Your RESET Challenge Champ: Vern Lapuz!

It’s been more than six weeks since the RESET Challenge began (catch up here) and the person who started it all shed an astonishing 60 pounds and walked away with the top prize — a designer suit!

Congratulations to USANA Ruby Director Vern Lapuz (who, incidentally, recently advanced from Gold)! Vern, with the help of exercise, lost 11 pounds during the five-day RESET program. He took some time to answer a few questions about his six-week journey.

Q: How do you feel?
A: It definitely feels really good. I feel a lot healthier. To be honest, before all the weight loss, I never thought I could survive eating healthieer and in smaller portions. But now it actually feels normal. It feels good to be able to do pull-ups and actually run. I feel more alive.

Q: What was the hardest part of the entire challenge?
A: The beginning. Changing my eating habits and daily habits. The first three weeks were the hardest. I was going from something that I have been very comfortable with for the last 23 years of my life to something completely different. From eating three large portions, lots of soda, no exercise, and just hanging out, to six small portions, lots of water, and exercising twice a day. Change is definitely good. All good things in life don’t come easy.

Q: What was the most rewarding part of the challenge?
A: Finding out that I actually inspired people to get on it with their health and business. I was just doing this to help me find my wife, yet it actually helped me all around even with the business. The most rewarding thing was the unexpected that came from this competition. I really had no idea it would have that big of an effect. Another rewarding factor is that even USANA took notice. Again, it was all unexpected.

Q: What advice do you have for others who may want to start their own RESET Challenge?
A: To have a strong motivational factor. A “why” so strong that when you are huffing and puffing and about to give up, that “why” pushes you to hustle even more.

A “why” so strong that nothing will stop you and keep you motivated when you feel lazy. Right when you think about that one thing, it makes you feel like crap for sitting there and you get up and do something.

Yes, your “why” for good health could also be the one that fuels the business. Mine just happens to be my future wife, whoever she may be.

Duke always told me: “The greatest competition you can have is yourself.” I now know literally what that means because it is true. The biggest person that you will be fighting to stay lazy and unhealthy and comfortable, is yourself.

The Challengers
The inspiring challengers, all members of 4-Star Diamond Director Duke Tubtim’s team, utilized diet, exercise, and USANA’s RESET weight-management program to meet various goals.

Below are the results of the six-week challenge. Each challenger did extremely well! Congratulations to all of them for taking control of their health. Here are some impressive before and after photos.

Andrew Aquino

Shariza Bautista

Vern Lapuz

UPDATE: Vern just sent in his latest photo, which shows him weighing in at 185 pounds!

Matthew Ong

J.R. Ramos

Shaina Truman

Tip From a Trainer
Q: What are simple changes you can consistently make to become more active?
A: There are numerous small changes a person can make in order to become more active, including:

• Replace sedentary hobbies with more active ones you enjoy just as much, such as playing Wii instead of XBox.
• Take up any outdoor activity as opposed to sitting in front of the TV.
• Have a “culinary night” at home one day each week. We’re all busy, but try to take one night a week to cook a nice, heart-healthy dinner.
• At work, instead of sending an e-mail or making a telephone call, actually get up and walk to the person’s desk to get the information you need. This makes you more active and helps you develop your social network.

Start Your Own RESET Challenge!
USANA’s RESET weight-management program is a great way to get started on your own weight-loss challenge. The nutritionally balanced program ensures you get the vitamins and minerals you need while you are managing your weight. Get your team involved! We’d love to hear your stories of success. E-mail them here or drop a note in the comments below.

What’s Next?
Visit the RESET site to learn more about the program and to get answers to your questions.

Feel free to share your thoughts on their accomplishments or offer stories of your own weight-loss successes.

Also, be sure to check out the June/July issue of USANA Magazine, where writer Sarah Tackett explains “3 Ways to Challenge Yourself and Change Your Life” that will help you achieve success in your own RESET Challenge!

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The components of the RESET program are foods and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. As with any health or fitness program, a sensible eating plan and regular exercise are required in order to achieve long-term results. Results will vary.