Shape-Up Challenge — Silver Edition winner announced
A lot can happen in a short period of time.
During the past 13 weeks, the seven contestants of the Shape-Up Challenge 2014-Silver Edition took on a new lifestyle change.
For the contestants of the first Shape-Up Challenge this past spring, the focus was on loss. The group’s main concern was weight loss, losing inches and lowering risks of disease.
But for the “Silver Seven” group, the focus has been on gain. Gaining strength, stamina, flexibility, confidence and friendships has been what this competition is truly about.
Although contestants, trainers and readers are sad to see the challenge end, all can rest assured that the contestants’ perseverance will not end. Many have already joined the Y to continue their quest of living a healthy lifestyle.
“You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream another dream,” said Wellness Director Matt Howrylak, quoting C.S. Lewis, during the Challenge’s grand finale Monday night.
As Howrylak set up the scale for the final reveal, the reveal which would declare the winner of the competition, the contestants lined up anxiously. The goal of the competition was to lose weight, and the person who lost the largest percentage of original body fat would be crowned the winner.
Third place went to contestant Tom Blaho, who began the challenge weighing in at 382 lbs. He now weighs, 343 lbs, and has lost 10.2 percent of his original body fat. Blaho was awarded a three month membership to the Y, and gift cards to Foot Locker, Subway and Medicine Stop Pharmacy.
Contestant David Walls took home second place. Walls originally weighed 260 lbs., now weighs 229 lbs., and lost 11.92 percent of his original body fat. Walls took home a six month membership to the Y, a collectible coin set and gift cards to Dunham’s and subway.
Losing a total of 31 lbs and 15.4 percent of her original body fat, Cynthia Campbell took home first place. Campbell went from 39 ½ inches around her waist to 35 ½ inches. She also lost five inches in her hip circumference going from 47 ½ to 42 ½ inches. Her upper legs went from 21 ½ to 19 inches, her shoulders from 49 to 46 inches, her chest from 43 ½ to 39 ½ inches and her upper arm went from 12 inches to 11 inches.
Campbell received a full year membership to the Y, a weekend stay at Robertshaw Country House Bed and Breakfast, an Adrian’s Market gift basket and gift card and a Dick’s Sporting Goods gift card.
“You know what? We are all winners here, tonight,” Campbell said.
Campbell thanked her family and all of Shape-Up’s sponsors and trainers — especially Pam George who she refers to as her angel.
“She pushed me to my full exhaustion but not farther than she thought I could go,” Campbell said.
Campbell said her workouts with George included alternating upper and lower body routines and building strength in the core.
“After about week eight or nine, I could actually see my muscles firing. Seeing that gave me even more motivation to want to win this.”
George is the group fitness coordinator at the YMCA. She has been involved in fitness since 1986 and enjoys working with seniors. She has been there for Campbell during the ups and downs since week two of the challenge.
“She’s very motivated,” George said of her client. “She did everything right. She followed her diet, never missed a training session and she just did everything she was able to do to reach her goal.”
George said that throughout the challenge her main concern when working with Campbell was addressing some issues, including her knee pain and correcting her gait.
“The weight was secondary,” she said. “Cynthia just has that personality that when she wants something she’s going to get it.”
George also said it was a pleasure to work with Campbell, although it was, at times, a bit difficult.
“Cynthia had some limitations that made me think outside of the box as a trainer. I really enjoyed trying to figure out ways to help her.”
Howrylak is also proud of Campbell.
“I do believe Cynthia was the most diligent with exercise and diet. Week in and week out her food logs were on my desk. I’ve been adamant with the contestants about being consistent with their food logs, and Cynthia was one of them. It just goes to show that it does play an important role.”
Before the reveal, free makeovers were offered to the contestants by All Tressed Up Salon in Uniontown. Campbell received a wash and style from owner Maggie Taylor, who was happy to offer free services to the contestants.
“I enjoy a sense of community, and I think it’s really cool what they’ve done,” Taylor said. “I just wanted to do something special for them and congratulate them.”
Also during the reveal, contestant Rosalie Coughenour had a surprise for everyone as she took over the podium.
“We have a surprise for Matt. He’s done a wonderful job for all of us, and we love him dearly,” Coughenour said. “He sacrificed many nights with his family to be here for us, so this gift is not only for him but for his family.”
The gift included a hand-made afghan by Coughenour and thank-you cards from all of the contestants.
To mark the end of the challenge, the contestants re-took their evaluations that they took in week one. The results show a tremendous amount of improvement. All of the contestants doubled — or even tripled — some of their scores in 13 weeks. The top three tests are as follows:
Distance walked during a six-minute time frame: Campbell, 5 ¾ to 6 ½ laps; Sue Thomas, 2 to 5 laps; Blaho, 2 to 3 ¾ laps; Walls, 6 to 7 ¼ laps; Coughenour, 6 to 6 ½ laps; Purcell, 4 ½ to 5 ½ and Carmella Amber, 4 ¾ to 5 ¼ laps.
“I believe that when it comes to functionality in seniors, this is a big test,” Howrylak said, adding that he was very proud of Walls for jogging his laps.
For the sit-to-stand test, the contestants were to fully sit and fully stand up straight as many times as they could in one minute: Campbell, 12 to 31; Thomas, 12 to 31; Blaho, 9 to 16; Walls, 16 to 32; Coughenour, 18 to 31; Purcell, 10 to 22; and Amber, 17 to 41.
Bicep curls were the last test: Campbell, 17 to 46; Thomas, 15 to 43; Blaho, 19 to 34; Walls, 20 to 45; Coughenour, 22 to 39, Purcell, 19 to 35; and Amber, 16 to 35.
“I could not be happier,” Howrylak said. “I knew the walk was going to be better. I could tell that from the cross. All of these results are huge.”
As the Silver Edition came to a close, Howrylak’s hope is that the seven contestants would continue to persevere and follow the paths of their newfound lifestyles.
“I’ve been very, very diligent in expressing the necessity to continue to do this, and I truly, truly hope they take those warnings seriously,” he said. “And I honestly believe that they will.”