Archive for September, 2009

Losing for Douglas School is…

Harry Doolittle!

Harry’s Story…

I am 6 foot 1 and over 300lbs now. About a year and a half ago, I was at 350 lbs and unhealthy but I lost 80 lbs over 100 days with hard work, hard exercise, and good food. NO magic formula, no pills, no weight loss centers, just the basics put into application. I felt GREAT! I slept better (my snoring and restlessness disappeared), I never got winded and I had lots of energy. I even had my two oldest girls (at the time, 5 and 4) working out with me at times. Heck, I even was getting into Yoga with them! (you’d have to see me to believe that one).

Anyway, my department at work was shut down, but my company moved me from a warehouse position to a sales/coordinator position at a hotel in St. Louis. Glad I didn’t get unemployed, but the new schedule, the new eating habits and hours changed and I couldn’t adjust, so I stopped working out and then bad eating crept in. I still wanted to lose about another 50 lbs on top of the 80lbs I had lost, but now, 35-40 lbs have been put back on and all the old problems and habits are coming back.

This challenge is just what I need to get back on track. I’ve been wanting to force myself into the weight loss and exercise again, but I couldn’t find the motivation, believe it or not. You’d think just feeling soooo much better would do it! But, if I was in competition with 10 other people and had a drive and a focus, I sure I could be a really really tough competitor and who knows, hopefully the overall winner.

I guarantee this…if you choose me, you WILL have a competition. I am highly motivated by helping others succeed, but also exceed others expectations! So I think this would be a perfect fit.

What’s more, my oldest girl goes to Douglas and my middle girl goes to Washington. I’d like to play for Washington, because my wife informs me that they never get enough people using the Farmer’s for Education Card, and maybe if I won, it would get a little more advertising and especially with the double points in November and the Fruit salads, it would draw attention to your Market and your Card Campaign to help the kids. I would be a very vocal competitor and I’d love to have the backing of the school and the kids as inspiration. If that spot is taken, I could also do it for Douglas, but they seem to be doing good, and I like helping the underdog!

I have a Facebook account, I work in the Audio Visual Field, and I can post videos and pictures when needed throughout this challenge. Even if I am chosen, and some one else wins, they would have to do really well because I am motivated to succeed with this, and I’d still lose the weight, draw attention to the Card program, and help others lose weight along the way. It’s good all the way around!

I sure hope you choose me to participate. I’d love to inspire the kids, and others, and still show my girls, my wife, my family and friends, that even though you can fall off the “Fitness/wellness” wagon, you can always get back on and keep going to make this a healthy lifestyle, even through strife and trouble, like job situations and such. I’ve been lazy and made excuses. It’s time to get healthy again, and I’d love to have others join me and we do it together.

Posted in Uncategorized

Losing for Jefferson School is…

Ann Dinges!

Ann’s Story:

My name is Annmarie Dinges, and I would like to represent Jefferson school. Here’s my story:

My son saw me watching “The Biggest Loser” one night and he looked at me, ever so innocently, and said “Mommy, that’s what you should do.” Those words have stuck with me like glue. I considered applying for the show, but I cannot be away from my children that long. Your program offers me the same opportunity, right here, at home. What a gift! This is the chance of MY lifetime.

I’m a single parent raising two wonderful boys. I work full-time as a Telecommunicator Spec ialist for the Illinois State Police. I work the midnight shift, so I can be available to my children during their waking hours. I’m pursuing a Master’s degree to emphasize the importance of education to them. I volunteer in their classrooms, and last year held the title of PTA President for their school. Everything I do, I do for my boys. However, all my efforts are for naught, if I’m not here to raise them to adulthood. My fear is dying before my job is done. Of all the things I strive to teach them, I have failed to teach them the importance of diet and exercise, just as I failed to demonstrate a healthy image for them.

It is so difficult to lay everything on the line, especially in my hometown, where my family and I know so many people. I didn’t gain all my weight overnight. I am ready to accept responsibility for my weight, and share with the world, what I try to mask under baggy clothing.

