By: L.J. Bryant
Quit Smoking. Save Money. Lose Weight. Everyone makes New Year's resolutions, but how often do people actually follow through and maintain those resolutions? One Hendrix senior is helping another student follow in his footsteps to do just that, with plans for using his knowledge and past experiences as a, "business and a calling," and with financial assistance from the new Odyssey grants.
Senior Economics and Business major Steven Duerringer began his promise to himself to lose weight over ten months ago. Once 330 pounds, he is now 150 pounds lighter and drawing attention from everyone on campus.
"It was pretty simple, really," Duerringer said. "I ate more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains while cutting down or eliminating red meats, oils, sugar, and other calorie-dense foods."
Duerringer emphasizes that smaller, more frequent meals are the key to dropping the pounds.
"Just eat smaller meals more frequently, such as 5 to 6 meals a day, and exercise at least five times a week," he said.
Earlene Hannah, chair of the kinesiology department, said Duerringer's efforts are worthwhile.
"Obesity is the single greatest preventable threat to health and well-being," she said. "The effects of obesity on health are the equivalent of 20 years of aging."
Director of Health Services, Donna Chastain, APN, reiterates that obesity can lead to several other health problems.
"Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stress on bones and joints, and social issues are all negatives stemming from obesity," she said.
Though Duerringer has accomplished his own personal goal, he has turned to helping others shed the pounds as well. One of those is sophomore Jacob Williams, who describes Duerringer's program as basically "burning more calories than you take in."
In fact, Duerringer received an Odyssey grant to help Williams lose at least 200 pounds. The proposal, called, "Pass It On," was approved last fall and tells the story of Duerringer's struggles with anemia and protein deficiencies and his awareness of the difficulty of undertaking lifestyle changes alone. The proposal states that Duerringer will provide weekly guidance in nutritional education, behavior modification and other activities to give Williams, his trainee, the support he needs to meet his goal. Duerringer plans to keep a video documentary and a photographic slideshow of their results. As well, the proposal states that Duerringer plans to create a plan for his own weight-loss consulting business that he will submit to the Arkansas Governor's Business Plan competition, with prizes totaling over $20,000.
2008 Woodie Awards
