An unlikely centre for health and weight-loss success you might think, but that’s just what the busy office of a Victorian tram centre depot is. Today, the team at Yarra Trams eats and works out together as they continue their course towards a happier future.
Realistic health challenges
This unique group success story starts less than a year ago with the arrival of Trudy Jimenez at the depot’s customer support and marketing department. Looking for ways to bring the company together, to improve morale, to offer support and improve health all at the same time was one of her first and greatest challenges. Trudy began searching for a flexible health and fitness program and put easy-to-prepare foods and realistic exercise options on the must-have list. A little detective work brought Trudy to The Biggest Loser Club.
Trudy says, “As well as something that would encourage individuals to look at their own health, I needed something that would allow everyone to evaluate the health of others, too, and work together to reach their goals. For me, personally, I hoped to lose the weight that I had gained over the last couple years.”
Having decided on The Biggest Loser Club program, the next step was recruiting volunteers. Trudy says, “I let people know about it by talking to individuals during personal meetings, via information on notice boards and just by chatting to people about what they wanted and what they needed.” And so, the team was recruited and the Yarra Trams three-month healthy makeover began.
Click to enlarge photos
The Yarra Trams team
Runner-up Eugene
Team leader, Trudy
Jewels, The Biggest Loser
Finding the answers
Being a multiculturally diverse team of individuals, each with their own personal likes and dislikes, Trudy was kept busy finding answers to daily questions. She says, “I was a frequent user of the ‘Resources’ section on The Biggest Loser Club and often, it was to look for substitute foods and exercises that would fit in with personal preferences and with working hours. I also looked for foods that could be ‘translated’ i.e. casseroles and stews which were similar to spicy chicken and fish dishes, i.e. foods that are traditional to some of our team members. I knew this was important, that it would help to boost the chances of each of us staying with the program. So, whenever people asked a question, I would find the information they needed.”
As the plan progressed, more people joined and it wasn’t just colleagues; family (around 10 partners) got with the program and a few of them joined The Biggest Loser Club themselves. All in all, more than 70% of staff got on board and made changes of some description and there was lots of interest from customers, too. Now, two more Yarra Trams depots are poised to run a similar Biggest Loser Club team program for their staff.
The practicalities
Trudy says, “We all stayed with the eating plan quite well but some wanted more of the low-calorie snack foods than others (I was kept busy running out to buy sugar-free jelly!). Breakfast for shift workers was another issue.” Trudy explains that some of the Yarra shift workers found it difficult to face breakfast before clocking on for a shift. Having read the background on the Club website, though, Trudy knew that three full meals plus snacks was the right way to reach each person’s individual goals. So, she kept up the encouragement for those who couldn’t face breakfast and urged them to eat something, a snack of fruit or yoghurt, for example. Then, at snack time, they could switch things around and eat the ‘breakfast’ meal. Trudy reflects, “It was a steep learning curve but around three to four weeks into the program, it all sank in; it became second nature and I became very good at substitution!”
Encouraging exercise
Just as important as food choices on the ‘get healthy’ menu for Trudy and her colleagues was developing fitness. She says, “We wrangled some free swimming passes from the local pool. We bought two treadmills and an exercise bike. We organised three walking sessions per day and played touch footy at the local sports oval. All of us kept in contact via the notice board – we had a sort of journey map,” she says.
Do medical conditions and The Club mix?
A few of the Yarra Trams team began their Biggest Loser Club program with the chronic conditions of diabetes and hypertension. Taking no chances, Trudy double-checked the diet and exercise program with individuals’ doctors. She even checked the credentials of the plan with the Heart Foundation before the start. The doctors were delighted that their patients were about to embark on a fitter, healthier lifestyle and they endorsed the menu plans and the exercise program as did the experts at the Heart Foundation. Trudy says, “The doctors were delighted that their patients were finally doing what they had asked them to do all along and the Heart Foundation was really supportive; they checked the program and sent out extra help in the form of booklets and posters. The Heart Foundation backed us; they endorsed The Biggest Loser Club program because it works!”
Three months later...
Three months on and the results have been fantastic. By the ‘finale’ (Yarra Trams organised a presentation to celebrate the team and congratulate the Biggest Losers), the team had shed a total of 417kg. Diabetes medication has been reduced and blood pressure levels had gone down. The team is happier, healthier and closer for their experiences.
Trudy will be celebrating her 60th birthday soon and approaches it with an enthusiasm that was and still is catching. Looking back, she says that the whole experience wasn’t just about losing weight – it was as much about eating well and getting fit, changing lifestyles and accepting that life is all about balance.
She says, “I was blown away! I lost the kilos continuously with The Club’s diet and exercise program – 31kg in total. I’ve gone from 114kg to 83kg and my goal is 75kg. I have reached a plateau but I will get there – I don’t care if it takes me until December, I will realise my goals. My eating and exercise habits have changed and I feel fitter and happier than ever.”
She urges others to do the same saying, “This thing is life changing, so don’t give up. Persevere; follow the menu and exercise plans and you too will be a winner! I’ve tried other programs and they didn’t work – the difference is that this one does! I’m 30 kilos lighter, healthier and fitter than I’ve been for a good number of years, and I’m thinking I will be here for a good many more.”
A huge congratulations to Trudy and the team at Yarra Trams, Victoria!