Biggest winners lose the most

Ramona Fitness Center announced the recipients of its Biggest Winner contest at an awards ceremony held in Ramona Mainstage on Sunday.

Approximately 50 teams, with five members each, competed to lose the highest percentage of weight over a six-week period. The winning team, made up of Tim and Anne Mueller, their daughter Chelsea Steward, Aletha Spurgin and her fiancé Mike McKenzie collected S2,500. The team’s name is Pink No. 34.

Each team that signed up had to go to Ramona Fitness Center once every two weeks to weigh in, or the team was eliminated. No mandatory workouts were required, but Ramona Fitness recommended that the contestants work out at least four times a week and the center offered two weekly workouts and full access to the gym and classes.

McKenzie said he was very surprised.

“She (Aletha) talked me into this thing,” he said. “I never thought I could do it, but I did and I lost 27 pounds.”

In addition to the grand prize of $2,500 to the winning team, individual awards went to Cherise Allen and Jacob Zoria, the female and male who lost the most total weight.

The Best Team Spirit Award went to the team of Karissa Denny, Michelle Denny, Jessica Frausel, Lacey Smith and Heather Winters.

Attendees at Sunday’s awards ceremony watched a slide show that documented the six-week program and they were treated to Subway sandwiches.

Peter San Nicholas, owner of Ramona Fitness Center, spoke about the success the contestants had.

“Of the teams that completed the six-week program, over 2,000 pounds were lost, with some individuals losing over 30 pounds each,” he said. “Twenty people lost over 10 percent of their total body weight.”

To assist participants, each team was assigned a coach who sent the members e-mails containing knowledge builders and helpful tips on exercise, nutrition and encouragement.

“A huge part of the team’s success was the encouragement that they gave each other,” said San Nicholas. “Each team had an assigned team color and many of them would wear matching shirts in and work out together.

“We feel this was a huge success and plan on doing it once or twice a year.”

Ramona Fitness Center is at 558 Main St. For more information, the center may be contacted at 760-789-3500.