Biggest Winner: Final results are in
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Kristina Schuerle works out at the Cameron Wellness Center.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Carole DeAngelo uses the stair stepper as part of a Biggest Winner workout.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Trainer Stephanie Bartlam talks to Biggest Winner team member Debbie Barsis as she completes an exercise.
Biggest Winner
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
The Observer-Reporter Biggest Winner team poses for a photo on their final day of the competition. From left are Debbie Barsis, Lori Hensel, Mark Knestrick, trainer Stephanie Bartlam, Kristina Schuerle and Carole DeAngelo. Missing from the photo is Ashlea Presto.
The eighth annual Biggest Winner competition has ended as teams reached the finish line after their seven-week weight-loss journey. The Observer-Reporter’s team of readers trained under the guidance of exercise physiologist and clinical coordinator Stephanie Bartlam of the Washington Health System Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center, meeting four mornings a week for 6:30 a.m. workouts.
This year’s competition placed a larger emphasis on the importance of nutrition as team members got the chance to meet with registered dietitians biweekly. As part of the program, they weighed in weekly, as well as had body measurements, body fat analyses and blood lipid panels done. As a bonus, they were invited to a cooking demonstration and grocery store tour where they learned how to shop for healthy food. Winners were determined by percentage of body fat lost and participation points earned by attending workouts and nutrition activities. The O-R team winner will receive a one-year membership to the wellness center, while the overall Biggest Winner will enjoy a spa day at Spa Harmony and a $100 gift certificate to Macy’s.
Bartlam considers all of her team members as winners.
“I am very proud of every one on the team for how hard they have worked and how much progress they have made in all aspects of the program, including weight loss, fitness level, and diet,” she said. “This program is not easy, exercising at a higher intensity four days a week for seven weeks. It takes grit, perseverance and motivation from within to get through it. I hope each participant had something positive to take away from the program, whether it was helping them start a habit of exercising regularly or making healthier diet choices. It is up to them to continue on with the healthy lifestyle, and hopefully they will.”
And the winner is …
The winner is the team member who achieved the highest percentage of body fat lost. It was a close contest at the end, but Debbie Barsis took the prize for the O-R team.
Barsis, 61, of East Finley, lost 27 pounds, or 14.74 percent body fat. She joined the contest to get healthy and lose weight to help better care for her three grandchildren. “I knew it was going to be tough,” says Barsis. “Our trainer pushed us hard, which was great and made me feel good. I’ve gained a lot of muscle and was able to lose a lot of weight.” She says she surprised herself with how much she was able to accomplish and that she now feels 10 years younger. “It was amazing in seven short weeks how much muscle I gained and how much I really pushed myself,” says Barsis. “I never thought I’d be able to push myself that hard.”
Mark Knestrick, 62, a volunteer firefighter with the South Franklin Volunteer Fire Department, came in a very close second. He actually lost the most weight at 27.2 pounds, which equaled 8.66 percent body fat. “Everyone encouraged and helped each other,” says Knestrick, “and kept working toward the goals we had all set for ourselves.” Even though he didn’t win, Knestrick says it was a great experience. “I radically changed my diet, will continue working out and have made several new friends and renewed old friendships with people at the wellness center. All together, we all end as big winners!”
Kristina Schuerle, 28, a mental health therapist, wanted to join the team for accountability and wound up losing 10 pounds. “As a member of the O-R team, I can say that I will certainly miss each of my fellow team members,” says Schuerle. “Even though we all started out as strangers, we meshed very well very quickly and had a great trainer leading the way to better health and wellness. This experience allowed me to learn more about nutrition and healthy eating, and the grocery tour component was most helpful.” Schuerle noticed significant changes in her strength, mood, energy and eating habits. “I created a new lifestyle for my family,” she says. “I am very grateful for this opportunity I was given and intend on keeping up with this new lifestyle.”
Ashlea Presto, 26, is a nursing student and mom to two boys under 2. She wanted to make a lifestyle change for her and her family and lost 16.6 pounds. “Participating in the Biggest Winner competition on the O-R team has been one of the best experiences I have been able to have,” says Presto. “Everyone on the team was so wonderful, and we all meshed so well. I always looked forward to waking up early and going to the gym with these wonderful people and am so sad that it has come to an end.” Presto is excited about her results. “I have learned so much from our wonderful trainer that I feel comfortable continuing this journey on my own. My family and myself have really made a huge lifestyle change, and we are looking forward to where we may be this time next year.”
Air Force Veteran Lori Hensel, 35, had hit a weight-loss plateau before the contest and wanted a jump-start. “I absolutely enjoyed this experience,” says Hensel, of Washington. “I started this so I could have some accountability, and I ended up meeting some great people.” Hensel lost four pounds and says the team aspect helped her with motivation. “The fun part is the working out; the not-so-fun aspect is tracking your food intake.” She says working out helps her battle depression. “It’s tough when you feel so locked into your own body, like there is no escaping,” says Hensel, “which is why I enjoy working out so much. It gets my happy endorphins going, and I feel good about myself. I suggest working out to anyone who battles severe depression (and the winter blues) to get moving. It helps tremendously.”
O-R advertising director Carole DeAngelo also joined the Biggest Winner team for a third time to build upon past experiences, lose weight and learn tips to avoid snacking. DeAngelo, 51, of Canonsburg, lost 15 pounds and says that, once again, it did not disappoint. “I have never seen a group of strangers mesh the way we did,” says DeAngelo. “They were inspiring, motivating and so much fun! Steph was an amazing trainer who understood where each of us was on our journey.” Was it as much fun the third time around? “I feel better, want to continue on and love this program,” she says. “The experience was everything I expected and more. The wellness center truly continues to improve the program year over year!”
Maintaining results
How do the Biggest Winner team members keep their new physiques and maintain their results? Valarie Barlow, certified personal trainer with the wellness center, recommends that they keep working with a trainer. “That’s a good way, maybe not doing the four times a week like they’re doing in the program,” says Barlow, “but maybe meeting with a trainer for a session once a week. They could do it with their group or they can do it individually.” Small group training is actually the biggest trend in the fitness industry right now.
“That’s why the Biggest Winner has been so successful over the years,” says wellness center executive director Debbie Roytas, “because the team works together and holds each other accountable and motivates each other.”
The second piece of advice is to keep on track with their new, healthy eating habits. The Biggest Winner team members were able to take advantage of testing that measured their resting metabolic rate, which determines how many calories their bodies use while at rest. That gave them a blueprint for how many calories they need to maintain or lose weight. The wellness center also offers Fit Stops with registered dietitians that work in the same way as a weekly or occasional check-in with a trainer.
Joanie Barr, fitness manager at the wellness center, says, “We have different programs here where you check in once a week, and if you want to have that cheat meal, then they work the cheat meal into your diet and they teach you how to respond.” She says having a support system is important for accountability. “When you write down what you’re eating in your food log and then you’re accountable to show it to your dietitian,” says Barr, “it really helps you to stay on track.”