Yumans trimming the fat

So far, Yumans have lost almost almost 4,000 pounds.

That's a lot of blood, sweat and tears, the latter being over all the treats Yumans have given up thanks to Fattest to Fittest: Yuma vs. Yakima Weight Loss Challenge.

And with 3,874.6 pounds lost by the end of Week 3 in the eight-week challenge, the 900-plus Yumans participating in the community teams are really stepping it up.

For the official Yuma community team, they're doing their part by dropping 85.6 pounds during the first three weeks. The official Yakima team has lost 73 pounds.

One of the best losers on the Yuma team is City Councilman Cody Beeson. Beeson said he's lost 17.6 pounds so far, and he's done it in part thanks to changing "all" of his eating habits.

"I just eat healthier now. I make sure to start my day out with something like yogurt or a banana and I do not wait until 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. to have my first meal."

Beeson said he's eating a lot of fruit and has stopped eating sweets, but he can still treat himself to a low-calorie sweet "here and there."

For workouts, Beeson said he's biking and running. He's even tried acupuncture to help with the cravings.

It's all about portion control for team member Marco A. Garcia, outreach coordinator for the Yuma Private Industry Council. Garcia has lost 16 pounds so far and said he's gone down one waist size and one shirt size.

"(It's) a good thing I kept some clothes from before I gained the weight. I already feel lighter and I look forward to aging healthy."

Garcia said he's been so determined, it's easy to walk away from food.

"I have stuck to my plan to run away from temptation as much as possible. I make better choices for snacks now."

Yuma Sun Publisher Joni Weerheim also stressed portion control, and she's added drinking more water to her routine.

Weerheim said she's given up snacks, such as chips and Dairy Queen, and she's thinking more about her food choices.

"The toughest thing is to always to keep food choices top of my mind and not succumb to the instant gratification type of foods. I stay away from fried foods and foods with sugar and/or lots of fat, so it's something that you have to think about all the time."

People looking for an easy way to fit exercise into their lives might want to take advice of team member Mary E. Gonzales. She works as director of Children's CM/CFT Services with Community Intervention Associates. Gonzales said walking has been the easiest thing for her to fit in to her schedule.

She has dropped eight pounds so far and has done it all without "really giving anything up." She said she's also using portion control to help her shed the pounds.

"I feel a boost in my energy lately, which I contribute to the exercise," Gonzales said.

Sun Media Marketing Manager Adrianne Wagner said she's hoping to find a happy balance between what she wants to eat and how much she works out.

So far, it's her crazy work schedule that's kept her from getting to the gym "at a reasonable hour." But now that her professional event calendar is slowing down just a little, she hopes to make it more routine - but that hasn't stopped her from dropping seven pounds.

Wagner is helping drop more by cutting out cheese and mayonnaise, she said.

Like other team members, Garcia said being a part of the team has helped motivate him a lot. "Aren't bragging rights a good enough reason?"

And after Week 3, it looks like the Yuma team is on its way to collecting on the Yakima team's promise of giving the winning team some delicious Washington apples.

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YUMA'S OFFICIAL TEAM:

• Cody Beeson
• Bill Dowding
• Marco Garcia
• Mary E. Gonzalez
• Larry Nelson
• Lenore Stuart
• Joni Weerheim
• Adrianne Wagner

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ATTENTION ALL TEAMS

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, please report your team's weekly weight-loss totals by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25. Results must be send to Kay Paiz by calling 539-6843 or e-mailing kpaiz@yumasun.com.