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HOLLYWOOD RAIDERS CUT CRIME AND BODY FAT |
 When Steve Harrison was a wrestler at McArthur High back in the 1970s, he knew that the discipline he was learning coach John Lyzott was teaching him would pay off one day. He was right. Twenty-five years later at the age of 42, Harrison, a detective with the Hollywood Police Department, still is using much of the workout strategy he learned while competing at such a high level in high school. Recently, Harrison and fellow detectives Phil Rodriguez, Dave Daly and Tim Legacki won a statewide competition that combined fitness, discipline and teamwork. The 911 Fitness Challenge was open to every employee who worked for any lifesaving agency that was part of the competitive lifesaving world throughout Florida. With nearly 5,000 employees entering the Jan. 12 through April 6 event, the Hollywood Police Street Crime Raiders cut their body fat, boosted morale and shaped their bodies in a way they never thought possible. The Raiders finished with a score of 66.75 percent, just ahead of the Pembroke Pines Engine Company 1 Fire Department (63.13 percent). "When you do something like this, it's all about committing yourself to being in the best shape possible," Harrison said. "You learn how to eat, exercise and live a new lifestyle." The 6-foot-1, 206-pound Harrison began the challenge at 18 percent body fat and 218 pounds. He ended with just 7 percent body fat. "The key is eating a proper diet and being able to exercise every day," Harrison said. "The time to workout was made possible by Chief (Jim) Scarberry. VPX of Dania helped all of us with supplements and vitamins." While Harrison, who will also compete in an upcoming charity boxing competition for the police department is the oldest of the team, Rodriguez, 35, began the competition a Miami native, is just 35. The 6-0, 203-pounder began the competition at 18 percent body fat and weighed in at 224 pounds. He now is at 5 percent body fat and 203 pounds. "At first it was hard because you cut back on the foods you are used to," said Rodriguez, a Miami native. "But once you get going and see the results, everything starts to pay off for you." Dave Daly, 36, a native of Michigan, cut 17 pounds off his 5-11 frame. The 192-pounder went from 18 percent body fat to 7.5 percent. For Daly, dieting and exercise were the key to getting his body in perfect in shape during the 12-week period. He ate seven meals a day, including that included as many as 16 egg whites. and chicken breasts would provide the energy. The change of life became all about protein and losing the carbohydrates from the diet. Daly served as the group's motivator. "When you all work together like we do, you can always encourage," Daly said. "The thing about this competition was that if you lost one pound of muscle, you were eliminated from the competition. That's why what all of us accomplished was so amazing. Everything was done naturally." Lagacki, a Hollywood resident who attended South Broward High, turned out to be the big winner. He began the competition at 6-0, 232 pounds and 26 percent body fat. When it was over, the 39-year-old was down to 200 pounds and had reduced his body fat to an impressive 10.5 percent. "Like anything that you do for the first time, there are some tough periods to get over, but when you start getting a routine going, it was a lot easier," Lagacki said. "Watching your family eat spaghetti and meatballs while you have egg whites is tough, but you adjust." Even though the competition is over, all four champions still maintain the new lifestyle. For Harrison, the experience got him ready for the first Heroes In Action Fight Night on Friday at Young Circle in Hollywood. Most of the $5,000 prize money won from the event went to charity. which paved the way for the detectives to help others while changing their own lives. |
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Republished here with the permission of the Sun-Sentinel.com. No further republication or redistribution is permitted without the written approval of The Sun-Sentinel.com. | |
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