By JULIANA TECPILE

Danville High School

Danville High School is hosting a weight loss challenge for the staff members. This is a friendly competition to see which staff member can lose the most percentage of body weight over the time period of seven weeks. Around 18-20 teachers are participating in this weight loss challenge.

Most teachers have different reasons for why they joined the challenge.

“I joined because I love competition, and it seemed like a great way to get some motivation from the people around me at work,” math teacher Abbie Chandler said.

Another staff member, English teacher Jennifer Shearer, said, “I am looking to get a little healthier.”

The challenge began after the new year and raised certain goals from each staff member. Of course, one of the main goals was to lose a certain amount of weight before the challenge ended, but some staff members also gave themselves other goals. Shearer commented, “I want to be able to run again, like I used to do all the time.” Other goals include things such as having a better diet.

Guidance counselor Beth Gooch said her main goal is “making better eating choices with my diet, because I like to eat sweets and carbs.”

Chandler said her goal is to “lose 30 pounds before I turn 30.”

To achieve these goals, participants also have to change part of their lifestyle and overcome obstacles that might be present. Most of these staff members have smaller children, which makes it difficult to cut parts of their lifestyle to achieve their goals.

“I have two kids. I’m kinda busy with them and running with them,” Gooch said. “It is easy for them to talk me into something like eating Mcdonald’s.”

Chandler said that her major obstacle is finding time.

“Time is always a major obstacle, especially when it comes to working out,” she said. “Between work duties and being a wife and mama, there just doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day.”

In this challenge, Chandler is also competing against her husband.

“I love competing against my husband,” she said. “There is nothing better than beating him. He will probably beat me in this competition, but it’s still fun to compete.”

DHS staff members also wanted to share tips for people who are trying to lose weight.

Head football coach Clay Clevenger stated, “It is about discipline and you have to be disciplined to find something that works for you. Find what your body reacts well to.”

Shearer stated that “having a community and having a partner to keep you going” will help.

 

The From Our Schools partnership gives journalism students from Boyle County and Danville high schools access to Advocate-Messenger staff expertise and provides space in the newspaper for student-produced content.