28 members (and three generations) of the Pikia family split into four teams to take each other on in a 12-week Biggest Loser Challenge where weigh ins occurred each week and $5 fines were handed out for weight gain. Points were calculated by the combined percentage of weight loss and activities completed throughout the week. Nga Kete’s Mauri Ora Nurse Dee Curwood stopped in to perform health checks on each family member (in Invercargill). Some of the family have also signed up to the Southern Stop Smoking Service.
 
We’d like to say a massive congratulations to the amazing Pikia whanau, who recently concluded their Biggest Loser Challenge and lost a total between them of 286.3kg. What a huge achievement!!

CONGRATULATIONS to overall winner Leroy Pikia who lost a massive 23.4kg and second place Romano Danford who followed closely behind on about 22kg.

The whanau are planning to begin another Biggest Loser Challenge in the near future, and are re branding themselves to open it up to include others who’d like to participate.  

Leroy’s Story:

Winner Leroy Pikia says while it was a motivator entering the challenge, he wouldn’t have achieved as much as he did if it wasn’t for his brother Lucas.

The pair kept each other going throughout and if one said no to the gym, the other would say yes, prompting both to go no matter what, Leroy says.

Leroy, 26, entered the challenge to spend more time with family and to lose some weight and be more active.

He also wanted to strengthen his shoulder and arm muscles after a long stint on ACC last year, he says.

The Biggest Loser Challenge gave him the motivation to go to the gym, to run around and kick a ball with his brother at the rugby field, to conquer bush walks, to walk the dog, to run up and down the stairs at Daffodil Bay (a daunting experience at first), and to play sport.

Not only did Leroy partake in a large amount of exercise, he also cut down his food portions and threw away the “full of carbs” potatoes and white bread.

“It wasn’t easy but I started eating how much my body needs instead of how much I wanted to eat.”

Through his enormous effort, Leroy lost just about 25kg!

Following the challenge Leroy has continued going to the gym and maintained his eating habits. He has noted some huge changes including a lot more energy, not losing his breath as easily and a wardrobe full of too-big clothing.

Winning and achieving his goals has been a relief for Leroy, who says he didn’t plan to win but was so happy to have taken out the title.

He was also proud of himself and his family for what they’d all achieved. He wasted no time in signing up for the family’s next Biggest Loser Challenge, which is soon to begin.

The Pikia whanau are competing in a 12-week Biggest Loser Challenge where weigh ins occur each week and $5 fines are handed out for weight gain. Read the full story here.

It’ll be a whole new wardrobe for 27-year-old Kere Pikia, who has lost 12kg throughout his whanau’s Biggest Loser Challenge.

Father-of-two Kere, who moved to Invercargill (his home town) from Wellington in February, joined his whanau’s competition to lose weight, get in shape, and get healthier.

He loves the competitive nature of his whanau and wanted to be a part of it, he says.

He set himself some weekly goals, joined the gym (sometimes even popping in on lunch breaks from his course), and changed his diet.

He’s been taking fitness classes, weight and cardio sessions with whanau members, playing tennis and basketball, and eating wraps and sandwiches with fruit smoothies.

Kere has since lost 12kg “which I’m overwhelmed with”.

“I feel great, look a lot thinner, have a lot more energy and the best part is all the compliments I have been given about the noticeable change I have had.”

But there is a downside, he says.

“I can’t completely fit all my clothes any more so I’m going to need to start buying more MEDIUM sized clothes!”

Kere intends to continue his healthy living following the challenge to keep the weight off and stay healthy.

* Nga Kete’s Mauri Ora Nurse Dee Curwood stops in to perform health checks on each family member (in Invercargill). Some of the family have also signed up to the Southern Stop Smoking Service.

The Pikia whanau are competing in a 12-week Biggest Loser Challenge where weigh ins occur each week and $5 fines are handed out for weight gain.

The possibility of living with diabetes triggered a young father’s desire to become healthy and fit.

Romano Danford, 27, says it didn’t come as a surprise to be told he was on the verge of diabetes.

“But actually hearing Dee (Curwood, NKMP) tell me face-to-face triggered something within me to try and become as healthy as I can, to be there for my family.”

So Romano entered his whanau’s Biggest Loser Challenge and has since lost a massive 22kg, with the aim of losing even more.

The youth support worker says (while he certainly hasn’t traded in pies) he has switched all liquids for water and has been exercising and walking. He has cut down his portion sizes and doesn’t eat after 7pm.

