Queens’ Biggest Losers Contest-Week 11 Of 12

Compliments helping this contestant
BY MELISSA HENDRICKS
Mindy Bernhard, mother of two and a teacher’s aide for a nursery school in Bay Terrace, hesitantly joined this contest with the desire to look good and feel better.
“Darcy Novick actually convinced me to join up,” said Bernhard. “I really didn’t want everyone knowing how big I really am. She told me ‘Everyone can see that you’re not in shape. At least with the contest they can also see you are doing something about it.’ So I joined up.”
Weight and obesity have been an issue for Bernhard since the birth of her second child. “Being heavy never stopped me from doing anything but I was noticeably unhealthy and out of shape,” she said. Bernhard began the contest weighing in at 216.6 pounds. Through hard work and perseverance, Bernhard has lost 7.4 % of her body fat putting her current weight at 200.6 pounds.
“I feel better than ever and people are starting to notice,” Bernhard added. ‘I don’t like compliments that much but I am starting to get a lot of them now. I have a more positive outlook now and I feel healthier.”
The contest has also had an impact on Bernhard’s family. They have begun to change their own eating and exercise habits because of her influence and her newly found commitment to healthy living.
“My kids are really supportive,” Bernhard said. “They stop me from deviating from my diet and they now enjoy eating healthier snacks. No more fast food for my family!”
Bernhard has been training over the last two and a half months at the Fitness Consultant in Bay Terrace. She sees nutritionist Nicolette Pace and attends weekly weight-watchers meetings.
The trainers and the nutritionist are absolutely wonderful,” she said. “They give me the extra push I need and have the patience to make me work a little bit harder than I would on my own.”
With only a week left in this year’s Queens Biggest Losers contest, Bernhard plans to continue her life-long journey to health and happiness far after the contest is completed.
“Me and my family will definitely pursue a healthier lifestyle,” said Bernhard. “I don’t care about the competition anymore. I won after a month or so. I can feel the difference in myself and that is what’s important.”