Since the Jan. 3 etc. cover story introducing readers to my three-month weight-loss challenge while dining on Seattle Sutton's Healthy Eating plan, there have been plenty of readers calling or e-mailing wanting to size up my competition by learning about the other contestants from the Chicagoland area.
After all, Seattle Sutton's 2010 Slim Down is a contest, reportedly the first of its kind for this nearly 25-year-old company, which provides freshly prepared, portion-controlled meals to thousands of people from coast-to-coast each week.
The contest is a 14-week weight loss challenge which began on Monday and continues through our final televised weigh-in April 12.
During this time, myself and nine other contestants are on the strict 1,200-calorie meal plan from Seattle Sutton. (There's also a 2,000 calorie meal plan, which after just a week, sounds like Old Country Buffet portions to me.)
The meals included for the contest are every breakfast, lunch and dinner, for a total of 294 meals in all, for the entire 98 days of the contest. No snacks, pills or diet supplements allowed.
The staff at ACL Labs were kind enough to measure all of the contestants' glucose (blood sugar), cholesterol and triglycerides at the beginning of the contest and the same will be done at the conclusion to measure their health improvements. Blood pressure will also be recorded at the beginning and end of the contest.
Each of us are also being monitored weekly, including a weigh-in each week on Monday at each of our Seattle Sutton food distributor location. (For all of the readers who have been asking, we pick up our fresh-prepared meals twice a week, half of the plan on Monday to get us through noon on Thursday, and the remainder of the meals are picked up Thursday afternoon/evening so we are stocked up through the weekend.)
The contestant who loses the most weight based on percentage of body weight loss will win the challenge, which includes prizes ranging from a trip for four to Florida to cash prizes. The two contestants who lose the second and third most weight based on percentage of body weight lost will also win prizes.
And so, with a drum roll, here's the fat-fighting folks facing this same healthy menu mission. The 10 Seattle Sutton’s 2010 Slim Down finalists competing for improved health and great prizes are:
* Andrea Lasticly, 46, Flossmoor, Ill. - - Current Weight: 198/Ideal Weight: 168
Health Issues: Wishes to achieve a healthy weight
She says she wants to lose weight to achieve a healthy lifestyle. Her recent life changes of getting married, having a baby, and changing jobs have sent her off track. She also said, "Recently, my 4-year-old daughter told me that she has never seen me not fat ... ." Andrea always has a smile and light humor. She said she made herself promise that her daughter would see her "not fat." During the 14 weeks she wishes to lose the weight and gain the wisdom of the SSHE Program to learn portion control.
* Denise Akande, 50, Hazel Crest, Ill..- - Current Weight: 180/Ideal Weight: 145
Health Issues: High blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and kidney failure (has to have dialysis twice a week.)
She said that she has already lost 100 pounds on her own, but needs assistance with losing the last 35 pounds. She wants to achieve a healthy lifestyle so she may see her grandkids grow up. She also would like to get off some of her medications.
* Donna Nelson, 64, Bloomingdale, Ill. - - Current Weight: 195 /Ideal Weight: 135
Health Issues: High blood pressure, and high cholesterol
She says her knees are sore from her excess weight and she easily becomes short of breath. Donna has a strong desire to lose weight and achieve a healthier lifestyle. She explains she wants to be able to "easily run around with her grandchildren." She said she likes the idea of SSHE because "all of the guesswork is taken out of calorie-counting."
* Heidi Wolfrom, 23, Chicago - - Current Weight: 191/Ideal Weight: 140
Health Issues: No current health problems, but aims to prevent future health issues
The youngest of our slim down roster, Heidi says: "I don't have much of a story, and some people tell me I shouldn't be ashamed of my weight because I don't really have enough to lose. "However, I'm currently 5 feet, 8 inches, wear a size 14 and weigh 190 pounds." She said she tried becoming a vegetarian to lose weight and did drop some pounds through a diet of fruit vegetables and nuts. But, she said she then realized she could maintain a vegetarian diet and still fell into the trap of eating unhealthy, fatty foods that eventually led to weight gain.
* Linda Russell, 50, Palatine, Ill. - - Current Weight: 155/Ideal Weight: 130
Health Issues: Wishes to lose weight to live a healthier, more active lifestyle
Standing at just shy of 5 feet, she says she wants to lose the excess weight so she can "run around as an active grandmother with her grandkids." She said, "I'm not going to be a 'push the swing and then sit on the bench' kind of grandma." She sums it up best by explaining: "Overweight is overweight. Whether 25 pounds or 225 pounds, that 25 pounds can result in the same battles, the same trials/tribulations, the same insecurities, the same challenges and the same goals."
* Martha Ibarra, 61, Chicago, Ill. - - Current Weight: 216/Ideal Weight: 166
Health Issues: Type 2 diabetic with high blood pressure
She wants to live a long, healthy life and her motivation is her 6-year-old granddaughter, Isabella Rose, of whom she recently gained guardianship after the death of her son. "I didn't want to go on living when I lost my son in an accident," she said. "But now I realize I cannot die because of my little Isabella Rose."
* Michael Koch, 41, Spring Grove, Ill. - - Current Weight: 217/Ideal Weight: 180
Health Issues: Needs to lower his Body Mass Index
Working as a firefighter, he wants to get his weight down so he can do his job "to the best of ability." He wants to get his BMI well under 30. His wife plans to go on SSHE as well during this contest, to be a great supporter.
* Paul Quaglia, 40, Westmont, Ill. - - Current Weight: 190/Ideal Weight: 158
Health Issues: High cholesterol.
This former triathlete and Ironman participant plans to climb Mount Rainier with his brother-in-law in July for the first time. He says he knows his problem is portion control and choosing the wrong foods.
* Tim Gallivan, 51, Aurora, Ill. - - Current Weight: 290/Ideal Weight: 185
Health Issues: Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol
He wants to be able to fish more easily and would like to ballroom dance eventually. He considers his wife his best friend and supporter.