“A lot of the stuff I do is CrossFit style training thanks to some of the brothers from work who have helped me out with a plan which helps me get the heart pumping and fatigue going. No pain, no gain.”

Becoming healthy and active has helped Romano gain his relationship back with God, which he believes has helped with his health and wellbeing.

He also doesn’t get tired as often as he used to, is able to jog, and has noticed he’s able to complete basic tasks easier.

“I used to get puffed doing the shopping or just giving the kids a bath with all the bending.” 

Romano is looking forward to playing rugby with his whanau.

“It’s been eight years since I’ve played or even been active, so it will be a test but you never know how things will go until you try, so I’ll give it a crack.”

Romano’s tip: Eat lots of tuna! It’s quick, easy, inexpensive and healthy, with a variety of flavours to choose from.

* Nga Kete’s Mauri Ora Nurse Dee Curwood stops in to perform health checks on each family member (in Invercargill). Dee measures and monitors the gains being made in their fitness plans. Some of the family have also signed up to the Southern Stop Smoking Service.

Brenda Johnston came to Nga Kete for help to stop smoking three years ago and has since remained smoke free and lost a massive 34kg.

This is her story:

I started smoking when I was 16. It was cool. All my friends and my boyfriend smoked.

Soon I was powering through a 50gram a week (About $40 a week at the time and 20 cigarettes a day). If I had a drink or a stressful week, I’d smoke even more. It became my stress reliever and my time out because I’d smoke outside.

Not only did my smoking increase but so did my weight. I think it was a combination of having four children and trying to stop smoking numerous times. When I smoked I never felt like eating and I’d get confused between hunger and nicotine craving.

So when I did eat, I’d eat a lot. I was binge eating because I never realized how hungry I was.

Four years ago I weighed 100kg and I was miserable.

Three years ago I decided I needed to do something about my smoking and I referred myself to Nga Kete for help. I needed to stop smoking for financial reasons and to be a role model for my children. I started using patches.

I was so blessed to have Nga Kete and I always looked forward to my weekly meeting. I was never made to feel inferior for any of my feelings or slip ups. I was genuinely cared about and they wanted to see me succeed.

Through their advice and encouragement I remained smoke free and what a difference! I immediately noticed more money, food tasted better, and I could breathe easier without coughing or choking in the mornings. One of the biggest benefits was having more time. I often wonder where I found the time to sit outside, sometimes for up to an hour, and smoke!

I was so lucky to also have my partner of 18 years who was incredibly supportive. We moved to Queensland, Australia, and I started working as a housekeeping manager for a small corporate hotel.

I had stopped smoking but I was still overweight, and I so desperately wanted to be fit and healthy for my children. I watched my father trying to lose weight and become healthy and he really inspired me. He was over 50-years-old and running 10km a day!

I started walking, and then running, and doing workouts in my garage that I found on YouTube because I was too embarrassed to do it in public. I joined a couple of fitness groups, and started eating healthier cutting out sugar where I could.
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I lost 22kg! But I still had further to go. I knew I needed extra help so I finally stepped out of my comfort zone and joined a gym. I got a personal trainer and it was the best thing I could have done.

He tweaked my nutrition and arranged my workouts so I knew what to do. I worked out with him once a week and eventually I lost another 12kg.

I joined another gym and started going on my own. I’ve since been running marathons and competing in obstacle races. I go to the gym five days a week and run the other two.

I have so much more energy now even though I’m more active. I can run around with my kids without getting short of breath. My partner and kids are even joining me in activity because they now want to be more active.

I feel fantastic knowing I did it! That I achieved another goal I had set. I actually stopped smoking and lost weight!

Today I weigh 66kg and I feel fantastic.

Whanau update: Teri Pikia says all of those competing are feeling positive and trying new things. About 45 of the whanau registered for the Surf to City event last weekend! So far the teams have lost about 190kg and everyone is looking healthy and fit!

Mike Conway has switched pies for crackers and dropped 5% of his body weight.

It wasn’t long ago the 45-year-old father-of-three thought he was in pretty good shape. But as he watched his young moko kicking a ball around he thought I’d like to be able to run around with him and kick it back. \

“I’d never really considered my fitness level, I just always thought it was always good. Reality is it needs work.”

So between his moko and the rest of his whanau Mike decided to give the Biggest Loser Challenge a go.

Keen to reach a higher level of fitness, Mike started walking and lifting weights, and replaced pies and mousetraps with crackers, raisins and cranberries and halved his portion sizes.

