Thinner look

Kids' weight loss shows after weeks of sweating off the pounds

Originally posted on July 31, 2007, by Francesca Donlan

Amanda Inscore / news-press.com Joshua Rubush of Lehigh Acres jumps over members of his group during a relay race on July 20 at Camp Vanguard in Lake Wales. ABOUT THE CAMP - Camp Vanguard is one of three New Image Weight Loss Camps. The other two are located in Pennsylvania and California. Campers can attend camp from two weeks to eight weeks at three different locations. Camp Vanguard is located at a boarding school campus at the The Vanguard School in Lake Wales. - Camp Ojai is in Ojai, Calif., near Santa Barbara and located at The Villanova Prep School. - Camp Pocono Trails is located on a private 350-acre setting beside a lake. This camp has been featured in an MTV documentary about weight loss. New Image camps do not offer a formal scholarship program but they make some arrangements. They have an annual essay contest, which offers kids a chance to go to camp for free. For more information check out www.newimagecamp.com or call 1-800-365-0556.

Maxine Spadaro tells her campers to have fun and the weight will come off.

That is exactly what happens.

Maxine is camp director of Camp Vanguard, a weight loss camp in Lake Wales for children 7 to 18 years old.
After six weeks the kids have changed. Some have met their goal weights and are looking fit and trim. Others wear loose clothes that no longer fit them. Everyone looks thinner.

"It's incredible to see the difference," Maxine said.

Amanda Inscore / news-press.com Joshua Rubush of Lehigh Acres, second from right, and the members of his group learn about making healthy food choices when dining out in a nutrition class on July 20 at Camp Vanguard in Lake Wales.

The differences are thrilling for campers Joshua Rubush, 11, of Lehigh Acres, and Michele Gagliardi, 16, of Fort Myers.

In fact, Joshua extended his six-week camp stay to eight weeks. He's down 25 pounds and four holes in his belt.

"I've sweated more here than I've sweated my entire life," he said.

Michele is excited about her progress. It's her third year at Camp Vanguard. The past two summers she lost 15 pounds. She has kept the weight off each year. So far this summer, she's lost 19 pounds.

"I'm trying a lot harder this year," she said. "It would make me so happy to make my goal."

Students come from all over the world to spend their summers eating healthy and moving more. This summer campers came from England, Spain, Puerto Rico and predominantly the southeastern United States to lose an average of 20 to 40 pounds each. They join 150 campers throughout the summer during its eight-week program. It's expensive — it averages about $1,000 a week.

But it works. Everyone loses weight, Maxine said.

Even Maxine, who isn't as physically active as the kids, has gone from a size 12/14 to a 10 this summer.

Amanda Inscore / news-press.com Michele Gagliardi laughs with her roommate at Camp Vanguard on July 20 in Lake Wales. Her room is a gathering place for young female campers seeking advice.

"It's all that healthy eating," she said.

GETTING FIT AND FAMOUS

It's been a whirlwind summer for Joshua and Michele. The "Today" show is featuring them on a special about weight loss and kids this fall. Last week producers from the show met them at camp.

A "Today" camera man was filming Josh while the camper ran around a track.
"He was chasing me with a video camera," Joshua said. "If I stopped he'd gone down."

Before he got to Camp Vanguard, Joshua couldn't run half a mile. Now he shaves off time every time he's tested on the run.
Michele also got a camera pointed in her face during a tennis match.

"It was exciting," she said. "But it was a little awkward trying to play."

THE RECIPE

Losing weight is easy at Camp Vanguard because the kids are busy all day with activities like swimming, tennis, basketball, aerobics and other sports, Maxine said. They eat three big meals a day plus two snacks such as 100-calorie packs of cookies, fruit or fruit rollups. They also take a nutrition and cooking class once a week.

They don't have much time to watch TV and they can't use computers. Once a week they do something spectacular like go to Sea World or a water park.
They eat about 1,600 to 1,800 calories a day. Meals consist of large portions of food such as ziti, lasagna, low-fat meat loaf and mashed potatoes. Friday night is barbecue night and they grill hamburgers and hot dogs.

They always get soup, dessert and salad along with their main course. It's real food — not just carrots and celery. No one leaves the table hungry.

GAINING CONTROL

Joshua has learned to enjoy exercise and understands the need for portion control, he said.

This year he feels more confident about signing up for sports at Alva Middle School. He’s become a stronger swimmer, more agile football player and faster runner. He’s also become more aware of what he eats.

In nutrition class, the campers learn what offerings at fast food restaurants are calorie-rich.

“You’re allowed to have the good stuff just not a lot,” Joshua said.

In one class, they find out that an “Awesome Blossom,” a hand-battered and seasoned, fried, colossal onion at Chili’s Grill and Bar has 2,710 calories. That’s more than they eat all day.

“Wow,” said Joshua, staring at the different calorie totals for his favorite foods. “I had no idea.”

He’s found his new favorite foods at camp have a small fraction of those calories. His top meal at camp — the pita pizza — only has three ounces of low-fat mozzarella with tomato sauce on a whole wheat pita.

“If I eat the whole lunch I get a stomachache because I’m so full,” he said.

COUNTING CONFIDENCE

Compared with other summers at camp, Michele has pushed herself the hardest this year. She’s one pound away from her goal of 20 pounds. She’s 30 pounds away from her ultimate weight goal.

She’s also training as a junior counselor so she can come back next year as a counselor. She was elected president of the campers this year and has created a wish list including a later curfew and more co-ed social activities.

She’s entering 11th grade this fall at South Fort Myers High School and is on the swim team.

“I’m going to use the information I learned more wisely,” she said. “This year I’m going to stick to it.”

Her roommate Sarah Ragsdale, 16, from Tampa, was elected vice-president. Their room also serves as advice central for the younger girls.

The young girls often visit the roommates for advice about boys.

“We tell them the same thing every time,” Michele said. “Who cares? It’s just camp. Have fun. Who needs a boyfriend for a week?”

At the end of camp they get to go to the local mall and find an outfit to wear to the year-end banquet. Michele and Sarah are looking forward to trying on clothes.

“You drop a couple of sizes,” Michele said. “It feels so good to see what size you fit into.”