Meet the Novak family from Little Falls!
Dad-Scott, Mom-Joan, Greg (16), Michael (15), Jakob (12), Chloe (10), Gabrial (9), Christopher (4), and Benjamin (6 mos.).
Scott is a Full-Time EMT, and Joan works fulltime as a sign language interpreter.
"We would like to put a little balance back in our family, and to focus on spending more quality time together. We also would like to learn about healthy eating and excercising changes to improve our family's health. We are also struggling a little right now with the economy and would like to learn some healthier ways to manage that stress and continue to meet all the needs of our family. We are hoping the things we gain in the program will benefit us now and into the future."
How We've Changed!
PHYSICALLY:
Our Personal trainer was Krista- she was tenacious! She was extremely instrumental in getting us back on our feet and on or way to being in shape again! She had some wonderful ideas we've been using- exercise plans for the gym, and at home, and was always so positive about us- even when we weren't feeling very positive. The changes we have made are exercising 2-4 times a week, watching our portion sizes, and remembering that we want this as a life change- not just a contest- so our goals are not yet finished- really only just beginning!
RELATIONSHIPS:
We have noticed a lot of changes- Chloe who is in the 5th grade said she notices we are nicer to each other- working more as a group than as a bunch of individuals living in the same house. Mom and Dad definitely are managing stress better which makes the whole family run a little smoother- and were very impressed with all of their kids over the past few months in how they learned to pull together and help each other out- from stepping up to babysitting the little ones so mom and dad could work out, to being workout partners at the gym, to Jakob who is 12 helping Dad with portion sizes. All of the children down to the 4 year old Christopher have taken turns working out with mom and dad and going outside to be more active instead of watching T.V. Or playing video games. We have also enjoyed our Family Nights together- making more time for board games, sledding, skating, family dance nights, and even an occasional movie night. Because we had to travel a little to the gym- Scott and I made it our date nights- that was very good for us- because we were really focused on doing this for the contest- and didn't realize how good it was for us as a couple! We hardly missed a date! And we felt the gym was a wonderful stress reliever...cheaper than a movie...but Joan did miss the popcorn....
Goals for the rest of 2010:
To continue to lose weight for Scott and I, and to continue to go to the gym 1-2 times per week as well as walk, and exercise with our family the other 2-3 times. One of our long term goals for Scott is to lose enough weight to go to Valleyfair at the end of the summer and ride the rides comfortably - and walk around all day. For Joan to continue to lose weight- and to get back in shape enough to run again( Maybe even in a Community Education Track Meet in Pierz this summer).To incorporate more family time to exercise or being physical so as to balance our family life and together time a little better. To continue our family devotional times twice a week instead of only Sundays, using different ways like picnics in the park (now that summer is coming) to celebrate God's goodness in fellowship, a meal, and pure family togetherness! To continue to lessen the amount of junk food we eat, and to cook healthier meals for our children, also to take the focus off of food- and put it on other things as treats instead of food..like going to park hopping for a few hours, or going to garage-sales,or window shopping at the mall to reward a job well done instead of cookies, or ice-cream.
We'd like to thank all of the people who have put effort into our family including the people at Spirit92 for all of your prayers and help. We have already won being chosen as one of the three competing families- and truthfully you just may have saved our family by helping us realize how unhealthy and unbalanced we were getting both in our family togetherness and in our overall physical health, - a lasting change I hope that is really only just beginning- armed with new information, new physical skills, prayers, and new confidence we will continue forward on our journey knowing tht even if we stumble- which we already have- or fall- which we will- we can pick ourselves up- stand proud and continue on knowing we are doing what is best for us and our family. When we started this contest we focused only on the contest itself and wanted to do what we could to win- but somewhere along the line we realized that as a family contest- you were only as strong as your weakest person- and not everybody went at the same pace- I had to learn patience(frustrating), but soon started noticing how the littlest changes made the biggest differences- my husband lost about13-14 lbs. And could walk upright around the store again, (although this has strained our budget a little...) We can go on walks again- at the beginning he couldn't even walk ¼ of a mile- but now can walk almost 4! I am very proud of my family! Everyone obtained at least one of their goals...and we ain't done yet!!! Thanks again for this opportunity of a lifetime we will try hard not to waste it!
The Novak Family - Joan, Scott, Greg(16), Mike(15), Jakob(12), Chloe(10), Gabe(9), Christopher(4), and Ben(9 months)