Latest News Local News Biggest Loser Motivates Students to GO for it
Biggest Loser Motivates Students to GO for it
Twelve-year-old Isaiah Black, a seventh-grader at the Union Public Schools Sixth and Seventh Grade Center, sat alone in the back row.
At the front of the class, Danny Cahill, a Broken Arrow resident who won season 8 of "The Biggest Loser," explained how he shed a record-setting 239 pounds.
Black is something of a biggest loser, too, even if he only competed with himself to lose approximately 50 pounds in the YMCA's Graduate Oklahoma, or GO Program, an after-school program for low-income children.
This week, Cahill spoke to Black, and his GO Program peers, then later at Roy Clark Elementary.
Cahill's motivational speech helped raise awareness about the GO Program, and the nationwide Pound for Pound Challenge, which benefits the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.
Almost 40 percent of Oklahoma children are overweight or obese, according to GO.
The GO Program serves approximately 500 elementary and middle school students in Tulsa, Broken Arrow and Owasso in its after-school health and wellness program.
"(GO) provides solutions for reversing childhood obesity trends, curbing risky and antisocial behaviors, improving academic performances, and keeping kids in school," according to GO.
Laura Hailey-Butler, of the YMCA, said research illustrates GO's success.
"Not only were our kids losing a significant amount of weight and making better food choices, but they were reading, some kids up to two years, better than they were," she
said. "Compared to their peers, they are making significant strides, and I think it all comes down to wellness."
Before GO, Black - who weighs in the low 200s - said he "would be at home, laying down, eating and watching TV. I didn't want to go outside."
Matt Hancock, of the YMCA, recalled what Black was like in those early days.
"(Isaiah) was very shy, timid, and really did not think the most of physical activity," Hancock said.
"He took the opportunity to become engaged in what resulted in him losing weight, and to become a more outgoing student and person."
Channing Rusher, who works with Black daily, said he is, "The kid who is out there with the biggest smile on his face running around. He's the sweetest, most heart-warming kid. He tries so hard."
Once Cahill finished speaking, then singing an inspirational tune and playing acoustic guitar, the other children left Cahill and Black standing alone together.
After their brief conversation, Cahill said, "Him losing 50 pounds is like me losing 150 pounds. That's awesome. I told him to keep going and that I was proud of him, and that he can do anything he puts his mind to. If anybody tells him he can't, they're lying to him."
Black walked away from Cahill with an autographed card complete with a picture of Cahill before and after he lost 239 pounds.
"If he loses hope," Cahill said, "he can look at that and say 'I can do it.' "
Original Print Headline: Kids are losing it, thanks to being on the GO
