Mix a little healthy competition, cash prizes, accountability, team work and great education and what do you have? Successful weight loss at The Community Weight Loss Challenge. This is the only challenge where everyone wins for losing!
The challenge began in June with almost one hundred participants, eagerly anticipating fitting into their “skinny jeans”, feeling better and possibly winning some terrific prizes, including $500, $300 and $200 cash.
Culminating in September with a huge celebration and awards ceremony held at Family Community Church on Watt Avenue, the sixty people who completed the 12-week Weight Loss Challenge lost over 1000 pounds. “Even my skinny jeans are too big!” smiles a delighted participant who was motivated by the information provided in the weekly classes. Each class was packed full of valuable nutritional, health and fitness information plus tips to make changes that will last a lifetime. “I even learned some great information about how to feed my children better and keep them healthy,” remarked a shocked Mom when she discovered how many of the choices she was making for her three daughters were high in fat, sugar and salt.
The group was comprised of three smaller groups, with individuals vying for the grand prize. The categories were: largest percentage of weight lost, most inches lost, and overall most pounds lost.
First place winner, Tim Donovan of North Highlands, lost almost 20% of his total weight! Tim’s secret was shear determination. Tim said he didn’t really know he was overweight, but when he looked at his before and after pictures, he realized that he made a good decision to join the program.
Second place winner is Ron Scott, who is so grateful about how good he feels that he has volunteered to help the next set of participants during the New Challenge beginning in January!
Melissa Inechien was third place winner, who still managed to lose big even though she got a new job working in the bakery at Safeway while in the Challenge. The youngest participant, Michelle Michaud is only 15 years old. She joined because she wanted to be healthier. Michelle has lost 15 inches and has now encouraged her friends to workout and eat healthier. Michelle plays soccer and last year she was last in running laps this year she was in second place and she runs a mile in eleven minutes. Michelle’s mom, Mary, was a great inspiration to the group. Mary had already lost 80 pounds prior to the competition, but had a little more to go to reach her goal. She was also interested in additional information on staying healthy and fit, so she liked the idea of the classes. Mary brought in a t-shirt from her “before” days and she and her daughter can both fit in it with room to spare!
Umpqua Bank donated a beautiful mountain bike for the biggest loser. Curves of Antelope, Fitness 19, Fitness Together and Fitness Systems all offered trial memberships to all the participants and year memberships to the winners. The support of local businesses was outstanding. Bel Air was a huge support with promotion and donating delicious sample items from their health food section.
Total Image Salon in North Highlands gave second place winner, Melissa, a makeover to look her best at the celebration.
Because obesity is such an epidemic in our country, the team at the Community Weight Loss Challenge is determined to educate and motivate our neighbors to live healthy and fit for the rest of their lives.
These contestants discovered that changing their lifestyles is much easier when you are accountable and have a lively group to be with you every step and pound. As was stated earlier, all are all winners in the end because a healthy lifestyle is truly rewarding. If you need help getting on the right track, a new class and challenge starts January 2009. Check out www.SacramentoGetThin.com Congratulations to all participants, you are all winners!
*If your business is looking to take part in this exciting community event, give us a call at 916-225-1234! Help change the lives of the people in your community this coming January! Call today!