This teacher could have become Just Another Fat Aucklander — instead, he joined the Alfriston Biggest Loser Challenge. Rowena Orejana reports.
Teacher Steve Samuela knows he could have done better. He had heart surgery 10 years ago. He started watching his weight, exercised a lot and became conscious of what he ate. That is until he moved to Auckland from Taranaki.
"Since I got here four years ago, I've turned into a bit of a soft-bellied JAFA, something I'd sworn never to become,'' says Mr Samuela, head of Alfriston College's mathematics department.
He knew he had to get back to being fit. But somehow, inertia had set in.
"I wasn't feeling comfortable. I knew something will happen that will trigger me. I don't know what it is but something will. This was it,'' he says.
He's talking about the nine-week Alfriston Biggest Loser Challenge, the brainchild of former physical education teacher Steve McDonald who is a full-time reliever at the school. In its fifth week, the challenge's 75 participants had already lost a total of 97kg. This is week six and a weigh-in is scheduled next week.
"A friend of mine working for Auckland Hospital had mentioned that it seemed every other person she saw was a teacher who suffered from a coronary. That was one of the catalysts,'' says Mr McDonald. The other was that two male colleagues of his wife, in their 50s, died of heart attacks this year.
"So there was this running over in my mind: I would really like to do something for my
colleagues, I guess, to change their lifestyles a bit and get them focusing on themselves,'' he says.
The senior management team showed its support by joining the competition. There are five teams with 15 members in each.
"We were blown away by the number of people who wanted to participate,'' says Susan
Impey, school principal.
Each member has a fruit or vegetable code-name to protect their privacy. Their weight loss is recorded and posted fortnightly so they can see which way the competition is going.
The school's sports director, Mere Rangihuna, says she's actually in two challenges. "This one and the one with my husband.''
Her motivation to join was being in a team. "It's best in terms of needing to perform. You
have team-mates relying on you,'' says Mrs Rangihuna. "There's a whole lot of sledging
going on,'' she adds with a grin.
Sledging is a cricketing term, usually humorous or insulting, for distracting one's opposition.
Participants pay $1 for each weigh-in. The total amount is matched by Ms Impey and will
go to the winner at the end of the challenge. Other prizes include laptop computer bags,
movie vouchers and protein bars.
Mr McDonald is passionate about the challenge. "I really want to see my colleagues turn
their lives around, reduce stress, enjoy their lifestyles, enjoy their jobs. Because, if they are feeling better about themselves, it's always going to reflect back in the classroom for the students. They can be better teachers.''
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