On June 25, six men and six women from the Delmarva community made their
official entry into a contest they fervently hope will change their lives.
The first weigh-in for “Delmarva’s Biggest Loser,” held
at Olympia Fitness Clubs in Salisbury, Md., was the beginning of a competition
in which the tables are turned and, in the end, a loser does win.
A week into the competition, 25-year-old Salisbury resident Carroll Nicholson
Jr., who is a driver for Carey Distributors, was in the lead, having lost
four percent of his total body weight. For Nicholson, who weighed in at
410 pounds and is determined to lose weight to be healthy for his son,
that’s 16.4 pounds lost.
Nicholson considers the competition as a means toward an end – that
end being an eventual weight loss of 190 pounds. He is determined to learn
how to combine diet and exercise properly to lose weight and keep it off.
The constant encouragement and health information provided by Olympia
Fitness Clubs’ trainers will be his springboard to a healthier lifestyle.
For Tiffany Scott, who began the competition at 283 pounds, Week 2 revealed
her determination with a total loss of 6 percent of her body weight. Now
at 266 pounds, she is working toward her goal of 200 pounds and a healthier
lifestyle. Scott, an instructor at Dove Pointe in Salisbury, is the mother
of three children and wants to around to care for them.
“Tomorrow isn't promised to anyone,” said Scott. “I
want to be healthy enough to help my children and enjoy and make the most
of each and every day.”
“Delmarva’s Biggest Loser” is sponsored by Olympia Fitness
Clubs, Healthy U, Atlantic General Hospital, ClearChannel Communications,
and area merchants. The goal of the competition is to introduce a healthy
lifestyle change to each participant as well as impact the lives of those
around them.
The 12-week competition will end on Monday, September 17. An awards ceremony
will be held at the conclusion of the Visions for Total Health Conference
on Saturday, November 3, when the dietitian who helped the nation’s
biggest losers reach their goals on NBC’s hit reality show visits
the Shore to impart her wisdom on nutrition and healthy eating.
The conference, which is hosted this year by Stephen Decatur High School
in Berlin, will include free screenings, exhibits, and 12 breakout presentations
on a wide range of health topics. The keynote address will be presented
by Cheryl Forberg, RD, highly sought-after food expert and consulting
dietitian for NBC's
The Biggest Loser.
For more information about “Delmarva’s Biggest Loser,”
contact Cody Mackie at Olympia Fitness Clubs at 410-543-9999.
For more information about the 2007 Visions for Total Health Conference
or sponsorship opportunities, contact Dawn Denton, Atlantic General Hospital’s
Community Education Coordinator, at 410-641-9268.