Success Stories
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Dr. Randa Cobey
Winners of 2nd Annual Simi Valley fitness challenge lose big
By Michele Willer-Allred
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
For the past 13 weeks, a team of three women and one man who called themselves "Fat Grinders" gave up all alcoholic beverages, drank about a gallon of water a day, watched their food portions, and worked up a sweat for a minimum of three hours a day at the gym.
All their hard work paid off, when the team — made up of Simi Valley residents Marycela Clement, Elsa Hernandez, Tania Magdaleno and her husband Cesar Magdaleno — took home the grand prize of $7,498 in cash during the 2011 Simi Valley Health and Fitness Challenge. Clement also was named the overall individual winner.
This was the second year the challenge was held, and 220 people competing on 56 teams with such names "Dancing Rhinos" and "Butt B Gone" vied for the "biggest weight loss loser" title.
In January, participants paid an entry fee of $85 and weighed in every two weeks. Those that didn't weigh in or gained even a fraction of an ounce had to pay a penalty fee.
About $17,497 was collected and divided among the top finishers. About 10 percent also was given to the Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley.
On Friday, participants had their final weigh-in at Cardio Barre, a fitness studio owned by Melissa Collins. Collins organized the challenged with Dr. Randa Cobey, a chiropractor and owner of World of Wellness, Inc.
On Saturday, during a finale party at Limon Grill in the Simi Valley Town Center Mall, Fat Grinders was named the overall team winner after losing a collective 194 pounds, or 23.68 percent of their total weight. The team's initial weigh-in was 817.6 pounds and their final weigh-in was 623.6.
Since the challenge was based on percentages, the second-place group called Road Kill lost 194.6 pounds, but the team's weight-loss percentage was about 19.64 percent. Road Kill, made up of John Whiteley, Rick Toll, Harold Arp, and Michael Crowder, took home about $5,000.
A team called FUPA's Back, made up of Mike Dobbs, Bill Dobbs, Kenny Kranzler, and Jesus Corral, took third place and 15.14 percent of their total weight.
Clement, 28, ended up losing 54.8 pounds, which was about 27 percent of her body weight. She won an additional $1,500 for her first place effort.
Even during the party on Saturday, Clement and her teammates were drinking water and staying well-hydrated, something they said was key in their weight loss.
Tania Magdaleno, 31, who lost 35 pounds and is now a svelte 118 pounds, said the team went to workout every morning during the entire competition.
"We're a little tired of working out three hours a day though," said Tania, with a laugh.
While 60-year-old Ray Kinsner of West Hills didn't win any prizes, he said he was winner regardless because of his better health.
Kinsner, who now goes to the gym everyday and watches what he eats, lost about 74 pounds, dropped his weight from 336 to 262 pounds. His blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels are now in normal ranges.
"Before I would lose my breath bending over to tie my shoes. At the end of the competition I was riding my bike 20 miles a day. I think this contest literally added 20 years to my life. Now I'll be around to see my grandkids have children," said Kinsner.
Cobey and Collins said that hearing success stories and seeing the community coming together and working as a team make them want to continue organizing the event, which they plan on next year.
Collins said she also hoped participants took home the tools needed for better health.
"People need to remember that being fit and healthy is a journey and a learning process. There are no quick fixes," said Collins.
1st Annual Simi Valley health and fitness event draws 148 competitors
By Michele Willer-Allred
Originally published 08:01 p.m., April 10, 2010
Updated 09:47 p.m., April 10, 2010
The thirteen weeks of the 2010 Simi Valley Health and Fitness Challenge turned into a battle of will and endurance as 148 challengers competing on 37 teams vied for the “biggest weight loss loser” title and a portion of $10,000 in cash prizes.
In the final weeks, the teams with names such as Butt Busters and
On Saturday, during a finale party at Limon Latin Grill in the Simi Valley Town Center Mall, a group calling itself Beer Bodies was named the overall team winner after losing a collective 214 pounds.
The group, made up of Simi Valley residents Brad Ames, Scott Tignac, Ignacio Lopez, and Bill Dunbar, initially weighed in at 1,016 pounds. On Friday, the team weighed in at 801 pounds, 21.83 weight percentage lost. The group won $5,180.
Since the challenge was based on percentages, the second-place group called FUPA lost 222 pounds, but the team’s weight-loss percentage was about a half-point lower than Beer Bodies. FUPA took home $3,453.
Dunbar said the great camaraderie on his team was important, but starting an exercise program that included running six miles a day, eating right and giving up beer — at least during the competition — helped him lose 54 pounds. He now weighs 188 pounds.
“It’s the first time I’ve been under 200 pounds since seventh grade,” said Dunbar, 39.
The overall individual winner was Pat Dobbs, 48, who lost 70 pounds for team FUPA and won an additional $1,000.
“I’m a grandpa now, and I wanted to be healthy for my grandchildren,” said Dobbs, who now weighs 183 pounds.
Scott Tignac and Stacy Robles were the second- and third-place overall winners. They won gift certificates.
The money distributed to the winners was collected from the $75 entry fee of the 148 challengers as well as a $2 weight-gain penalty, and $5 from those who didn’t weigh in every two weeks.
The rest of the money collected — about $1,700 — was donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley.
Collins said the 2,272 total pounds lost by the 148 challengers was “more than impressive” and plans to do the challenge again next year.
Pam Mangan, 44, said that the challenge for her began as a competition for the money but ended up as lifestyle change that included taking a liking to vegetables.
Mangan formed the team Oxnard McPigs with her friend Tracy Tejeda, husband Ivan Mangan, and son Aaron Lerma, 13. The team lost 212 pounds and came in third.
Pam Mangan, who lost 55 pounds, said that even though her team didn’t win, it was all worthwhile just to see the confidence in her son Aaron, the youngest competitor.
He lost 54 pounds and now is at 186 pounds.
“It was a lot of hard work. Hopefully, we don’t ever have to do this again,” she said with a laugh.
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