By: Shawn Rhea
If you'd have told Evesham Township Assistant Fire Chief Bryan Ward, 38, a year ago he'd be a health and fitness spokesman, he probably would have laughed you out the firehouse. But this past February, that's exactly what became of the formerly overweight and health-challenged Marlton resident.
Ward, along with hundreds of other contestants from across the country, entered actor and fitness enthusiast Sylvester Stallone's Life Change Challenge, a 16-week fitness competition that awarded endorsement contracts and other prizes to the most improved contestants. Ward was one of 10 participants who won the competition and became spokespersons for Stallone's INSTONE supplements and dietary products.
But it wasn't the prospect of becoming a spokesman that prompted him to enter the contest, said Ward. Rather, it was desire for change and the knowledge his health was in the early stages of failure.
"I was starting to get high blood pressure," Ward admitted. "I was 230 pounds and acid reflux was beginning to kick in. Every other night, I was taking Pepcid, and my cholesterol was up around 220."
Though Ward had previously been trim and muscular, he managed to put on significant weight over a five- or six-year period. A lack of exercise coupled with fast-food meals and sugary treats were to blame, he said.
"I'd eat a sugary breakfast, then something cheap, like MacDonald's, for lunch." Dinner typically was barbecue ribs and French fries from a carryout.
But Ward's desire to change his habits turned to action last April when he saw a fitness magazine ad for the Life Change Challenge competition.
"The thing that really caught my eye was I wanted a goal to work toward," said Ward. "And, it wasn't a best body contest. It was about being the best I could be."
To enter the contest, Ward had to take date-stamped photos of himself on the day he began his exercise and nutrition routine and a second set of dated photos at the end of 16 weeks. He was also required to purchase at least one INSTONE product monthly during his shape-up period.
INSTONE counselors were available, Ward said, to answer questions about the products and provide free fitness, nutrition and motivational advice through an 800 number.
"If you're lacking motivation, they give you a pep talk."
Ward got started by laying out a nutritional plan that called for eating more lean protein and vegetables and cutting down on the saturated fats and refined sugars. He tried to eat every couple of hours to prevent hunger from kicking in and sabotaging his nutrition efforts, and also committed to doing cardio five days a week and weight training three days a week.
The early stage of his efforts was challenging.
"Sugar was my big downfall," Ward said. "In the morning it was doughnuts -- glazed doughnuts to be exact."
Enthusiasm about exercise also was slow to come.
"I could barely do one chin up."
Ward stuck with it, however, and over time good habits overtook his bad ones. Breakfast became oatmeal or a vegetable egg white omelet. Lunch and dinner became lean meat, poultry or fish with a salad or steamed vegetables. When his sweat tooth kicked in, he'd eat a serving of the INSTONE nutritional pudding.
"Instead of sitting around at the firehouse, I'd hop on the treadmill," he said.
By the end of 16 weeks, Ward, who is 5-feet-9-inches tall, had trimmed down to 184 pounds. His acid reflux had disappeared and his blood pressure was down from 140/90 to 120/80.
When he received a call at the firehouse from an INSTONE representative in January, Ward discovered his efforts had paid off in another way as well.
"The guy on the line said, "Sylvester Stallone said to tell you hi and congratulations, you're a finalist.' I thought it was one of the guys at the firehouse playing a joke."
The call turned out, of course, not to be a joke, and in February, Ward and his wife, Sandy, headed out to California where Ward and other contest winners received their prizes -- one of which is a $15,000 endorsement contract.
"We thought we'd pick one winner," said INSTONE spokesman Vince Andrich of the finalists. "But we found that all 10 had overcome major roadblocks. In Bryan's case, he was a firefighter and he goes into homes to save people. But he felt he needed to save himself first."
Ward's success has motivated several of his fellow firefighters to shape up and enter the 2006 Life Change Challenge.
"We realized how many firefighters have died from heart attacks, so a bunch of us decided to take it seriously," said Evesham firefighter Bryan Burns. "We saw how well Bryan did in the competition and how much his body has changed, so five or six of us took photos and sent them in."
The firefighters began their workouts and dietary changes earlier this month, and while the routine is challenging, they're all making progress, Burns said.
"I think we're all at the point where we've let ourselves go a little too much, so hopefully we can be successful and encourage others."
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