On Thursday, amid shrieks of glee from the kids, Fogle revealed the school had won the system. Monroe was one of eight schools in the country to win an entertainment system from Subway.
“We know kids love to play video games, and we know they’re still going to play them whether we like it or not, so we might as well embrace that part, I think. To get them to play the sports games, where they’re moving around and active and actually breaking a sweat, it can be great for their heart and health as well,” Fogle later explained.
He told the students how he once weighed 425 pounds in 1998, and then pulled a pair of blue jeans he had worn back then. The students oohed and awwed in reaction to the 60-inch jeans Fogle held up for them.
“I can say I used to weigh more than 400 pounds until I’m blue, but you pull those pants out, and it gives the kids a visual aid to exactly how big I was.
“I expect you guys to never ever have to wear anything close to this in your lifetime,” he told the students.
Physical education teacher Heather Wiley said the $11,437 amount was the most the school had raised for third through sixth graders in the annual fundraiser. “Anything we can do to get the kids more active, and to help teach them obtain better health habits, we’re all for it,” she said.
Fogle said he likes making kids aware of their health.
“Obviously these kids know me as Jared the Subway guy. If we can just reach a handful of these kids, hopefully to get them on the right path, if we can increase these habits now, the research shows the likelihood of them becoming an obese adult is much much less, if they’re not obese already as a child. So that’s a huge step.”
Fogle said people trying to lose weight should realize it’s a physical and emotional battle.
“Don’t think too far down the road, either. I think people sometimes get frustrated when they realize the scale isn’t moving enough for them. Stick to the routine. If you have a bad day, get back on the horse again the next day. Don’t let it derail all the success you’ve already had,” he said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2851 or jbombatch@coxohio.com.
About the Author