It doesn’t bother Jordan Fithian anymore.
He says he’s used to the looks — the stares he gets along with teammate Wes Book when the two go through the grocery store aisles.
No, the Emporia State forward won’t just pick up an item and put it in his cart.
He has to check the label first. And the fat content.
“When we’re there,” Fithian said, “we look like we’re the Slim-Fast people.”
At 6-foot-6, one would think Fithian could eat whatever he pleased. He thought the same thing for awhile.
That was all until he arrived on the Emporia State campus last fall, standing at 268 pounds, the heaviest of his entire life.
After breaking both of his feet and having trouble with his endurance, the junior knew he needed help.
He found it in the form of a pesky dietitian — one who happened to be none other than housemate, teammate and friend Wes Book.
Book had been using the same diet since the end of last season. After watching his weight balloon over 200 pounds, assistant coach Ben McCollum had suggested the plan to him as a way of slimming down.
Book was sold, having already lost 20 pounds. Now, his goal was to get Fithian in line.
“He was supposed to get in shape this last summer, and he really didn’t do that,” Book said. “He went and visited his girlfriend for a week. He ate and was real lazy, laid around the lake. He came back, and I knew we had to get him into shape.”
With Book’s help, Fithian started a diet he called the “eating healthy” plan. Wheat bread was substituted for white bread, organic pasta for pasta, low-fat dressing for regular dressing.
And, perhaps the toughest of all, turkeyburgers for cheeseburgers.
Fithian had his share of temptations. The largest of which came from housemate and beanpole Andrew Davison, who came back nearly everyday with fast food from either Wendy’s, McDonald’s or Taco Bell.
“I was fighting it,” Fithian said. “He came home with double cheeseburgers and quesadillas. I’d ask him to just give me a bite, and Wes would say, ‘Why? You don’t need it.’”
Slowly but surely, Fithian started to believe him.
And, after two months of the two cooking together, eating together and pushing each other, no one could argue with the results.
Fithian dropped 40 pounds in his first 60 days on the program, reducing his weight to 225 just in time for basketball season.
His loss was more impressive considering that he was unable to work out for a month during that time period after undergoing foot surgery.
The forward credited it all to the teammate — and more importantly, friend — who wouldn’t let him slide by.
“He was always on me, watching me,” Fithian said. “It worked out well.”
The longtime pals were reunited at ESU this season after Fithian transferred in from Division-I Binghamton.
The two originally met each other in sixth grade while watching both of their sisters play in a basketball tournament.
“We played 1-on-1 that day, and he beat me,” Fithian said. “I don’t think I’ve ever beat him since.”
Once Fithian could drive a car, he started traveling from his home in McPherson to play basketball with Book. The two shared summer league teams growing up, but separated when Fithian — the 2004 Mr. Basketball in the state of Kansas — chose to play at Binghamton.
After averaging 5.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game last season, the forward became frustrated with his lack of playing time and also philosophical differences with BU coach Al Walker. The two met in the coach’s office after the season, with both deciding it would be better if he transferred elsewhere.
Fithian’s first call after walking out went to his former teammate Book. His first question to him was whether ESU had a spot for him on the roster.
Not only did the Hornets have one spot, they had two, with ESU coach David Moe taking Fithian’s BU teammate Davison along with him.
The slimmer Fithian and Book have been instrumental in the Hornets’ 14-0 start. Fithian has averaged 8.0 points per game, while Book has upped his scoring and rebounding, going from 8.7 points and 3.0 rebounds last year to 16.1 points and 6.1 boards this year.
“I feel a lot better,” Book said. “I have more energy, and I can jump better. It’s totally different.”
“I’m sure the diet’s helped them,” McCollum said. “I know it’s changed their attitude. They seem happier and more energetic.”
More than anything, though, the diet has shown the dedication of both players in the offseason.
They believe the hard work has shown up both on the court and in the win column.
“It’s paid off big time,” Book said. “Before games we say, ‘Don’t let the other team take what we’ve worked for.’
“It’s definitely a good feeling to have success after all that we’ve done.”