The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

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February 1, 2010

Couple join challenge; Pound for Pound contest helps food warehouse

By Patrick Cooley

SHENANGO VALLEY — Joe and Hope Dalessandro, a Sharpsville couple, decided they were going to get in shape over the summer, but a few weeks ago, they found out about a way they could get in shape, and help stock a local food pantry.

The Pound for Pound Challenge is a national competition that asks people to pledge to lose a certain amount of weight, and donates an amount of food to a local food pantry that is equal to that pledge.

The Dalessandros pledge to lose 15 pounds each, and in return, the Community Food Warehouse in Farrell will get 30 pounds of food.

So they got a membership to the YMCA in Hermitage so they could have regular access to exercise equipment, and advice from a physical trainer.

“We wanted to have a sense of community,” Mrs. Dalessandro said, saying they wanted to be around people who had similar goals, so they could encourage each other.

“You can have a treadmill at your house,” Dalessandro said, but it just wouldn’t be the same.

The couple also sought the advice of a nutritionist.

“We decided exercise wasn’t enough; we needed to have good nutrition,” Mrs. Dalessandro said. “We met with a dietitian.”

It was from that dietitian that they found out about the Pound for Pound Challenge.

“We thought, since we were doing this anyway, why not do it to help someone else?” Mrs. Dalessandro said.

Why did they both decide on 15 pounds? Neither would be considered over-weight, so they said they wanted they could actually achieve.

“If you set goals, you want to set something realistic,” Dalessandro said.

“Our weight loss goal had to be doable,” Mrs. Dalessandro said. “We didn’t want to go the extreme.”

They start their day with a cardiovascular workout to increase their endurance, jogging on the treadmills for 30 minutes, riding a stationary bike for five minutes, and then moving on the weight machines, focusing on upper body and leg strength.

“We have a wood-burning stove,” Dalessandro said. “Carrying the wood up and down the stairs, I used to get out of breath; now I don’t.”

Mrs. Dalessandro said she’s also seen the benefits of their healthier lifestyle.

“When I would walk up and down the steps I used to feel really tired, but now I don’t feel anything,” she said. “We pastor at (The Abundant Life World Outreach Center in Sharpsville), and we wanted to have the endurance and stamina to conduct our ministry.”

Other than pasturing, Mrs. Dalessandro is retired, but Mr. Dalessandro still teaches a driver’s education class.

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