2015 contestants return for a weigh-in of their own
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
In this file photo, the Shape-Up Challenge, Team Up Edition contestants are (from left) Darryle and Joyce Thornton, Larry and Pam Kumor, Marianne Oppman and Mike Oppman, and Shanon and Steve Leskinen.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Marianne Oppman steps onto the scale. After one year, 2015 Shape-Up Challenge participants weighed in during the last day of the 2016 Shape-Up Challenge. Of the returning contestants who were weighed in, Oppman has lost the most weight, beginning last year’s challenge at 176 pounds and currently weighs 125 pounds.
The 2015 Shape-Up Challenge, Team-Up Edition, may have publicly ended a year ago, but the contestants’ journeys did not, nor did their comradery.
For the past year, ever since the Team-Up Edition ended, the eight contestants have been sending their weights to Steve Leskinen on a quarterly basis by email. Leskinen would then workout the statistics and email everyone back with their current weight loss percentages and BMIs.
The reason has always been to keep themselves accountable and to continue to motivate each other. So a year later, Uniontown YMCA wellness and marketing director Pam George was happy to welcome the Team-Up contestants back to Shape-Up for a one-year anniversary public weigh-in. The results are inspiring.
Of the eight Team-Up contestants, Joyce and Darryle Thornton, Steve and Shanon Leskinen and Marianne Oppman returned. The results are as follows:
Joyce Thornton began the Shape-Up competition weighing in at 188 pounds. She completed the competition at 157, and today weighs 167.
Darryle Thornton kicked off the competition last January weighing 208, end the challenge at 170 and today weighs 172.
Steve Leskinen went from 304 pounds to 257.75 during the 13-week competition. Today he weighs 272.
His wife, Shanon Leskinen, dropped 30.75 pounds during the competition going from 199 pounds to 168.25 pounds. She now weighs 170.5 pounds.
Marianne Oppman lost 28 pounds, going from 176 pounds to 148 pounds. Today she weighs 125 pounds.
“That’s the real winner of the challenge, a whole year later,” Steve Leskinen said.
Marianne and her brother, Michael Oppman completed the competition in fourth place last year. The Leskinen’s took third while the Thorntons took second and Larry and Pam Kumor came in first place.
The Team-Up contestants also shared some tips and advice for the 2016 contestants about moving forward.
Steve Leskinen said he uses the MyFitnessPal application to hold himself accountable, and has changed small habits such as avoiding elevators and taking the stairs instead.
“You have to lose the weight in the kitchen,” he said. “You can’t just work out. Eat as many fruits and vegetables as you can.”
Steve also said that changing your lifestyle is a lot about self education. He said it’s important to read food labels, and noted that his blood pressure is lower now than it was when he was 20.
Oppman said she weighs herself daily in order to keep herself on track. She also does little things such as parking her car further away from building entrances.
Shanon Leskinen likes to remain somewhat competitive.
“I like to do step challenges with people in groups on fitbit,” she said.
She also urged the contestants “not to throw it all away” just because they had a bad day, or even a bad week.
“It takes a certain amount of being a little bit selfish to get here,” she said, encouraging the contestants to be adamant about fitting exercise into their busy daily routines.
The Thornton’s said they have continued to practice healthy cooking and eating, and Darryle says he tries to workout at least three times each week, while trying to stay moving during his work day.
Although a few of the contestants gained a couple of pounds from their ending weights, not one of them has seen anything close to their beginning weights. More importantly, they have shown that it is possible to maintain a healthy and happy lifestyle. They served as a great and inspiring example to the 2016 contestants.
“It was very motivating for me to think about what I can do in just one year,” Kate Daugherty said. “To think that this is actually just the beginning of the journey. I definitely hope to be back here next year with much more improvement.”
Todd McGee said there was “no doubt” that he would also like to check back in with Shape-Up next year.
“This isn’t just a three month thing,” he said. “This has got to be a part of your life.”