participants was 13,384kgs, with the heaviest participant weighing 221kgs.
Abi says, "The main focus was changing their thinking around eating and lifestyle as opposed to pure weight loss, and connecting people with free sustainable exercise in the community - as a lot of participants were on low incomes and couldn't afford the gym."
Following their initial consultation, participants moved into the exhibition centre at St Andrews Church Hall, in Otahuhu where they were able to access free information and advice on diet, health and lifestyle.
All participants were given a starter pack containing:
- Healthy food (including donations from Hubbard's, One Square Meals and Just Water)
- Pedometers
- Water bottles
There was also a free fruit stall with a variety of fresh fruit for people to sample (funded by Challenge Trust).
Counties Manukau DHB staff were on hand to check participants' blood pressure and provide advice about any recommended follow ups.
Getting to grips with healthy lifestyles
Over the course of the 10-week competition a number of staff and clients were able to change their eating habits and engage in physical activities including trips to the swimming pool, long walks and sports days.
Each residential and community service focused on supporting clients to learn about healthy choices and free or low cost, sustainable community based exercise that hopefully will continue to long in to the future.
Otahuhu client Albert Daniels aimed to take the final title of Biggest Loser and was keen to lose weight from around his middle. He used to weight train and says he got back into shape by eating healthily and building muscle - "I want to be toned and fit."
Challenge Trust chief executive Clive Plucknett says, "Unfortunately many people do not take sufficient care of their health and diet.
"This was an opportunity to focus on physical health and mental wellness and win a prize in the process."
Albert's money was on the clients losing more than the staff!
The final weigh in
The final weigh-in was held on 9 October 2009, to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week. It was hosted by Clive Plucknett and the Deputy Mayor of Manukau City, Gary Troup.
Prizes were awarded to participants who lost the most weight and achievement awards given to those who made the most significant and sustainable lifestyle changes.
In total participants lost 120kgs! Abi says that unfortunately Albert lost his bet and staff did beat the clients, "but not by much - staff lost a total of 71 kgs whilst clients lost 49kgs."
The ‘biggest loser' on the day was Mark, from West Auckland, who lost a total of 12kgs. Mark states he did this by cutting out ‘sugary drinks' and taking ‘long walks' every day.
Tracey Penney (who receives services from Challenge Trust and also works as a Peer Support Worker in one of Challenge Trust's services) came in second place. Tracey spoke of the motivation the competition had given her. After the competition was over, she continued to make healthy choices and has since reached her weight loss goal. Tracey is now focussed on making good health a part of her daily life and not just something that needs to focussed on when things get out of hand.
While Albert did not manage to reach his ultimate weight loss goal, he did (along with all other participants) take advantage of the competition to improve his understanding of good food choices, the importance of exercise and a healthy lifestyle .
Photo: Biggest Losers - The south Auckland winners of the 10-week weight loss challenge Tracey Penney, centre, and Sharina Aiyub celebrate their success with Challenge Trust CEO, Clive Plucknett.
More information
For more information about perspectives on wellbeing, watch Mental Health Awareness spokesperson and Primary Care Liaison Nurse Specialist Karin Byrt talk about how mental and physical wellbeing are interlinked.
Thanks to...
Challenge Trust would like to give a big thank you to the following organisations who gave their time and expertise to meet with the contestants on the day; The Cottage CMHC, Smoke Free, The Diabetes Association, Just Water, Manukau Resource Library, Green Prescription - Counties Manukau.
Comments
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Posted by sheldon brown 10:07 am, 4 Feb 2010 Reply
Hi there,
How could I get in touch with Karyn Burt please as I feel she could be a great guest on take it from us.
Tx sheldon
