www. NewsAdvertiser.com
May 19, 2014
VOL. 67 NO. 19
The Paper That ’s Going Places!
News Advertiser Page 1
MONDAY, MAY 19, 2014
Hemmingways win Snap Fitness challenge Michael Simpson Editor A charming couple has claimed first and second prize in the Snap Fitness “Move it to Lose it” challenge, which took place over four months beginning in January and ending with a final weigh in on April 29 and 30. Bob Hemmingway (76) and his wife Bette (77) hit the local gym a total of 79 times each during the four-month contest which started January 9. First place was clinched by Bob, who lost the biggest percentage of bodyweight of all the competing contestants, dropping 33 pounds, or 15.8 per cent. His wife Bette, took second after losing 11 pounds, or 6.7 per cent. Since losing the weight, the benefits have become most apparent. A smiling Bob proudly stated that after the event, he was back to the same weight he maintained during his service in the air force and on his wedding day – 52 years ago. A smiling Bette confirmed that it’s been a welcome
change. “We tried to come to the gym 6 days a week,” Bob explained. “But it’s not just been about the exercise. Obviously we had times where we had conferences to attend and getting to the gym was a challenge. The other half of all this was changing our approach to our diets.” For Bob, this meant that dropping breads from his list was a key component. After some research, he settled on a popular protein and vegetable-based diet known as the South Beach diet which cuts breads and fruits out during the first week, followed by a gradual phasing in of carbohydrates and sugars that are believed by the diet’s creator, to be of the “good” variety. In his first week, Bob said he lost around five pounds from diet alone. Having a personal trainer through Snap Fitness also helped, he explained. “I did my 30-minute basic 8 workout which alternated weight training and cardio training. Each visit we went, it was about an
Bette Hemingway busts out 190 pounds on the leg press like it ain’t no thang. She said after some sessions with local personal trainer Laura Sturrock, she was able to get past her mental block surrounding her age and abilities and push herself to new levels. (Michael Simpson/Photo)
Vegreville Snap Fitness Owner Christy Hoffman-Webb presents Bob Hemmingway with his first-place $1,000 cash prize after losing the highest percentage of weight in the Move it to Lose it 4-month challenge. Bob’s wife, Bette, won second place in the challenge as well. Bob lost 33 pounds (15.8%) and Bette dropped 11 pounds (6.7%) through a combination of diet and exercise.“The challenge now will be to keep it off,” Bob said. (Michael Simpson/Photo)
hour each day,” Bob said. After slimming down to 177 pounds, he won a $1,000 cash prize along with a year membership with Snap Fitness. His wife, Bette, confessed her biggest challenge had been to eat a minimum of 1,200 calories a day. “I’ve always had a great deal of difficulty eating enough,” Bette said. “I don’t burn food very easily. It was hard at first, I wasn’t making any real gains.” Bette said she turned to personal trainer Laura Sturrock for three sessions, who consults out of Snap Fitness. “She was instru-
mental in my total body strength training,” Bette said. “She also monitored my food intake and we talked about how I was sleeping. Turns out I wasn’t sleeping very well, and this had a great impact because when my body is stressed either from not eating or not getting enough sleep, I was putting on weight.” Bette said Sturrock’s ‘age doesn’t matter’ approach saw her jump from pushing 80 pounds on the leg press up to 200 pounds as she progressed. “When it came to lifting weights, it’s always been a mental thing,”
Bette said. “Laura helped me get past that.” As a second place winner, Bette received a $250 Snap Fitness credit. As part of the challenge, contestants were given access to presentations on healthy eating habits and healthy food advice as well. Both husband and wife conceded that the seminars were most helpful. “It was a very well-managed challenge. We’re so grateful that we took part in it and in such a wonderful facility as it is.” As a contributor to the challenge, Vegreville’s Subway restaurant, owned by Paul Rehill, had offered discounts to contestants. According to Snap Fitness owner Christy Hoffman-Webb, those contestants had been among the ones with higher amounts of weight loss during the chal-
lenge. In total, all contestants lost a combined amount of 100 pounds through 500 gym visits.
In the Nest seeking participants, mentors See page 2 for story
Mother’s Day luncheon dotes on mothers See page 9 for story
Legion contest winners! See page 17 for story