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Lakeshore Advance, 2012-02-08, Page 32A Wednesday, February 16, 2011 • Lakeshore Advance 7 Local man is working it out I "the heaviest thing here is the door" - Fitness club owner John Dehondt Lynda Hillman -Replay Lakeshore Advance Ile was a teen having fun, Partying, skipping classes, drinking beer working part time. It would have been a great life --if he were not 300 pounds. Years went by and life was still fun although it was getting a little difficult to do what ttseti to come easy. Last year, at 37 he had reached 550 pounds. Doug Willert is a success story in motion. He has lost 130 pounds in the past year and those numbers are climbing, Willert speaks very frankly about his life as a teen and a time when he realized his eating habits were spiraling out of control. Willett grew up in Zurich with mom and dad and two younger brothers. Ile went to St. Boniface school and then off to South Huron high. He had trouble con- centrating and didn't like secondary school. The pat- tern began, Ile hung around with a party crowd. He drank beer, ate "gar- bage" food, partied all night and then went to bed. No exercise, no proper diet. He didn't finish high school and began working in a fac- tory. By the time he was 22, Willert weighed 300 pounds and still partied. Ile didn't really care about his weight. By the time he was 31, he knew his weight was caus- ing problems with his health. His knees hurt, it was hard to get around and he knew he had arthritis. He could not sleep. His doctor had been telling him for years to lose weight, He joined the Grand Bend gym --but stayed only a couple of months as there was little support with the former owners. His dieting was not working because he would lose a bit and then plateau. • 'Then last year he saw the advertisement for the Big- gest Loser challenge at 'Grand Bend Fitness and thought this may be the chance to change his life. Little did he know this new fitness experience would change his life. "The heaviest thing in this place is the door," says owner john I)ehondt, "Hst get in the door and your life can change" Wiliert's family encour- ages hint and his mom brought hint in for the first day of the Biggest Loser. From that point forward, this Zurich elan took con- trol of his life -with a whole lot of help from his new friends and supporters. In the beginning, at 550 pounds, Willert could not use the equipment because he was too big, As his work- outs progressed, and the weight was coming off, he He was gaining muscle and is as strong as a horse." —Hubert Haccius, trainer began to feel more com- fortable with his achieve- ments. He was working out every day and people were pushing him hard. Hubert Ilaccius was his trainer and showed little mercy- push- ing him to a point Willert never dreamed he could get to. "lie was gaining muscle and is as strong as a horse," says Haccius, The Biggest Loser chal- lenge brought him a loss of more than 70 pounds. That was a great beginning and Willert continued to work out- now two days a week, Even with the support of the gym goers and Haccius, Dehondt says no matter what they did --it was Will- ert who had to do the work. Ile has learned that he has to control his eating pat- tern and change his life for- ever. Since the Biggest loser challenge was a great incentive, Ilaccius said they needed something that would not only benefit Lynda lNNman-Raphy lakeshoir Advance Grand Bend Fitness Club owner John Dehondt (left) with trainer Hubert Haccius throw all their support to Doug Willett as he trains for a better lifestyle. W'Villt'rt, but also the com- munity, And that is where the "Doug looses --they win" campaign came into play. '1'o participate in the new campaign and to offer encouragement you can sponsor Willett 's weight loss with a pledge dona- tion- and those dollars will go to Blessings Food Bank in Zurich, The pledge can he any amount and as of last week in total pledges that 8010001 was more than $50 per pound. last week, Willert weighed in at 420 pounds. That is a 130 pound loss since he began last year. And with the "fit- ness tough love" of his sup- porters, he bus some real goals for the future. "'Phis is win-win," says Dehondt, The pledge sheets art' available at Grand Bend Fitness, I'm Starving res- taurant and Blessings. If there was advice Will- ert would give, he says it has to be listening. "1 was close minded and didn't pay attention to what was going on. 1t will bite you," he says adding you have to take control of your own life. It got to the point, he said, where the more peo- ple said "you can't do it," the more he believed it. "Don't be so naive, open your eyes to what is in front I was close minded and didn't pay attention to what was going on. Don't be so naive, open your eyes to what is in front of you. Listen to the people, they are guiding you in the right direction." --Doug Willert of you," he advises. "Listen to the people, they are guiding you in the right direction, While Willert now inspires anyone who meets hint, it was those same peo- ple who gave hint the inspi- ration to change his life. flhine Iakeshoreadvance.com sue ater if" vinimtv ome est ANNUAL MEETING Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 7:30pm at the Blue Water Rest Home Chairman: Ron H('imric•h Secretary: Ron Westlake Choices for Seniors Information on Independent Living Protect Senior Loved Ones from Hypothermia Did you know that oold weather is especially risky for older people? Seniors may be less aware when their bodies are becoming dangerously cold. So they should take extra precautions. When it conies to hypothermia, prevention is the best strategy! Have a conversation with your loved one about the risks, and about steps they can take: - Limit time spent in cold temperatures. Changes in your body that conlo with aging can make it harder to feel when you aro getting cold. - Make sure you oat enough food to maintain a healthy weight. Body fat helps us stay warns. Being underweight puts us at higher risk of cold -related illness. - See your doctor to keep any illnesses under control. Some illnesses may slake it harder for your body to stay warm. Those include low thyroid, diabetes, and some skin problems. - Ask your doctor how the medicines you are taking affect body heat. Some mtxiicinos often used by older people also increase the risk of accidental hypothermia. Those include drugs used to treat anxiety, depression, or 11a118oa, - Wear several layers of Loose clothing when it is cold. The layers will trap warm air between them. Tight clothing Indy prevent your blood from flowing freely, - Stay warns inside and outside. Even indoors, ,your health, your ago, what you oat or drink, can make it hard for you to stay safely warm. Sot your thermostat for at least 20"C to be safe. Sponsored by: Lauda ('olott„ Executive 1)ireetor Hotiw At Hamel sorvilvre Tel: AID-294448bn wwwrotlreathouwhpm oom YourHealth. YourHome. YourCholee.