The importance of living a healthy lifestyle is a key focus area for Sischen mine. To have a healthy body, you must control your weight. Although being overweight is a very serious concern, contestants of Sischen Mine’s Biggest Loser competition, found weight-loss to be a fun journey.
The Biggest Loser competition by Dieticians at Work was launched in June and is one of the initiatives on the Sischen Mine promoting a healthier lifestyle.
The competition consists of four teams of ten people each competing for the title of “biggest Loser”. The four Biggest loser teams (Red, Yellow, Green and Blue) each have their own dietician who guides and supports them during the competition. The participants received a customized menu from their dietitians and their progress is monitored during weekly weigh-in sessions.
On 30 July 2014 the team members who lost the most weight during the five weeks received their well-deserved prizes. Blue team dietician Sue Scharf, praised all the participants fro their effort to lose weight. She reminded them of their important 5 finger rule of weight loss that entails:
- The thumb (the fattest finger): Do not eat any fat. When preparing food use methods like boiling, baking or steaming. Do not cook in oil.
- Second finger (holding up two fingers): Remember to drink at least two glasses of water every day, more is even better.
- Third finger (tallest finger): Most of your foods should come from food groups that are high in fibre, for example whole grains, low-GI bread and plenty of fruit and vegetables. The more fibre in your diet, the more energy in your body.
- Fourth finger (weakest finger): Lots of exercise will get your heart rate up, which is good for burning fat.
- Fifth finger: Eat five meals a day. Three main meals with two snacks in between.
The biggest loser from each team received a box of gym equipment. The winners are as follows.
Red: Kobos Mol
Weight Loss 6.4kg
Yellow: Mtembeni Jaga (Bricks)
Weight loss 10.2kg
Blue: Louw Claassens
Weight Loss: 9kg
Green: Richard Andreas
weight loss 10.7kg
Comments from our winners:
Richard Andreas, winner of the Green team says:
“I have never been a small person, but when I gained more weight because of my eating habits, I realized that something had to be done. I never imagined entering such a competition before but was encouraged by Sister Nicky at the occupational health centre to enter.: Richard follows his menu plan very strictly and drinks green tea. He exercises a lot and his private spot for this is the cemetery because there is no one to laugh or stare at him. “My goal is to get rid of all my body fat and especially my love handles. I know this summer will be a great one for me because I will be able to fit into all my summer clothes:, says Richard.
The winner of the Yellow team, better known as “bricks:, has been struggling with his weight for four years and he heard about the competition from his foreman during a caucus meeting. Weight loss has been working on but the weight always seemed to return.
“the competition came at just the right time as I was feeling very bad about being overweight:, says Bricks. His favorite exercise is jogging and he drinks a lot of water. His advice for other people struggling with their weight is to start eating healthy, exercise regularly and drink sufficient amount of water.
The next round of the competition ends on 10 September 2014 and each winner will receive an “inner Scan” electric scale.
