{"105051":{"#nid":"105051","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Biggest Loser Competition Yields Proud Winners!","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EClayton Benedict\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nStudent Marketing Assistant, CRC\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAlthough the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.crc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ECampus Recreation Center\u00e2\u0080\u0099s\u003C\/a\u003E (CRC) Biggest Loser Competition has just come to an end, it is a new beginning for 26 people. This is the CRC\u00e2\u0080\u0099s second year of the competition, and, while the program is still in the early stages, the results have been outstanding. This year\u00e2\u0080\u0099s winner, Mike Williams is a Georgia Tech student who lost more than 25% body fat during the spring semester. However, this competition celebrates everyone\u00e2\u0080\u0099s accomplishments. By the end of the competition all 26 participants had lost an average of 10.38% body fat, and collectively shed an amazing 394 pounds. \u00e2\u0080\u009cIt is truly awesome working in a program like this, that allows you to help people change their lives for the better,\u00e2\u0080\u009d stated Greg Lennartz, one of the certified personal trainers leading the program.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Biggest Loser Program was implemented at Georgia Tech last year. The goal of the program is to provide members of the Georgia Tech community with a chance to improve general health and allow for students, faculty, and staff to relate in a social setting. Georgia Tech\u00e2\u0080\u0099s Biggest Loser consists of four teams - each led by one of the CRC\u00e2\u0080\u0099s certified personal trainers - who are led through group workouts, competitions, and weekly weigh-ins. Participants may also meet with a trainer individually to create a workout suited for the individual\u00e2\u0080\u0099s level of fitness and personal goals. But participants learn more than just how to exercise. Each team member is given the opportunity to meet with an accredited dietitian to learn about healthy eating. Participants also have access to G.I.T. FIT\u00e2\u0080\u0099s drop-in group fitness classes at no extra cost.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Biggest Loser\u00e2\u0080\u0099s amazing results are gaining attention - the number of participants doubled from last year! Morgann Wagner, head trainer and fitness graduate assistant, considers the program to be one of the best experiences available at the CRC for participants and trainers alike, \u00e2\u0080\u009cSeeing how all the participants changed throughout the program made all the hard work worth it, and I cannot wait to do it again.\u00e2\u0080\u009d\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHere is the perspective from Mike Williams, the 2009 Biggest Loser\u00e2\u0080\u0099s Winner:\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u00e2\u0080\u009cI am more than satisfied with the Biggest Loser program. During the program I lost 25% of my body weight, that\u00e2\u0080\u0099s 44 pounds! Being in the Biggest Loser gave me the structure that I needed as well as the motivation I desired. I quickly realized how competitive I was. It was about the third week or so before I took the lead in weight loss, and I worked as hard as possible to keep that position. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWorking with Greg was perfect; he is by far the best trainer at the CRC in my opinion! His laid back style fit perfectly with my personality, but he would get on you if he thought you were slacking. He kept on our team even after suffering a torn ACL. Even from a wheelchair, he would push us to reach our goals - you really don\u00e2\u0080\u0099t have any excuses.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI don\u0027t think I can describe the way I feel now. It\u0027s beyond words. This program has helped me to improve almost every aspect of my life. None of my clothes fit me now. I look like a kid who has to wear his older brother\u00e2\u0080\u0099s hand-me-downs! There isn\u0027t a day that goes by now that someone doesn\u0027t comment on my weight loss. The best part is that I know I still have about 10 more pounds to lose, but I know I can do it. I owe the confidence I have to succeed to the Biggest Loser.\u00e2\u0080\u009d\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor more information on how fitness can help improve personal health and outlook, visit the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.crc.gatech.edu\/fitness\u0022\u003EG.I.T. F.I.T.\u003C\/a\u003E Web site.\n\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"Although the Campus Recreation Center\u00e2\u0080\u0099s (CRC) Biggest Loser Competition has just come to an end, it is a new beginning for 26 people. This is the CRC\u00e2\u0080\u0099s second year of the competition, and, while the program is still in the early stages, the results have been outstanding. This year\u00e2\u0080\u0099s winner, Mike Williams is a Georgia Tech student who lost more than 25% body fat during the spring semester. However, this competition celebrates everyone\u00e2\u0080\u0099s accomplishments. By the end of the competition all 26 participants had lost an average of 10.38% body fat, and collectively shed an amazing 394 pounds. \u00e2\u0080\u009cIt is truly awesome working in a program like this, that allows you to help people change their lives for the better,\u00e2\u0080\u009d stated Greg Lennartz, one of the certified personal trainers leading the program.","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Everybody wins in Biggest Loser Competition."}],"uid":"27164","created_gmt":"2009-05-04 00:00:00","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:11:33","author":"Rachael Pocklington","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2009-05-04T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2009-05-04T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"1298","name":"Parent and Family Programs"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"720","name":"Meeting of the Minds"},{"id":"453","name":"undergraduate research"},{"id":"452","name":"UROP"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cstrong\u003ERachael Pocklington\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EParents Program\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/contact\/index.html?id=rpocklington3\u0022\u003EContact Rachael Pocklington\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E404-385-3920\u003C\/strong\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["rachael.pocklington@vpss.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}