FEATURE 4 • AlabamaAlumni Magazine Olivia Ward big successstories result from little When itcomestodietandfitness, second place afterlosing120 pounds. her younger sister, Hannah Curlee, whofinished in life. thetitleof Olivia earned “Biggest Loser” over Olivia received aphonecallaskingifshe’d ever was onthecastingteamfor TheBiggestLoser. friend’s Facebook page.Itturnedoutthatperson singer, whensomeone saw herpicture through a was living in New York City, working as an opera at ourheaviest.” weight foryears.Lookingatourfamily, wewereall said. “We hadbeentryingtogetourparentslose show, weweresodesperate for change,” Hannah well. “It’s funny, because when wefirstgotonthe that theywouldchangetheirentirefamily’s livesas to changetheirlives.Whattheydidn’t knowwas age ofweight,theyknewthey’dhavethechance to winacashprizebylosingthehighestpercent- lar realityseries,whichfeaturespeoplecompeting they wantedtocompeteonseason11ofthepopu- became aboutfinishingstrong.” three, itjustfeltlikewehadalreadywon.Therest four, and then found out we were in the final else. Oliviarecalled,“Whenwemadethefinal there weremoresupportandlovethananything between thetwoUniversityofAlabamagraduates, that gave andanew outlookon herthevictory livia Ward may have walked away fromNBC’s The in tow, but itwas the129 pounds sheleftbehind Biggest Loserasthewinner, witha$250,000 prize It all started with a single phone call. Olivia When Olivia,’99,andHannah,’03,decided While there was friendly sibling rivalry choices, oneday atatime. by JessieJones

by contestants duringtelevisedworkouts spandex workoutclothestypically worn hot pants,’”saidHannah,referring tothe ever goingtogetonTVinasports braand and Isaid,‘Noway, José.NowayamI Olivia phoned her sister. “They called me the casting crew asked aboutHannah, a lotofthepictures,”Hannahsaid.When something thatinterestedthem. Among thefamilyshots,teamsaw and shared photos from their daily lives. call, wheretheywerebothinterviewed for Chicagototakepartinthecasting tunity. With herhusband,Ben,sheleft hadn’t, oppor butitsoundedlikeagood thought aboutbeingontheshow. She “Olivia andIaresoclose,wasin - Hannah Curlee Fall 2011• 5 difference in the Curlee family is easy While the TV show was in production, to see. Since that holiday meeting, their Ward’s husband, Ben, worked to lose 113 dad and mom, Keith and Betsy Curlee, pounds on his own. have lost 75 pounds and 60 pounds, respectively. And their youngest sister can really get control of your mind, the and fellow Alabama alumna, Norah, rest is just science. Calories in, calories ’07, has shed 90 pounds. “This show— out. Once I was able to trust myself, the this experience—changed our entire weight just came right off.” family,” Hannah said. For Hannah, the weight loss journey It will change their future as well. changed everything. “I’m a different For Olivia, earning a clean bill of health person,” she said. “It’s phenomenal how at the end of the show was one of the your life can turn out when you are most exciting results. At 35, she was dedicated to change. Before, my daily motivated to lose weight in large part by life was, ‘Get up, her desire to start her own family with go to work, eat Ben. Now, she’s where she wants to be. behind my desk, “I’m such a better version of myself,” come home.’ I she said. “Not only am I going to be kind of became healthier, but I feel like I have these a homebody things I can pass on to my kids. I because I was so know that The Biggest Loser will ashamed of who be a huge part of not just my I was.” Her Big- life, but my children’s lives and gest Loser experience led to the exact my children’s children’s lives.” opposite outlook. “Now, Olivia and I And there’s been yet another are all over the place, with magazines positive result. Although Ben and TV shows, and I work with HCA’s and weigh-ins. with a friend or even a spouse, but a wasn’t chosen to appear on go to Guthrie’s.” [Hospital Corporation of America’s] Olivia and Ben poked sibling—if you have a sister, you the show after their casting One of the best ways wellness division, H2U. I’m promot- and prodded, and finally have a best friend for life,” call, he nonetheless lost to begin is to do some ing our website now, and it’s kind of convinced her to join Olivia said. “I’m so glad she 113 pounds in an effort to research on your surround- funny—if I had used this before, I might them in Chicago for did it with me.” They were support his wife during the ings, and find a gym. Don’t not have had to go on the show.” the weekend. “It’s two of 100 contestants competition. even worry about food that Hannah is quick to point out that one thing to do it who reported to Cali- Since the show ended day, Olivia recommended. asking for help is one of the best things fornia, and they made on May 24, 2011, Olivia “Over a few weeks, if you it through to the final 22 and Hannah have turned their make small choices, you’re in a in order to take part in the attention to helping others turn full-fledged healthy lifestyle and filming. their lives around. They are quick you’re losing weight.” Olivia and Hannah were a to point out that the desire to The mental battle is one of the little different from the other change and the smallest of starts most important, she continued. “I contestants right from the start. can catapult anyone into their own always defeated myself mentally “We were two of the only people fitness journey. “It just takes one small before I got started. I thought ‘I’ll who weren’t uber fans of the choice to get you started. Just one,” do this diet. It’s not going to work, show,” Olivia said. “Right before Sisters Ward and Curlee lost a total of 249 Olivia said. “You don’t have to decide but I’ll do it.’ And then I’d wonder the first weigh-in, everyone else pounds competing on The Biggest Loser. you’re going to lose 129 pounds; that’s why I got on the scale and nothing was water-loading and eating fast not what it’s about. If you try to do had happened.” A person’s mind food. We didn’t really know how environment in addition to themselves. that, you’ll be so overwhelmed plays a huge part in how their body to play the game at first, but we Hannah and Olivia took the advice by lunchtime, you’ll quit and responds, she explained. “Once you wound up winning.” to heart. Over the show’s two-week Both women learned quickly. Christmas break, Hannah had a long Out at the Biggest Loser Ranch, discussion with their parents. “It was “Whatever you’re trying to do, it’s important to ask for help and Bob Harper, one of the show’s very hard, but it was the best thing I ever ask for support. And making the decision to start your journey trainers, talked to contest- did,” she said. “My parents got active. is the most important thing.” —Hannah Curlee ants about changing their Everybody is really transforming.” The