It’s about healthy choices rather than convenience, he says, although a trip to the supermarket takes a bit longer.

“I have read numerous boxes and packets of food where normally I would just throw them in the trolley … it is quite hard to find food without sugar and next to zero fat of any kind in the supermarket.”

Mike, who enjoys diving, fishing and watching sport, is loving the challenge and says it’s great to see the cross section of ages, ability and fitness levels doing the hard yards. He has noticed a big change within his whanau.

“Everyone is looking healthier and you can see the physical results starting to appear. There might be competing groups involved but we are all supporting each other’s individual quest, to help each person reach their personal goal which is a rewarding experience in itself.”

“We are together as one united in urging each other on for that last sit-up, that last burpee and that famous lunge.”

Mike’s work colleagues also have a keen interest in his journey and catch up often to share results and discuss what he’s been up to.

“There are a lot of people within the whanau’s reach that are being motivated  by hearing what we have been doing , also seeing some positive results and asking what have you been up to?”

* Nga Kete’s Mauri Ora Nurse Dee Curwood stops in to perform health checks on each family member (in Invercargill). Those checks can include cholesterol, blood pressure, and cervical screenings. Some of the family have also signed up to the Southern Stop Smoking Service.

James Towers is aiming to win his whanau’s Biggest Loser Challenge from another country.

James, 27, a car salesman, is a part of the Pikia whanau, who are competing in a 12-week Biggest Loser Challenge where weigh ins occur each week and $5 fines are handed out for weight gain.

James, whose two sisters and brother are also competing, lives in Australia with his partner Zharmaine and five-year-old son Malakai.
He was inspired to join the challenge by his whanau’s drive to get together to become healthy and fit.

“I thought this was just mint. It is something that would build your whanau up and it will be awesome for our tamariki to look up to everyone putting their health and fitness above all.”

James is keen to know and understand more about health and fitness – what foods are good and what he and his family’s bodies need to grow.

His starting weight was 120.6kg and he is down to 116.2kg, and has noticed a “massive difference” in his personal fitness.

“I think I could run past my letterbox without breaking a sweat.”

To achieve his goals James has changed some of his habits.

“I have been trying to get out on as many bikes rides with my son. Instead of driving to the play grounds and shops we get on the bike and ride down. I’ve also signed up to the gym and try head down there as much as possible.”

His end goal is to reach 100kg – a weight he hasn’t been since he was 16.

​* Nga Kete’s Mauri Ora Nurse Dee Curwood stops in to perform health checks on each family member (in Invercargill). Those checks can include cholesterol, blood pressure, and cervical screenings. Some of the family have also signed up to the Southern Stop Smoking Service.

“We’re trying to stop our whanau members going down the same path we’ve gone down.”

Not only is Teri Pikia taking a hard look at her own health and wellbeing, she’s also looking out for her entire whanau, and competition is heating up!

28 members (and three generations!) of the Pikia family and extended whanau have split into four teams to take each other on in a 12-week Biggest Loser Challenge where weigh ins occur each week and $5 fines are handed out for weight gain.

Points are calculated by the combined percentage of weight loss and activities completed throughout the week. The group, some of which are in the North Island and Australia, communicate via a closed Facebook group and Skype.

At the end the winners will receive the money pool (from fines and the $20 entry fee) and, of course, epic bragging rights!

The family are determined to become healthy and fit and have organized frequent physical activities including games, swimming, and often provide each other healthy eating tips. The challenge has inspired whanau to head to the gym, and participate in upcoming events such as the Surf to City.

They also enjoy monthly whanau days, where Nga Kete’s Mauri Ora Nurse Dee Curwood stops in to perform health checks on each family member. Those checks can include cholesterol, blood pressure and cervical screenings. Some of the family have also signed up to the Southern Stop Smoking Service.

“Having Dee come is another motivator for us. We all have different goals and for some of us, health is one of the biggest,” Teri says.

This weekend four teams of four or five from the Pikia whanau competed in the Try-Whanau Triathlon held in Bluff. Some of the team members placed in events such as the long course (which consisted of a 300m swim, 20km bike ride and 10km walk/run).

They also won the Iwi award for having the most people from one iwi participating from Tainui!

“We’re all very proud of our efforts over the weekend having achieved so much and really pushing ourselves.”

“So far just two weeks in we have lost over 100kg (combined).”

* We’re excited to keep you updated about their progress!

Photos supplied by Teri Pikia.