"Delmarva's Biggest Loser" Contestants Battle On

The “Delmarva’s Biggest Loser” Competition and Olympia Fitness Clubs continue to help 11 Eastern Shore residents achieve their dreams of slimmer, healthier bodies one pound at a time. But, facing Week 9 of the contest, the participants haven’t lost sight of the fact that they have just under a month to transform their determination into the biggest loss.

Roni Wilkinson, a 23-year-old billing and marketing assistant with ClearChannel Outdoor in Salisbury, is just as focused as the rest. “I like to win,” Wilkinson said at the beginning of the competition. “But I’m not a sore loser. If I do lose weight, I feel like I will win.”

And, losing – or winning – she is.

With a total loss of 7 percent of her body weight, Wilkinson has already shed 22 pounds. She’s well on her way to learning the tools needed to lose more weight, and to do so healthily and successfully, an aspect of the contest that originally caught her attention.

“The fact that I have people guiding me through the process really interested me,” she said. “I’ve tried many diets [in the past] that didn’t work. And, I have also worked out at the gym and have gotten frustrated when I didn’t see results.”

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“Delmarva’s Biggest Loser” offers counseling on diet and exercise to its contestants, as well as free access to Olympia Fitness Clubs’ gym for the duration of the contest, meetings with a personal trainer two or three times a week, and ongoing encouragement.

Tiffanee Scott, with a total weight loss of 12 percent – or 32 pounds, is still holding first place in the competition. (Visit www.delmarvasbiggestloser.com for a complete list of participants and to get updates on their progress.)

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“Delmarva’s Biggest Loser” is sponsored by Olympia Fitness Clubs, Healthy U, Atlantic General Hospital, ClearChannel Communications, and area merchants. The goal of the competition is to introduce a healthy lifestyle change to each participant as well as impact the lives of those around them.

The 12-week competition will end on Monday, September 17. An awards ceremony will be held at the conclusion of the Visions for Total Health Conference on Saturday, November 3, when the dietitian who helped the nation’s biggest losers reach their goals on NBC’s hit reality show visits the Shore to impart her wisdom on nutrition and healthy eating.

The conference, which will be held this year at Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin, will include free screenings, exhibits, and 12 breakout presentations on a wide range of health topics. The keynote address will be presented by Cheryl Forberg, RD, highly sought-after food expert and consulting dietitian for NBC's The Biggest Loser.

For more information about “Delmarva’s Biggest Loser,” contact Cody Mackie at Olympia Fitness Clubs at 410-543-9999.

For more information about Atlantic General Hospital’s 2007 Visions for Total Health Conference or sponsorship opportunities, contact Dawn Denton, Atlantic General Hospital’s Community Education Coordinator, at 410-641-9268 or visit www.atlanticgeneral.org.