Penny Parker On The Town: ‘Extreme Weight Loss’ contestant’s 253-pound loss prompts career change

September 6, 2013

Bob Brenner, the “Extreme Weight Loss” record breaker on the hit ABC television series, was so transformed by his experience on the show that he has announced plans to become a certified life coach to help others realize weight loss success.

To achieve his life coach certification, Brenner is partnering with the Colorado-based school Coach Training Alliance to become a credentialed coach. He is expected to earn his life coach certification in November.

During his year-long journey on “Extreme Weight Loss” season three (season four is being filmed at the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Health and Wellness Center in Aurora), Brenner lost a record 253 pounds – or 56 percent of his body weight – through a commitment to healthy eating, regular exercise and mental perseverance.

His next extreme transformation is a total career makeover – going from Milwaukee undercover cop to national life coach. Brenner also remains good friends with “Extreme Weight Loss” host Chris Powell. Both guys will be in Denver together this weekend.

(Photo courtesy of Bob Brenner, iCoach Transformation)

Bob Brenner, before his 253-pound weight loss for the ABC reality series, ‘Extreme Weight Loss.’ (Photo courtesy of Bob Brenner, iCoach Transformation)

 

(Courtesy Bob Brenner, iCoach Transformation)

Bob Brenner bikes and runs as part of his fitness regimen. Below, Brenner and his son. (Photos courtesy of Bob Brenner, iCoach Transformation) Bob_Brenner_after_with son

 

Shooting down brain diseases

Local comedian and former Rocky Mountain News sports columnist Sam Adams will attempt to surpass the career scoring record belonging to NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the span of 24 hours on Saturday at the Hyatt Denver Tech Center.

“Poppin4PSP” is a one-man Pop-A-Shot basketball marathon fundraiser being staged to heighten the public’s awareness of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and related neurodegenerative brain diseases.

Starting at 7 a.m. in the Hyatt DTC atrium, Adams will play Pop-A-Shot basketball for 24 hours, hoping to surpass Abdul-Jabbar’s career record of 38,387 points throughout his 20-year NBA career.

To achieve his goal, Adams needs to average 54 points per game, playing an average of 30 games per hour and attempting 1,300 shots per hour for 24 consecutive hours on a Pop-A-Shot basketball machine.

To donate and support Adams’ goal, go to http://poppin4psp.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1081450&lis=1&kntae1081450=513D98B09F98458B8DDC46565D3578D9&supId=389720211.

Former Rocky Mountain News columnist Sam Adams is testing his shooting aim with a 24-hour PopaShot marathon on Saturday.  (Photo courtesy of Sam Adams' Facebook page)

Former Rocky Mountain News columnist Sam Adams is testing his shooting aim with a 24-hour Pop-A-Shot marathon on Saturday. Adams, who now is a professional comedian, is raising awareness and money for  Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and related neurodegenerative brain diseases. (Photo courtesy of Sam Adams’ Facebook page)

 

Volunteer here

For the first time since the initiative’s inception, Xcel Energy employees will be joined by community members in the third annual Xcel Energy Day of Service, in partnership with CBS4, from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

There are nine volunteer projects, and community participation from across the state is welcome. This year should be Xcel Energy’s biggest Day of Service with 1,300 employees and 1,000 community participants.

View the list of project opportunities and sign up to volunteer by visiting www.xcelenergy.ivolunteer.com.

Open wide for “Im-burger-amo”

Take a bite of the “Im-burger-amo” at TAG Burger Bar (1222 Madison) through the month of September and $1 per burger will go to Work Options for Women, an organization that trains impoverished women culinary skills to gain employment.

This great veggie burger, named for Denver restaurant consultant and vegetarian John Imbergamo, combines black beans, garbanzo beans, corn, fire-roasted jalapeños, panko, cotija cheese and tomatillo salsa. It’s topped with guacamole, crispy fried zucchini chips, Sriracha aioli and cilantro slaw, and served on a toasted bun with a side of fries and a house made pickle.

The Imburgamo is a tribute to veteran restaurant guru, John Imbergamo.

The Im-burger-amo at TAG Burger Bar in Congress Park is a tribute to veteran restaurant guru, John Imbergamo. For every veggie burger sold, $1 will go to Imbergamo’s pet charity, Work Options for Women. 