How I got where I am today: I weighed 167 pounds in high school. After moving to Chicago in 1994, my weight climbed to 197 pounds (of course, I swore I would never hit the 200 pound mark). In 2000, I got pregnant with my first child, and gained 70 pounds. I never lost it. In 2004, I gave birth to my second child, and gained another 20 pounds. Again, I never lost it. I am now hovering right around the 300 pound mark, which I never imagined would be my fate. Nonetheless, here I am. I am 34 years old, 5’9, 300 pounds, and ready to make a change.

I’m tired of being “the fat girl.” I’m tired of buying plus size clothing. I’m tired of wondering if I embarrass my children; heck, I embarrass myself. I’m tired of warding off relationships and keeping a safe distance, emotionally, from people I care about. I’m tired of being uncomfortable in my own skin. I’m tired of wishing I were someone else. I once was that “normal” person, and I long to find her again!

If those reasons aren’t enough, my family is plagued with medical problems. My mother is finishing radiation treatment for breast cancer, following a mastectomy. She also suffers from diabetes and complications thereof, which have left her with disfigured legs and feet. My 41 year-old brother just suffered a mild heart-attack and ended up having emergency angioplasty. Yep, he’s just 41. My sister struggles with her weight and also has diabetes. Oh, and my dad too. To date, I have been fortunate enough to sidestep my curses, but I’m not sure how much longer I can ward off fate.

Farmer’s Market & YMCA, provide me with this life changing opportunity, and I won’t let you down. With your help, I can be your biggest loser!

Posted in Uncategorized

Are You Ready to be the Biggest Loser?

Farmer’s Market is excited to announce the launch of our Biggest Loser Challenge! You’ve watched the show, you’ve marveled at the transformation the contestants make, you’ve wanted your chance -but you never thought you would have the opportunity. Your opportunity is NOW!

We’ll handle diet and exercise, just bring your gameface!

There are three key components to any effective weight loss regimen:

- A balanced diet with fresh fruits and vegetables as its foundation.

- A consistent exercise regime.

- Willpower and determination.

Throughout the course of this 10 week competition, we’re going to take care of 2 of these components for you. We’ve teamed up with the YMCA of Southwest Illinois and are proud to announce that each of the 10 contestants in the program will have full and complete access to any YMCA facility for the duration of the Challenge. That’s right! You’ll have access to state of the art equipment, and dozens of specialized group exercise programs – completely free of charge.

Your diet is crucial as well. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables have a big impact on your health. They lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer, and keep your appetite under control by lowering your blood sugar. Experts recommend 9 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables a day and we’re going to make that possible. Each week, Challenge contestants will receive a pre-loaded $20 Farmer’s Market Gift Card to help ensure that their diet is full of the ingredients of a healthy lifestyle.

Are you Challenge material?

The willpower and determination is all you have to bring to the challenge. In that vein, we’re looking the following qualities in our 9 contestants:

- First, you MUST be committed to following through with the Challenge to the best of your ability. Each contestant will be representing a District 118 Elementary School. The school that is represented by the winning contestant will have their Farmer’s 4 Education rebate for the month of November DOUBLED! Also, the students of the winning school will be treated to fresh made fruit salad courtesy of Farmer’s Market once a month for the remainder of the school year. As you can see, your efforts will mean a lot to the school you represent. Don’t shortchange them or yourself!

- Second, you MUST be willing to share your Challenge experience with the World. Yes, that means your weight will be published to any media channels of our choice. This includes, but is not limited to, our website, emails, and Facebook page. If you’re not willing to have your weight published in exchange for the opportunity to change your life, don’t apply for the Challenge! The 9 contestants will be people who recognize the life-changing opportunity they’re being provided by the YMCA and the Farmer’s Market.

- Lastly, you or someone close to you MUST be tech savvy enough to digitally document your efforts throughout the Challenge. Contestants will send us updates on their progress through written updates to our Facebook page, digital photos, and video clips if possible. Challenge contestants are also inspiring and motivational to everyone watching the Challenge and are encouraged to share their triumphs and failures with everyone.

How do I enter?

We’re looking for one (1) contestant from each of the 9 District 118 Elementary schools. Contestants can be parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, even friends of someone enrolled in a District 118 School that is part of our Farmer’s 4 Education program.

