Weeks ago, we put the call out to the nation to accept our challenge and get their health back on track! The Stahlbaum’s video stood out from numerous submissions for its passion and determination to make a positive change for themselves and each other.
Jocelyn
27 years old, 311 pounds, Stay-at-home mom who also does daycare
Jocelyn has always been big, remembering herself as one of the biggest kids all the way back to kindergarten. Her biggest weakness is diet – she constantly shies away from fruits and vegetables in favour of meat, potatoes, and buttered bread. Her primary concern now is that she is being a poor role model for her two-year old girl, Madeline. Also, knowing her family’s history of heart problems has made Jocelyn aware that she needs to be healthier or there could be even more serious consequences. With another baby on the way in May, Jocelyn wants to change her habits now and provide a better example for her kids.
Jenn
36 years old, 195 pounds, Recreational therapist
Unlike her sisters and mom, Jen’s weight issues began fairly recently. When she was younger, she was a competitive figure skater and focused on keeping herself fit to avoid the weight issues she grew up seeing her mother face. Unfortunately, in the last couple of years her focus shifted to her family and she admittedly “let herself go”. Now, she feels like a hypocrite because her job entails telling people how to live a healthy lifestyle and she isn’t even doing that herself. After being shocked by the amount of weight she’d gained over the last two years, Jen has decided it’s time to focus on her again and shed those extra pounds.
Marg
52 years old, 295 pounds, School library clerk
Marg grew up in a family where food was abundant and used as a reward for almost everything. As a result, she was always a big child – which helped her develop an attitude of “I’ve always been heavy so I guess I’m just heavy”. Recently though, Marg has realized that this doesn’t need to be the case. She wants to take part in activities like swimming and public speaking, but is afraid to because of her weight. She also wants her daughters to change the way they eat and exercise, and feels that she needs to lead by example. Marg is sick and tired of leading a lifestyle that’s left her physically unable to do things she’d love to do, and has decided that it’s never too late to make positive changes.
Stacey
21 years old, 225 pounds, Full-time student
Stacey has struggled with eating and body image issues for the past several years. When she was younger she was always a very thin child. In high school she struggled with eating disorders and would go long periods of time without eating. Since going to university each year she continues to struggle but in a different way. Now she will eat large amounts of unhealthy food and has become far less active than she was growing up. She gained a freshman 15 and then just kept gaining. She is disappointed with where she is at and is ready to turn things around. By the time the wedding arrives she would like to get down to about the same weight as her boyfriend, who weighs around 180lbs. She is also hoping to reconnect with the active lifestyle she enjoyed for most of her life.
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