On Track to a Healthy Life Special Olympics helps athletes
succeed on the playing field and in life. Sixth-grader Johnathan
used to be too heavy even for the scale in the nurse’s office.
Coach and mentor Tonya Becnel helped Johnathan learn healthy
habits and with her support Johnathan has already lost more than
100 pounds -- and gained confidence. At his heaviest Johnathan
weighed in at 380 lbs. Now after eating right and regular
exercise he has lost more than 100 lbs. When Tonya Becnel first
met Johnathan, he was a sad-looking 6th grader, trudging slowly
as he dragged his feet, keeping his eyes to the ground.
“Johnathan was really shy and extremely obese,” says Tonya, a
coach who was attending her first Special Olympics State Games.
“He struggled to walk from our dorm to the cafeteria and we had
to stop often for him to rest before our group could continue
on.” One day in the cafeteria, Johnathan sat next to Tonya for
lunch. That’s when she got a look at what he was eating. Nothing
too terrible really -- jus