100 Day winners say 'we'll never look back'

Whether it was breaking through the pain barrier or breaking down over food cravings, the 100 Day Challenge winners have tested themselves to the limits. While all 27 contestants did an amazing job throughout the gruelling fitness competition, there could only ever be two overall winners. Caldon Grimes and Theresa Brangman this month reigned victorious and both are loving their new lives. Caldon says he is in the best shape of his life and he has a new-found addiction for exercise. Theresa cried tears of happiness when she found out how much weight she lost at the end of the challenge — and that was before she knew she had won. The winners sat down with the Bermuda Sun’s Sarah Lagan to talk through their biggest challenges, most rewarding moments and how they hoped to inspire others towards a healthier life.

Caldon Grimes

Caldon was inspired to do the 100 Day Challenge when he saw Judge Juan Wolffe compete last year. Caldon, who works at the intake department at Westgate’s Department of Corrections, saw the judge at work one day and asked him about his experience. He instantly put Caldon’s name forward to co-organizer Sarah Fellows. The rest is history.

“I saw this as a stepping stone in life and a jump start so far as losing weight.

I needed to push my body to the limit but I am in the best shape of my life right now.”

Poor eating habits were the main factor for Caldon’s and while he did play football every Saturday and go for a pushbike ride occasionally he needed to up his physical activity. Like so many Bermudians, Caldon had a penchant for fried food, mayonnaise, macaroni cheese and foods high in salt and sugar.

When he first saw a practitioner at the beginning of the competition he received worrying results which only served to increase his determination to get fit.

“He was concerned about my weight. My blood sugar level was up to 121 which meant that I was at risk of diabetes if I carried on the life I was living.”

Caldon said that having a personal trainer to teach him about nutrition was an enormous help. He has cut out the fatty foods, the salt and sugar, he eats more fruits and very few carbohydrates. Another element that was key to reducing his calorie intake was smaller food portions.

Caldon says “the joy of exercising” is one of the best things he gained from the challenge.

“If I don’t exercise I feel very bad — it’s addictive. My wife says I’m possessed.

“This year I had knee surgery in September and they were saying weight was a problem with that. Once that got better and the challenge kicked in I progressed where I was running in the morning — one mile, two, three and now I’m up to four or five now. I’d go to the gym for lunch then do spinning, KRX, weights aerobic style and then the team workout for two hours in the evening so I was working out three times a day. Now, I’m still maintaining twice a day and still do my push ups and sit ups everyday.”

It certainly seems to be in his blood now — Caldon recently ran the End to End for the first time and aims to take up cricket again and spinning classes.

One of the biggest challenges for the father of four was seeing less of his family but he does credit his colleagues for their support.

Caldon wants to encourage others to live healthier lives.

“You feel good about yourself — the whole 100 days I never had a headache. You feel so healthy — I have a lot more energy. Try not to let your weight getting out of control. It’s the little things — going for a walk, progress into jogging.

“As far as your nutrition there is a lot of information online like caloriecontent.com. I’ve inspired a lot of people — they see me and tell me I look good and that inspires me to keep at it.”

Theresa Brangman

It was her family’s health history that spurred Theresa Brangman to join the 100 Day Challenge.

Not only did her family have a history of diabetes but also high blood pressure and heart attacks. The recent birth of her first son confirmed in her mind that she should make some changes.

Theresa has always enjoyed exercise, especially cycling, but she admits that food was her biggest challenge.

“In my first week I had a little melt down — I thought ‘I don’t know if I can do this’ but I had to remember that I was doing it for myself and my health so I got into the routine of eating fruits and vegetables and my greens my protein. I had to give up fried food, starches, steaks everything, cheeseburgers all the foods I liked. It was definitely a life change but I enjoyed all of it.”

Theresa says she now exercises at least two hours every day and is gearing up for the May 24 race.

She is so happy with her new lifestyle that she says she will never look back. “When I saw how much I weighed I went to my car and cried — I knew I had accomplished somthing. I still go to my trainer three times a week and still work out seven days a week.

“Every time I look at myself in the mirror every day and tell myself I am not going to put that weight on again. If I don’t exercise in the morning I’ll go in my lunchtime I will find the time.”

Theresa said that she would recommend everyone to live a healthy lifestyle. “I think this was a wonderful experience. Get a trainer to get that push, help and guidance. If I didn’t have a trainer I don’t thing I would have got as far as I did.