By JEFF MEYERS
PLATTSBURGH -- Kevin Sheehan has battled a weight problem for most of his adult life.
For the most part, the Dannemora resident has come out on the losing end, topping the scale at well over 350 pounds last November.
But, with support from his girlfriend, Denise Reyell, and some professional direction from Kymberlie Sweenor of the CVPH Wellness Center at PARC, Sheehan, 50, has turned the table on his enemy and sees a leaner future ahead.
"Denise's and my desire was to lose weight, but we wanted to become healthier at the same time," Sheehan said of their decision to participate in the Wellness Center's Buddy Challenge Program for weight loss earlier this spring.
"I'm not really what you'd call a gym person, but that first meeting with Kym absolutely changed my whole outlook," he added. "We came away from it with a commitment to succeed, and that's what we did."
NOT JUST DIET
The 12-week program emphasized weight loss through lifestyle changes that would promote good health on a daily basis, not just through a weight-loss diet program.
"It's all about knowing what to look for in the food you eat," said Sheehan.
One of the Buddy Program meetings, in fact, took place at a local grocery store where Sweenor walked the aisles with participants and showed them how to make good food choices and how to avoid not-so-good options.
The challenge, co-sponsored by Eastern Adirondack Health Care Network, also emphasized an active lifestyle to support proper food choices.
"She has given us the ambition to be active," Sheehan said. "Instead of sitting on the John Deere, I'm now out pushing the lawn mower. And when that gets too easy, I put on the grass catcher to make it harder."
During the program, Sheehan lost 40 pounds, or about 11 percent of his original weight, good enough to come in first place among participants for most weight lost.
Reyell was also very successful, he added, coming in fifth place overall with the 15 pound she shed.
Together, the couple feels healthier and can now do things they only dreamed of before starting the program, he said.
Recently, they climbed Lyon Mountain as just the first of many hikes they plan to take together.
"The last diet I was on was in 1989 when I lost 131 pounds," Sheehan said. "But I didn't learn anything about eating properly. I just put the weight back on. With Kym, I feel I've learned a lot now. It's going to be a life-saver."
HEALTH FIRST
Sweenor, who came on board at the center as the fitness director earlier this year, is now the general manager, overseeing a variety of upgrades at the facility.
"We want to continue to develop our fitness staff and group-exercise instructors and enhance the services and programs that we offer the community," she said.
"Our approach to exercise is health first and wellness and fitness a close second. It's not just what you do in the weight room or on the treadmill. But is your high blood pressure improving? Is your diabetes being managed?"
"We're interested in improving your quality of life," added Jamee Decker, member services director. "There is a huge social aspect to the center as well."
With participants in the first Buddy Challenge losing 149 pounds total, the center just began a new round of what Sweenor calls PARCs version of "The Biggest Loser" on Monday.
The center will also host a Fall Into Fitness open house from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, including free classes, a fitness assessment for guests and demonstrations of available facilities.
Also, Sweenor is developing an eight-week osteoporosis prevention program for adults of all ages. The start-up date for the program is pending, she said.
The center currently has three licensed exercise trainers and is looking to add more trainers to the staff. Also, at 950 registered members, it is studying its options for opening on Sundays if a goal of 1,000 members can be reached, she added.
jmeyers@pressrepublican.com
