2017 winners of the Optimal Fitness Biggest Loser 6-week Challenge. Pictured (L-R): Second place Jodie Miller, first place Susan Bracha and third place Mike Dellwo.
SEELEY LAKE – The winners of this year's Biggest Loser Six-Week Challenge held by Optimal Fitness in Seeley Lake were all winners from past challenges. Seeley Lake residents Susan Bracha, Jodie Miller and Mike Dellwo all returned to the podium again this year with Bracha defending her title from last year.
Optimal Fitness owner Terryl Bartlett said the participation in the annual 12-week challenge was declining a little bit every year. She decided to "change things up" and shorten the length of the competition to six weeks.
"I wondered if I shortened it up people would be able to see light at the end of the tunnel and participants could stay more focused because it is a shorter time period," said Bartlett. "[Because half of the people returned for the final weigh-in] it seemed like that was more successful."
This year Bartlett provided an empty six-week calendar, meal plans and uploaded weekly nutrition and exercise challenges to the Optimal Fitness Facebook page. The entry fee was $35 per contestant with no other requirement but to weigh-in between Jan. 1-15 and the final weigh-in was in six weeks.
This year four more participants signed up than in 2016, bringing the competition to 30 people. Of the 26 in 2016, only 10 returned for the final weigh-in. This year 15 returned at the end of the challenge.
The total weight lost this year was nearly 40 pounds more than last year. Participants lost 143.25 pounds total and their total percent weight lost was 76.04 percent, up from 50.68 percent in 2016.
Last year Bracha lost 22.5 pounds, 14.22 percent of her total weight. This year she lost 19 pounds, 13.64 percent of her total weight.
Bartlett pointed out that while she gained about five pounds back from last year's challenge, she returned and lost a lot more weight again.
"I think I was more focused [this year]," said Bracha. She explained that with the 12-week challenge last year she felt she could be more relaxed. "This year I didn't have time, I really have got to hit it and stay more focused."
Bracha set a daily calorie limit goal and entered everything she ate into her My Fitness Pal.
"I feel great. I can sit and squat down and do things and stand back up," said Bracha who agreed with Bartlett that she had a lot more energy and her joints felt better.
Miller again joined the ranks of the top three after her third place finish in 2015. In 2015, Miller lost 18.5 pounds, nearly 11 percent of her body weight. This year she dropped 17.8 pounds, 10.06 percent of her body weight earning her second place.
Miller agreed that the shorter challenge helped her stay focused. She said it gave her a light at the end of the tunnel and didn't have the ups and the downs of the 12-week challenge.
"I just told myself to commit for the six weeks, work hard, eat healthy. I think I had better results," said Miller.
Miller also used My Fitness Pal to help her keep track of her diet and workouts.
"I found I could hardly eat all my calories," said Miller. "I would eat and I felt like I ate enough because I wasn't hungry. Several times [My Fitness Pal] would say I didn't eat enough so I would try to bump it up the next day."
Bartlett said that she has been meeting with Miller weekly for a weigh-in and she has consistently dropped weight.
"It is just amazing if you eat clean [vegetables, fruits and leaner meats] you have to eat a lot of it and you can still dump weight," said Bartlett.
Dellwo won the 12-week challenge in 2014 shedding slightly less than 60 pounds, 27 percent of his body weight. This year he again stepped up to the scale and dropped 21.5 pounds, 9.93 percent of his body weight, placing him in third.
Dellwo said he did not do as well this year because he was sick for the majority of the six-week period. He was only able to work out for a couple of weeks.
"The cardio is what does it for me. If I just cut back it takes forever. But if I get on the elliptical and make myself sweat hard it just comes off," said Dellwo.
Bartlett agreed that if you are eating healthy food, dropping calories is not always the best alternative for losing weight.
"If the scale gets stuck, burn up some calories with exercise. You'll never win a war with food," said Bartlett.
This year's prizes were all cash. Bracha walked away with $700, Miller took home $250 and Dellwo won $100 for their efforts in the challenge.
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