To make yourself eligible for the Challenge, submit your story via email (rick@farmers4education.com). We’re not English teachers, this doesn’t have to be an essay. Just convince us that you’re ready to change your lifestyle and that you understand the value of the opportunity provided by the YMCA and Farmer’s Market.

There will be a $25 entry fee that each of the contestants will pay upon their enrollment in the Challenge. There will be a total of 10 Challenge contestants, 9 representing District 118 and I’ll be representing Farmer’s Market. The total entry fees ($250) will be presented to the winner of the Challenge upon its conclusion.

The Challenge will run from 9/14/09 through 11/22/09. There will be a mandatory weigh-in at the North Belt location of Farmer’s Market each Monday during Challenge. The weekly weigh-in will be conducted anytime during our business hours from 8am-6pm. If you cannot make it to our N. Belt location for the next 10 Mondays, please don’t apply.

Prizes? Yeah, we got prizes!

As mentioned above, the winner of the Challenge will receive the sum of the $250 entry fees paid by contestants. In the words of Billy Mays…”That’s not all!” Details are still being finalized but on top of the prize of having your lifestyle transformed, and on top of the $250 cash prize, there will be Rams tickets, Cardinals tickets, gifts from the YMCA of Southwest Illinois, and gifts from the Farmer’s Market as well. Suffice it to say, the Challenge Winner will collect an awesome prize package for their efforts. They’ll also take pride in the fact that their win led directly to the doubling of the November Farmer’s 4 Education rebate to the school they’re representing.

That’s it! Now send me an email (rick@farmers4education.com) and tell me why you should be one of the 9 Challenge contestants. Make sure you mention the school you want to represent throughout the competition. If you’re waiting for someone else to take the plunge first, I’ll be submitting my story to our Facebook page and our website later today so stay tuned.

We’ll be accepting stories from applicants through close of business Friday, September 11th.

Posted in Farmer's 4 Good News!, In the Community!

Save $1.00 OFF Homegrown Sweet Corn!

If you’re reading this, you’re probably looking for the code phrase that’s going to get you a dozen ears of homegrown sweet corn for just $3.50. We won’t keep you in suspense any longer. Simply write “MEYER FARM“ on a piece of scrap paper and present it to us when you check out. While your at it, be a good Facebook Friend and click where it says “Spread the Word” to the right of this page. Then just click the Facebook icon on the Share button to share the coupon code with all your friends. Don’t panic, we’ve got plenty of corn for everybody!

Farmer’s Market Holiday Hours:
Friday 8am-6pm
Saturday 8am-6pm
Sunday 9am-5pm
Monday 9am-4pm

Posted in Uncategorized

Want our Tickets? Here’s how!

Be the FIRST person to respond on Facebook with the correct answers to the following questions:
Hint: All of the answers can be found on our website at www.farmers4good.com

1) There is a photo of two of our employees holding a Tomato sign. What does the sign say?

2) True or False: The words “Vikings” and “Astronauts” are on our homepage.

3) How much money did Abe Lincoln School earn in the month of August with Farmer’s 4 Education?

4) Other than Education, what other “Farmer’s 4″ programs are on our website?

5) Which fruit do kids spin at our stores to get a free piece of fruit each time they visit?

Remember, respond on Facebook not in-store and only folks who have not already had our tickets this season are eligible. The winner will be the FIRST to answer all 5 questions correctly. Good Luck!

Posted in Uncategorized

Results for August are in!

Results have just been tabulated for the month of August! What may come as a surprise to absolutely nobody is that August was the biggest month for the program yet. This speaks volumes about the excitement and interest from Belleville area schools that August can top even the months of May and June which benefit from flower sales that are all but non-existent in August.

Here’s what each school (Signal Hill & Whiteside will be added next month) earned in the month of August:

Abraham Lincoln    $189.14
Douglas                        $48.52
Franklin                        $46.52
Henry Raab                 $28.78
Jefferson $28.21
Roosevelt                     $83.34
Union                          $55.83
Washington                $20.83
Westhaven                  $81.05
High Mount                $91.13
Wolf Branch               $85.20
Millstadt                       $90.99

Use the updated Leaderboard to see where your school ranks after our 4th full month of Farmer’s 4 Education rewards!