6 • Alabama Alumni Magazine Fall 2011 • 7 Stubbs with her husband, Troy, and children Elsa, 6, Lucas, 3, and Isaac, 9

ing with a health magazine at Memphis Health and Fitness. A career change for Troy, from business to coaching, took the couple to Louisville, Ky., where Jenny worked with Kentuckiana Health- Fitness magazine. In 2010, they moved again, this time to Jenny’s hometown of Wetumpka, Ala. That’s when the idea for her own magazine began to take shape. “Once I got here, I was surprised that there were no free and accessible health and fitness publications,” she said. “I quickly learned that Montgomery and the River Region were polled by Gallup and found to be the most obese city. That’s what really propelled me forward with this idea.” As it turned out, the River Region had quickly made strides to change after being labeled as the nation’s weightiest. The area had always been a popular location for health races, but the number of events has almost doubled in recent years. There are now to do. “Whatever you’re trying to do, Olivia and Hannah aren’t the only close to 40 races taking place annu- it’s important to ask for help and ask UA graduates using new platforms to ally. “Recognizing that need helped me encourage healthy living. Jenny Enslen decide to establish the magazine, but for support,” she said. “And making July/august 2011 volume 1, Issue 1 • free the decision to start your journey is the Stubbs, ’01, has combined her com- premIere I also wanted to feed a want,” Stubbs most important thing.” munications degree with her interest The River Issue said. “In other cities, there are these In July, the sisters started a blog, in health and physical fitness to give Region established venues of racing—adven- at myfitspiration.com, to share more the residents of Montgomery’s River Weighs In tures races—and I could tell that things details about themselves and their lives Region a new tool for their well being. Know Your were just beginning here and starting full of “fitness, fashion and fun.” Con- In July 2011, Stubbs debuted the River FaRmeR, to grow. To see these health and fit- Region Health & Fitness magazine, a Know Your ness events on the upswing, I wanted ers.” As more and more people become We really have kind of lost touch with necting with their fans and opening Food up about their struggles after leaving free, bi-monthly publication dedicated to provide the public with information acquainted with all the magazine has to our bodies and what helps us achieve The Biggest Loser is something they are to improving the bodies, minds and coupled with events.” offer, Jenny sums it up best as “a one- good quality of life. Once people recog- both enjoying. “The most important lives of its readers. It features articles Former Pro With more than 10,000 cop- stop resource for the community, as far nize how interrelated health and fitness thing about us is that we are normal on fitness, health, sports and leisure Soccer Player ies printed per issue, River Region Health as health and fitness education goes.” are with their overall quality of life, people who still have weight struggles,” activities. Takes Family & Fitness is available throughout the For her, providing people with the that will help make a difference.” Hannah said. “I missed out on so many Stubbs’ journey from college gradu- Life in Stride region, and can be found in many loca- information they need to better their What it all boils down to is the things because I let my weight control ate to publisher of a magazine has taken Be InspIred. Be educated. Be actIve. Be HealtHy. tions, from Publix shopping centers to lives is worth the effort. “The whole magazine’s mantra, printed prominently me. Even if you’re overweight now, you her quite a few places. “I always wanted RiveR Region HealtH Fitness, July/august 2011 • 1 coffee shops to libraries. There is also purpose of the magazine is to show that in every issue and on its website: “Be can’t miss out on life because of what to write, and I had just changed my The first edition of River Region Health a noticeable presence at races across health and fitness aren’t chores. They’re inspired. Be educated. Be active. Be your body looks like.” minor to creative writing in college & Fitness debuted in July 2011. the region, to provide what Stubbs calls enjoyable,” she said. “In this region, we healthy,” Stubbs said. “People are in Hannah’s advice to readers looking when I found out I was pregnant,” she Above: Jenny Stubbs at the 2011 Coosa “that direct link to our read- have so many recreational resources. different stages of health and need dif- to take control of their lives is simple. said. Stubbs and her husband, Troy, Whitewater Festival in Wetumpka, Ala. ferent things,” she added. “But our ulti- “Don’t wait until tomorrow. Do it today. had been married for just five months mate goal is the same—to be healthy Don’t wait for the next Monday, or for at the time. “I actually graduated from for another year so Troy could earn his “The whole purpose of the magazine is to show that and enjoy our lives.” n the next holiday to be over,” she said. the College of Communication eight degree in international finance in 2002 health and fitness aren’t chores. They’re enjoyable.” “You deserve to make the right decision months pregnant,” she said. before they moved to Memphis, Tenn., —Jenny Stubbs for yourself.” The couple stuck around Tuscaloosa where Jenny got her first taste of work-

8 • Alabama Alumni Magazine Fall 2011 • 9