Sorrell’s finding his greatness

By Dean Shipley

Staff Writer

It’s in his face.

That’s where Nathan Sorrell said people notice the difference in his physique since he began to exercise. That fitness regimen began in September 2012 after he had appeared in a commercial for Nike, which was aired during the summer Olympics. Here was a five-foot-five-inch seventh grader, tipping the scales at a robust 232 pounds, jogging on a summer’s day on a trek to “Find His Greatness,” the theme of the campaign.

The makers of the commercial had told Sorrell they might do a follow-up with him if he decided to do something about his obese condition.

Nathan Sorrell, a student at London Middle School, has lost 21 pounds since he appeared in a Nike commercial, which aired during the 2012 Summer Olympics. His weight loss has come through increased exercise including undulations with a heavy rope, taught to him by trainer Jeff Shaner.

So he is.

With support from his family, a complimentary membership to a fitness center, donated time from a local personal trainer, and a nutritionist, Sorrell is well on his way to achieving his goal of losing 30 pounds by March 2013. From September to the present, Sorrell has shed 21 pounds to drop his weight to 211 pounds. The rate of his weight loss sounds slow, but it bodes well for the future, once the goal is reached. He is more likely to keep it off.

To achieve the weight loss Sorrell has been working out six days per week. In London, personal trainer Jeff Shaner has been working with him, pushing him to try something new and try harder at exercises he’s already tried.

Shaner has introduced Sorrell to a world of exercises he never dreamed existed a year ago when he was a youthful couch potato. Squats with kettle-bell weight, undulations with a thick, heavy rope, push-ups and running have been a major part of Sorrell’s life, thanks to personal trainer Jeff Shaner.

Shaner pushed Sorrell to try exercises he has never done and then pushes him to surpass his previous personal best. For example, Sorrell said based on his last monthly evaluation, he has exceeded his original push-up count by 12 and has dropped his measured run time by 10 seconds. He feels the results.

“I have a ton more energy,” Sorrell said Tuesday afternoon.

Shaner said he has seen Sorrell’s body “transformed” over the past few months not only in pounds lost but inches as well.

“It’s an accomplishment for him,” Shaner said.

In addition to the exercise, Sorrell has been learning, along with his mother, Monica, how to eat smarter from a nutritionist. For a boy who had never eaten breakfast, the first-of-the-day meal is mandatory. He can have a 300 calorie breakfast of a high-fiber wrap or cereal and skim milk plus fruit.

“Fruit at every meal,” Sorrell said. Every meal is now accompanied by two glasses of water.

He is also supposed to eat almonds, but has to eat the “honey-roasted” variety to mask the taste of the nut. It’s the only way he’ll eat them.

Chicken has become a staple in his diet.

“I had chicken every way you can have it,” Sorrell said. His favorite is “bourbon” chicken, prepared with Paula Deen’s sauce as a marinade.

He is allowed one piece of pizza as a “reward” on Friday after maintaining a 2,200 calorie diet for the week. He has also figured out ways to supplement his strict dietary regimen with some fun food. He found that spritzing his popcorn with a margarine spray will give it that theater-popcorn taste and adding a bit of “Sweet and Lo” to tea gives the flavor of sweet tea.

Sorrell sees the support he has been given has helped him achieve his goal. He credits his trainer Shaner with providing challenges for him. He said what seemed impossible several months ago, “I can do now.”

He hopes to hit his goal of 202 pounds (weight loss of 30 pounds) by the end of February. When he hits the goal and keeps it off he is assured of a trip to the Arnold Classic through Elite Fitness.

He has Nike to thank.

“All the support from people has inspired me as the commercial has inspired them,” Sorrell said.

His inspirational performance also landed Sorrell an interview by Matt Lauer on the “Today Show” in New York.

He also received a package from Nike which included Elite socks, shoes, shorts, and a fuel band which helps him track fuel points, calories burned and number of steps taken in a day.