Over twenty Participants and guests alike were surprised when the winners of the first 150 lbs Weight Loss Challenge were announced last Wednesday night, July 31,2013; at a ground breaking Finale hosted at La Vue South Hill. This initiative, organized in the form of a competition was conducted by the Nutrition & Health Promotion (NHP) Department. of the Health Authority of Anguilla (HAA); as a prevention strategy, geared towards encouraging the general public to adopt healthy lifestyles practices, which include becoming more physically active. Fitness Indicators such as body weight, body fat and Body Mass Index-BMI of all participants, were assessed both individually and as a team with members belonging to one of four teams (Red Blue Orang and Green).
Mrs. Clavis Carter Gumbs Chief Operations Officer, Mrs. Vernice Battick NHP Coordinator and Mrs. Meredith Gumbs Acting Chief Executive Officer were the featured speakers who congratulated the participants on their achievement. Mrs. Carter shared the devastating effects of physical inactivity on health in her opening remarks. Mrs. Battick highlighted the process of monitoring fitness indicators and progress of participants, which resulted in a combined weight loss of 117 lbs, from the start of the Competition on May 8, 2013 to its end on July 26, 2013. Then Mrs. Gumbs also congratulated and encouraged the participants to continue on the quest to improved health.
Mr. Collin Johnson the chairman of the evening kept the audience on edge while he announced the most prominent achievements over the period as follows;
? Orange and Green team were second and third runners up respectively after the Red Team, whose members won first place by shedding a total of 36 pounds. Each member of the red team received one month free gym membership from the following sponsors
1 JCR Recreational Center – awarded to Myrna Brooks
2 La Severine Fitness Center – awarded to Meredith Connor
3 Dungeon Gym – awarded to Kelva Lindo
4. I Fitness awarded- to Leona Wilkinson
5. Styler Fitness Center- (HAA Sponsored ) awarded to Prudencia Richardson
? Ms Shariffa Wallace won the challenge by achieving the most percent body weight lost; she was also winner of two other categories; most inches lost and most pounds lost (19.6 lbs). For this outstanding feat she was awarded One Night with complementary Continental breakfast at Anacaona Boutique hotel, an outfit from Hottest Selection Boutique and a healthy Gift basket from Simply Natural.
? Mrs. Leona Wilkinson the oldest participant proved that there is still credit to the old adage “age is nothing but a number.” She was second runner up in the challenge with a weight lost of 17.6 lbs. she was presented with gym equipment from Tackle Box Sports Center. Ms. Wilkinson was also the lucky winner of a food basket sponsored by J.W. Proctors supermarket drawn from the raffle for participants who attended all weigh in and exercise sessions
? Mrs Miguelina Alcantara who lost a total of 13.8 came in third place and was awarded a spa session from Cuisinart Resort & Spa
? Mr. kassem Webster (a fourteen year old student the ALHCS) was congratulated and awarded a prize as the youngest and only male participant. This prize was sponsored by Tasty’s Restaurant.
?Serendipity was also in favour of participant Venetta Hodge who had the seat prize sponsor by E’s Oven
Also plaques of appreciation were awarded Fitness instructors Mr. Valentino Muckett “Hammer” and Mr. Evan Anderson “Styler” for volunteering their time and expertise to improve the health of our community. Mr. Anderson also gave four participants of the bi monthly exercise sessions (which included two members of the weight loss challenge) a free month membership during the period of the completion.
The Staff of NHP in the HAA wishes to thanks the sponsors for their generous support the 150 lbs. Weight Loss Challenge, they are: Hottest Selections, Stepping Out Boutique, La Severine Total Fitness & Massage JCR Recreational Centre, Ifitness, Dungeon Gym, Tackle Box Sports Centre, Anacaona Boutique Hotel, Tasty’s Restaurant, E’s Oven, Cuisinart Resort and Spa, J.W. Proctors and La Vue South Hill. Also the NHP Department is very grateful to Lime Anguilla for their kind consideration and cooperation in the promotion of the Bi-Monthly Fitness Sessions.
– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
