Winners of Biggest Loser & Healthiest Weight Florida Challenge Upper Keys Announced

Tavernier, FL – The Florida Department of Health in Monroe County is happy to announce the winners of the Florida Department of Health-led Biggest Loser and Healthiest Weight Florida Challenge in Tavernier. The eight-week challenge was launched on March 31 and ended on May 26. Participation was open to the public.

As part of the challenge, contestants were provided weekly hints, tips, and other educational information on healthy eating habits and integrating exercise into their routine. Hannah Padgett, Registered Dietician, and Jannet Avalos of the department facilitated the challenge. Using Biodynamics’ Bioimpedance Analyzer, participants’ body fat percentage and basal metabolic rate were measured by Ron Mattar, owner of ACT Medical, a healthcare supplier. Mattar also shared with the participants fat and muscle educational models from NASCO. “It has been a great privilege partnering with the Florida Department of Health on the Biggest Loser Program…I hope this has brought awareness for keeping good eating habits, exercise, and a healthy life style in general,” Mattar states.

This contest provided a cash incentive to motivate participants to learn and stick with a newfound wellness regimen. Proceeds that were collected from this challenge were split among the top three biggest losers in separate male and female categories (competitors who lost the largest percentage of body weight). Proceeds included the $30 registration fee, and fees for gaining or missing a weigh in.

One hundred sixty eight pounds were lost during the eight week period among the 28 Monroe County residents who participated. This translates to over one person in pounds, based on an average weight of 150 pounds per person. Among the 24 women who competed, 60 pounds were lost; among the four men, 108 pounds were lost.

Congratulations to the following winners of the challenge:

Female Category:

  • 1st Place: Lisa Winne lost 14.3 percent of her baseline bodyweight. Winne contributes her weight loss success to her diet. She cut out all added sugars and processed carbs. She also had a protein-fruit smoothie in the mornings for breakfast, and ate lots of fresh vegetables.
  • 2nd Place: Sally Anderson lost 11.5 percent.
  • 3rd Place: Donna Hanson lost 7.2 percent.

Male Category:

  • 1st Place: Derek Sizemore lost 15.8 percent of his baseline bodyweight. Regarding Sizemore’s weight loss journey, he states “No matter how hard it is, you just gotta’ keep going.” He contributes his success to staying very active– he was a seasonal employee at Ocean Reef, so he had access to a gym and also did workout videos, including Zumba videos at his home.
  • 2nd Place: Wayne Gwilliam lost 14.5 percent.
  • 3rd Place: Michael Bould lost 10.4 percent.

The Florida Department of Health in Monroe County will be planning more challenges later this year. If interested, please contact Gayle Glover at (305) 809-5606 or email [email protected].

The Biggest Loser Challenge Program by FDOH-Monroe is part of the department’s Healthiest Weight Florida Initiative. The department would like to thank Mr. Ron Mattar of ACT Medical and Vinny Saavedra of National CineMedia for their generous support. Healthiest Weight Florida is a public-private collaboration bringing together state agencies, not-for-profit organizations, businesses and entire communities to help Florida’s children and adults make consistent, informed choices about healthy eating and active living.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

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