Biggest Winner sheds 10 pant sizes -- Finding balance, time to exercise key to success

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor
  • 31st Fighter Wing public affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Editor's note: This is the second in a series of articles related to the Aviano Biggest Winner contest. The series takes a look at how anyone with the drive and determination can lose, and win, big through the use of base programs, resources and facilities.

In January 2008, two Air Force spouses here signed up for the second annual Aviano Biggest Winner contest. See how this 90-day program was used as a catalyst to improve their self-esteem, strengthen their family lives, and melt away countless pounds and a combined 15 pant sizes in 12 months.

Effie Rosenblum, 31, held an average body weight of 155-160 pounds when she was an Airman. Since separating from the Air Force, the 5-foot-9-inch tall mother of two, now ages 9 and 10, went back to school full-time. Rosenblum, now an AF spouse working at the base commissary here, weighed as much as 225 pounds before she signed up for the 2008 contest.

Since last year's contest, she's dropped 10 pant sizes and has a new outlook on life -- and her family too.

The Buildup
"I just got out of the Air Force and started to go to school full-time," said Rosenblum. "Nobody was telling me I had to exercise anymore, so I didn't -- I got lazy."

A confessed Starbucks junkie downing two of her favorite beverages daily, she said she also began eating what was convenient instead of what was good for her -- quick and easy junk food. When you combine poor eating habits with a robust lifestyle of going to school and all that goes into being married and raising children, Rosenblum gained a freshman 15 and 30 more before topping the scales at 225 pounds. Like many people with demanding lifestyles, she claimed she couldn't find the time to exercise. 

The Breaking Point 
"If you look for excuses not to exercise, you'll find them all day long," said Rosenblum. "Every time I had to get dressed, it was horrible. Nothing fit. I couldn't take it anymore."

At 213 pounds, she said she couldn't keep up with the kids and didn't feel good. Shortly there after, she had watched an episode of "The Biggest Loser" and it motivated her to sign up for the "Aviano Biggest Winner" contest.

Goal Setting
"I didn't want to set a definite number on how much I wanted to lose -- it would be too focused," said Rosenblum. "I wanted to be happy with little successes so I focused on feeling better and how my clothes fit."

She said when people focus on the numbers only; they're setting themselves up for possible failure and disappointment when their efforts don't produce the results they set out to achieve for themselves. 

Reaping The Reward
"My children can actually put their arms all the way around me to give me a hug," Rosenblum said. "I've lost a total of 10 pant sizes."

Despite not looking at the scale as a tool to measure her success, any woman who knows how pant sizes equate to pounds, knows the significance of going from a size 22 to a 12.

"I want to go out and do more because I feel better and look better," said Rosenblum. "I can find clothes that actually fit, where as before; I didn't even want to leave the house because I was embarrassed to go anywhere. You get treated differently; you really do, when you're overweight." 

Knowing Is Half The Battle
"I didn't have any idea [the Health and Wellness Center] had so many programs," said Rosenblum. "Anything you could possibly want or need, they can give you."

She said the HAWC staff will walk a person through the commissary; tell them what's good and not so good to buy. They'll even look at a person's current eating habits and let them know what can be changed.

"I really think the commissary and eating habits were the keys to my success," said Rosenblum who previously thought that if she consumed 1,000 calories that she had to go to the gym and burn-off 1,000 calories.

Learning the importance of taking in enough calories each day and having a balanced fitness routine including strength, flexibility and cardio exercises, has proved instrumental in her success.

"I [found out] I wasn't taking in enough calories which affected my weight loss," Rosenblum said. "I learned what my body needed and [found] a balance between the meals I was eating and my exercise routine."

What Worked For Me
"Don't deprive yourself of anything, because when you put something off-limits, you're just going to want it that much more," said Rosenblum. The key is moderation and portion control.

She said she's tried everything from get-thin-quick pills to the belt that sends out electrical pulses through your abdomen area to lose weight but none worked long-term.

"The only thing that works long-term is sheer willpower and determination to eat right and exercise all the time," said Rosenblum. "Start small and take little steps. I just made little changes at first cutting out things like soda filled with empty calories your body doesn't need. I began drinking water all the time. After a while, all the little things I changed started to add up to big improvements."

Staying Motivated
"You have to make improving your overall health a priority," said Rosenblum. "Once eating and exercising right becomes habit, it's easy to stick with it."

She said it just takes a little bit each day. For example: When someone goes to check their mail on base. In stead of parking in front of the post office, park in front of the commissary and walk to the post office.

"Anything you can add to your routine adds up at the end of the day," Rosenblum said. "I also looked at how much time I watch TV each day. I thought I didn't watch very much, but [my two favorite programs] take up two hours, so I cut out one of them and it allowed me time in my day to work out."

Even with the shape she's in today, she admits to still being a little intimidated to come and workout at the DFC gym when it's crowded with a bunch of buff Air Force guys. She said the DFC staff is great at making a person feel comfortable by breaking things down in a manner a person can understand and not feel embarrassed to be doing it alongside others who are in tip-top shape.

A Family Affair
"My family noticed right away the changes being made to my daily life as I had to change the diet of everybody in the household," said Rosenblum. "I couldn't be serving them up a big fat chocolate cake and me just eating fruit. The've picked up on the new me, the new us, really well."

She said her family is making healthier choices on their own now, picking up an apple to eat versus a cookie. Looking back, she said even if she never lost a pound, it was worth it to her family to learn what she brought home from the program.

"Jennifer Kellner [from the DFC] is great," said Rosenblum. "I could not have done it without here. She's been so supportive. I would not have done it last year or this year. She's the reason this program works."

How Sweet It Is
"To see the success contestants achieve during the 90-day contest means that they have accomplished their goals, put themselves first, learned something new about nutrition and exercise, and most importantly, made the commitment to change their lives," said Jennifer Kellner, DFC fitness programs director and personal trainer.

Kellner said her reward for what she does is seeing the big smiles when people make progress and achieve their personal goals.

The annual event, sponsored by the 31st Force Support Squadron's Dragon Fitness Center and 31st Aerospace Medicine Squadron's Health and Wellness Center, is a spin-off of the "The Biggest Loser" TV show providing participants from the base community the opportunity to come together through fitness, health and wellness, camaraderie-related events and much more - all at their door step.

The next article in this series will feature Samantha Adams' personal weight loss story and how she used this contest to shape her future, her 'weigh'.