 

Domestic violence center fundraiser

The movie “Havana 57,” from the novels of Harlan Abrahams, will be shown during a fundraiser for the Rose Andom Center, a facility that will house a myriad of agencies set up to help those dealing with domestic violence, at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Wolf Theater, Mizel Arts and Culture Center, on the campus of the Robert E. Loup Jewish Community Center, 350 Dahlia St.

“Havana 57″ is the first full-length English-language feature film shot entirely on location in Cuba since the revolution is 1959. The movie was inspired by “Col. Carlo” novels written by Abrahams.

Special guests Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey will share some new news about the Andom Center. Donations requested. Checks should be made payable to “The Denver Justice Center”, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.

Tickets for the movie are free, but an RSVP is required by sending an e-mail to havana57movie@gmail.com. Tickets will be sent via e-mail and collected at the door.

Food and wine time

There’s still time to get in on the Denver Food and Wine action today, Saturday and Sunday. Tonight, Art of the Cocktail from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton Denver, 1881 Curtis St., will pit chefs and bartenders against each other in competitions to win $500 cash plus an overnight at The Ritz and breakfast at Elway’s in the hotel.

Tickets to the lively and tasty event are $50 at www.denverfoodandwine.com.

On Saturday, the Grand Tasting, the granddaddy of Denver food fests with an expected 4,500 food and wine fans, will serve bites from 35 local restaurant and 600 wines and spirts from Southern Wine & Spirits of Colorado from noon the 4 p.m. under a tent pitched on the grounds of the Metropolitan State University campus. The Grand Tasting is presented by US Foods.

Tickets are $95 at www.denverfoodandwine.com.

On Sunday, the DFW weekend wraps with a wine pairing dinner, beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday at Panzano Restaurant, 909 17th St., featuring Panzano executive chef Elise Wiggins, and Denver restaurant chefs Paul C. Reilly of Beast + Bottle, Bob Blair of Fuel, Aaron Whitcomb of Ya Ya’s Euro Bistro and featuring award-winning chef/author and restaurant owner Brian Polcyn. Reservations: 303-296-3525.

Denver Food and Wine is a fundraiser that benefits The Denver Post Community Foundation, Colorado Restaurant Association Education Foundation and the Metropolitan State University of Denver Hospitality Learning Center.

Light the night

I told you earlier this week that Denver’s City and County building is bathed in teal light this month in honor of ovarian cancer and prostate cancer awareness.

That prompted me to ask Mayor Hancock’s office what other colors, months and diseases make the City and County building glow throughout the year.

Here’s the answer:

* January – holiday lights (through the end of the Stock Show);

* February – red for heart awareness;

* March – blue and pink for the March of Dimes’ premature baby awareness;

* April 1 only – light blue for autism awareness;

* June 4th and 5th – teal for the ovarian cancer walk;

* September – teal for ovarian and prostate cancer awareness;

* October – pink for breast cancer awareness;

* November – purple for Alzheimer’s awareness;

* December – holiday lights.

We’ve got a winner!

The first giveaway winner in the www.blacktie-colorado.com/pennyparker subscription drive is Terri Alexander, client services manager for Project Angel Heart, a charitable organization that provides nutritious meals free of charge for people with life-threatening illnesses.

Alexander won two VIP tickets to Saturday’s Denver Food and Wine Grand Tasting on the grounds of Metropolitan State University (a $500 value).

But wait, there’s more. From today through Wednesday at 6 p.m., anyone who’s a veteran or newbie subscriber will be entered in a drawing to win two Denver Beerathon VIP tickets. The first Denver Beerathon, on Sept. 14, features a self-guided tour of 26 downtown-area bars, pubs, taverns and restaurants offering special deals for ticketholders.

The VIP ticket directs beer lovers to check in between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. is at Fado Irish Pub and Restaurant (1735 19th St.), and includes a VIP-only party with a buffet, prizes and giveaways and a $20 Uber car service pass plus a $25 day of event pass (new Uber users only),  Altitude Peak Fitness two week unlimited pass, $99 room rate at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel among other goodies.

The link for $99 rooms at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel (regularly rooms are about $350) is:  https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/denverbeerathon. More information on the Beerathon at www.denverbeerathon.com.

Eavesdropping on a signature taker to a male voter at a library on Parker Road and Florida: “Are you a Colorado voter?”

“No, Denver.”

Did you hear that I have a new column, “Mile High Life,” in Colorado Community Media’s 17 weekly newspapers circling Denver? Be sure to like my Facebook page! Also, here’s where you go to get my column emailed to you Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com. Want to advertise your business here? Contact Trisha at trilind@hotmail.com.

 

 

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