Lab Rat of the Year-The Infamous Award!

by Suzy Oge on January 19, 2012

If you’ve spent even 5 minutes with me in the past 5 months, you’ve no doubt heard all about my quest to win Lab Rat of the Year*.  On my second day at The Lab I started talking trash about winning Lab Rat of The Year and I haven’t shut up about it since.

This was before I’d lost a single pound, but I was serious. Of course no one took me seriously at first. There was already a runaway frontrunner who is loved by all (including me) and who had lost over 50 pounds in the 6 months before I started. There was also the tiny detail that I happen to live 5,000 miles from the Lab Gym. Challenges? Sure, but who doesn’t love a good underdog story?

*In case you didn’t know, Lab Rat is the term of endearment used to describe the members (other fanatics) at the Lab Gym.

Over the past months, hundreds of people from many different countries have been subjected to hearing the legend of this elusive award and, of course, how I was gonna win it, no joke. I get inquires every week from various people asking…did I win it yet?

My enthusiasm and complete devotion to winning this award was usually met with puzzled looks and questions along the lines of, “But what is the prize?” A Rat Head trophy. “But what else do you get?” Just the Rat Head trophy.

Alternatively, sane people often asked the obvious and rational question- isn’t losing all that weight the real prize?  Isn’t that a better prize than winning the rat trophy?

No, of course not! These well meaning people miss the point of going for a wild, seemingly unattainable goal. Going for Lab Rat of the Year meant setting the standard to the highest possible level- to be the best of the best. After all, this wasn’t just a race to lose weight. How could I say OUT LOUD that I wanted to be Lab Rat of The Year to my trainer and not give it my all on every exercise at every workout? How could I say that I was desperately working to win it and not follow the eating plan? I may as well have been wearing a t-shirt every day that said “What would Lab Rat of The Year do?”. Think like The Rat, act like The Rat, become The Rat.  It worked for me, luckily without the t-shirt.

Finally, Saturday night was the moment I had been working toward for so long, the Lab Gym annual party and awards. It was obviously a huge night for me. Sure, this beautiful Rat Head trophy is not an Oscar, but I am damn proud of it! Jennifer Hudson recently said, “I’m prouder of my weight loss than my Oscar”.

At this time, I feel obliged to disclose that there are  a few extra words engraved on my trophy, even though I am still in a bit of denial about it … 1st runner up. Four of us were awarded Lab Rat of the Year trophies! It was a tremendous honor to be among them and to be recognized by the Brothers Thacker and the Lab Trainers for my effort and results and for being me!

Those extra words on my trophy mess up a little the fairy tale ending of the story… Woman sets outrageous goal, works her ass off literally, delivers amazing results in record time, wins the award*, achieves outrageous goal!

But the night wasn’t just about me and my story, perfect or less than, and neither is this blog. I can’t wait to share the stories here very soon of Lab Rat of The Year, Sharon Lightfoot, Sonya and Miriam, and Mr. Motivation to name a few!

Check back tomorrow for Lab Rat of the Year- The Morning After:-)

 

 

 

{ 9 comments }

Corey M January 19, 2012 at 11:28 pm

What…. no pic w/the tiara?

Suzy January 19, 2012 at 11:33 pm

You or me Corey?

Troy Mann January 20, 2012 at 1:47 am

Very well said Suzy, I am very proud (and envious) of you and your fitness accomplishments. Now perhaps I’ll go have some of that left over greek yogurt you left in my fridge… that is if I have any spoons left…

Suzy January 20, 2012 at 7:49 am

Aww thanks Troy! umm..yeah…about those yogurt spoons! I keep finding (at least) one in every handbag, and you know I have a lot of handbags, sorry about that! Now get going on Bootcamper of the Year 2012, only 11 months to go!!

Lisa January 20, 2012 at 12:47 pm

Congratulations! Well done. Looking forward to hearing about your next wild goal.

sharon lightfoot January 20, 2012 at 3:23 pm

Suzy, I want to take this year and look like you next January! Your efforts are shining through in all you say and in your every cell! You captured this apsect of competition, goal setting and motivation perfectly. Thanks for the blog! It’s so helpful!

Suzy Oge January 20, 2012 at 9:27 pm

Congratulations again Sharon!! I hope Nathan has you doing extra victory laps every morning:-) Glad to hear you are still going for it! Justin will have to add a new category to make it interesting for you- Sexiest Lab Rat of the Year!!!

Shirley Faust January 20, 2012 at 7:39 pm

Suzy, You look amazing. The pictures you
posted looked great, but when you returned for the holidays I could hardly believe my eyes! Most of us work out to look & feel better but you went way beyond better. You have always been very strong willed so again you proved you can do whatever you set your mind to, and be the best. Love you! (Mom)

Suzy Oge January 20, 2012 at 9:57 pm

Dear Proud Mom, Thank you for this and for making it possible for me to sneak out at 5.30am every morning this summer to get to the gym and for always having hard boiled eggs, ready & peeled;-) Love you, Suzy

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