What can I say about the big finale? Thursday night was quite a night! When David and I walked into the showroom at Sunland Ford last Thursday, our minds were flooded with memories of the night of April 20th, which was also a very cold night.
Back in April, we were surrounded by many of the same family members and friends, but at that time we just wanted to be one of the ten Slimdown teams. We said we didn't care about the car--we just wanted to learn how to lose the weight and be healthier. When we heard our names announced that night, we were so happy to have the chance to turn our lives around and we knew that our success or failure would depend on the two of us. We started making healthier food choices that very night by ordering salads for dinner and never looked back.
Unlike the TV show, The Biggest Loser, Melanie and Dr. Krider started educating us about how to achieve a healthier lifestyle the very next week and continued to do so at every weekly meeting. They encouraged and cheered for each one of us! Last week on the TV show, with only two weeks left to go, the contestants were finally being taught how to plan and prepare their meals when they went home. The contestants were worried about how they were going prepare their meals, go to work, and deal with parenting, as well as other responsibilities. Unlike the Biggest Loser contestants, the Slimdown Contestants dealt with working, commuting, family responsibilites, meal planning and preparation from day one of the competition and in most cases with much success!
All of the final five Slimdown teams should be congratulated for not giving up when the going got tough! We learned from each other and encouraged each other. Yes, each team was in it to win it--but each team did so at their own pace and in their own way. That's what made the contest so interesting!
The Slimdown's "biggest loser", David Tabacco, not only lost an incredible amount of weight--199 pounds (a number that is far greater than the TV show's Biggest Loser next week), but David also has an incredibly big heart. He was the heart and soul of the Slimdown. He played fair, worked hard, and endured to the end.
About a month into the competition I asked in my blog, if a slow and steady two pounds a week could win the Slimdown Competition? After losing at least half a pound every week and usually close to two pounds for a total of 88 pounds, I can honestly say that slow and steady did win the Slimdown!
At the meeting where we weighed, measured, and determined our BMI, Dr. Krider and Melanie determined that David should weigh between 225 and 250 and that I should weigh 140 taking my age into consideration. After our meeting at Stater Bros. on Nov. 7, David and I decided to do the best we could in the remaining weeks to reach those goals. With Leo and Sharie nipping at our heels, we picked up the pace and stuck to our plan--eat right, no illegal foods, and exercise, exercise, exercise! With words from my daughter to "try to do better than 140 pounds", I did my best.
Last Thursday morning, when I weighed at home I was 140 pounds on my scale. I was happy that I had reached my ideal weight. That is why I was jumping up and down with joy when I weighed 138.6 at the finale, because like Sharie, I, too, had surpassed by goal weight! When David weighed in at 225 pounds, it was a dream come true, because we had both met and surpassed our goals! With David and me--it was never about the car, it was always about "Livin' La Vida Lo-Cal"! The new silver Ford Fusion is a beautiful ride and was a great "carrot" to dangle in front of us! Thank you, Ken Chambers and the Sunland Ford family for your generosity and hospitality.
Thanks again to all of the sponsors for your support and your services--I've thanked you by name many times from the beginning of the competition. Thank you to The Daily Press, Steve Wingert, Susan Drake, Melanie Ajanwachuku, and Dr. Krider. You are all doing such a great service for the community. I have missed reporter Rachael Westfall. She did such a great job writing about the competition and encouraged all of us. Right now, I want to again thank David for being my partner. The last almost eight months have been quite a roller coaster ride! I would also like to thank my husband, Lorin, the love of my life for almost 40 years, for his continuing love and support. Thanks also to my parents, my children, their spouses, and my grandchildren. I did this for myself, but I also did this for them.
To the other nine teams, we're looking forward to seeing you again. Good luck to you all! In the meantime, I have a lot of shopping to do because I haven't a thing to wear! Perhaps I'll see you around town in one of my new outfits! Good-by for now! Viva La Vida Lo-Cal!!!
