BNSF News

Montana and Twin Cities Division Employees Compete In Friendly "Lose To Win" Weight-Loss Competition

2008-12-04

BNSF’s North region leadership team and the BNSF Medical and Environmental Health Department (through the Your Health Matters program) recently sponsored a weight-loss competition between Montana and Twin Cities Division employees. As a result, everyone was a winner as 264 participants collectively lost more than 2,000 pounds!

“Thanks to everyone who participated in this competition,” said Jeff Wright, regional vice president, North. “The competition encouraged employees to lose weight safely by eating well and exercising.”

Getting started

To get started, each participant received a food-intake and daily exercise diary and had his/her initial weight recorded. This provided a baseline to compare final weight-loss results and to track how the participants progressively began eating healthier and exercising more.

Medical professionals also worked with each participant to help determine his/her ideal weight-loss goal for the 10-week competition.

“The most important part of this competition was to ensure employees understood the importance of living a healthy lifestyle,” said Dr. Thomas Pace, assistant vice president and chief medical officer. “When it’s all said and done, we are hopeful employees will continue healthy habits for the rest of their lives.”

Competition in action

Each division was eligible to win awards for one or both of the competition’s categories:

1. Participation: Division wins for the highest percentage of employees who completed the competition, compared to number of hours worked.
2. Achievement: Division wins for highest percentage of employees who achieved their weight loss goals.

In all, the competition was a resounding success with a total of 2,142 pounds shed by all employees in just 10 weeks!

Tom Lowe, superintendent of operations, Glendive, Mont., said the competition changed his day-to-day life.

“It’s amazing what being 25 pounds lighter, eating healthy and regular exercise can do for your energy level, your health and your self-esteem,” Lowe said. “The key is working the weight off slowly and taking it day by day, reaching one small goal at a time. The ‘Lose to Win’ program hasn’t only helped my work life, it’s also improved my personal life. Now I can keep up with my grandkids better!”

Competition results

Twin Cities:

• 206 employees completed the competition
• 33 employees (or 16 percent) met their weight loss goals
• 174 employees (or 84 percent) lost some weight
• Participation: 1.20 percent
• Achievement: 1,387 total pounds lost; average loss of 8 pounds per employee

Montana:

• 90 employees completed the competition
• 11 employees (or 12 percent) met their weight loss goals
• 81 employees (or 90 percent) lost some weight
• Participation:  0.8 percent
• Achievement: 755 total pounds lost; average loss of 9.32 pounds per employee

The Twin Cities Division employees won in both categories; however, the Montana Division’s results were impressive as well with a higher average weight loss per person.

“Employees who participated should be proud of their accomplishments, and I encourage them to keep up the momentum,” Wright said. “The numbers prove that many of our employees lost some weight, and those results prove that eating healthy and exercising regularly can really help our teams – at work and in day-to-day life.”

Prizes will be awarded to each employee who completed the competition.

Want more information about healthy ways to lose weight? If so, check out the Your Health Matters Online Wellness Center at employee.bnsf.com. Select the Employee tab, and then the Wellness subtab.

BNSF Headquarters

For more information on the company and its transportation solutions, visit the BNSF Web site at www.bnsf.com