On Saturday 21st September, the Presentation of prizes and awards was held for the winners of our Community “Your Best Body” 8 Week Challenge!

The Challenge started with a Group Induction on Saturday 22nd June where all the eager participants received the vital information for the weeks ahead.

For the the next eight Saturdays, the participants came along to a Group Fitness Session, which was especially put on the the challenge.  Thanks to Brothers Rugby League club for hosting us for the first two sessions, then to Mark Fawcett of Mackay Regional Council for use of Virgin Australia Stadium!  A great privilege for all of us!

209 people in total entered the challenge for $50 entry fee which was 100% donated to charity – our chosen one being The Leukaemia Foundation of Qld.  Not all participants went in it to ‘win’ or even enter the competition.  They simply wanted to make a donation, and receive valuable transformation tools from Red E Personal Training.

Some of the motivations for join the “Your Best Body” (YBB) Challenge included…

• One participant has a congenital abnormality abnormaility of the rib cage – where it is compressed which means the lungs won’t expand enough to compensate for increased oxygen needs when exercising.  She wanted to get fitter to hike Macchu Pichu in Peru later this year.

• One lady’s husband has renal failure, so the wife is donating her kidney (surgery was recently), and wanted to lose a bit of weight for surgery and have a healthier kidney for her husband.

• As well as wanting to lose some weight for herself, one lady had her daughter tested for Leukaemia (and thank goodness all was OK), but she remembered how that helped and the Leukaemia Foundation is a cause close to her heart.

• And of course, simply to take control of lives – by being fitter, healthier and stronger for their families and themselves.

In total the 35 final entrants lost a combined total of 107.8kgs and 2.23m of belly button measurements!

We read every single transformation summary and read some interesting and amusing lines…

• “I used to look like a wine barrel… now I have curves!”

• “I wanted to reduce the ‘poki-outie-ness’ of my tummy”

• “OMG, I had never heard of these things called “BURPEES”, what a nightmare they turned out to be.  I’m not sure who designed them and if they even have a purpose other than to annoy you!”

• “I totally understand the reason people run bootcamps… they are secretly employed by companies encouraging you to make your WILL!”

• “I hear chocolate speak to me and the voices got louder!”

I thoroughly enjoyed reading every single story as they all had very different and personal reasons for entering the challenge.  Every single person is a winner, regardless of whether they took home a prize or not.  To stick with it for eight weeks and to commit to their goals is something not everyone will follow through with.  Every single person finished the eight weeks leaner, stronger and fitter than when they started.  That is a massive WIN!

The compulsory requirements for judging was scale weight, belly button measurement and photos in minimal clothing so we could visually see the difference as well as the final summary of their journey.

Our Winners in no particular order were….

THE POWER COUPLE AWARD – JAMES & ANN-MARIE ANDREW!

James and Ann-Marie Andrew absolutely blew us away with their commitment and results – the physical transformations were AMAZING!!!

James was up at 4.00am four times per week to train in the gym.  He lost 3kgs on the scale, 10cm off his belly button and has buffed up!!!  He is looking amazing!  James was the winner of the ‘Men’s Health Pack’ donated by ASN Mackay, a massage from Voh from Gold Coast Magic Hands and Healthy Habits Vouchers!

James’ beautiful wife Ann-Marie lost 7kgs on the scales and 7cm off her belly button and dropped 7.3% body fat by training at 4.30am each morning in her garage following the weight training plan supplied in our “8 Week Body Transformation System” supplied to all participants.  She also ran on her treadmill after weight training and ran twice per week with friends.  Both James and Ann-Marie overhauled their diets and wow, the results have shown!!  Ann-Marie won the ‘Women’s Health Pack’ donated by ASN Mackay, an Aqua Zinger from Urban Girls, a blow-dry and shampoo from ID Hair and vouchers from Healthy Habits!

 

BELINDA WILKIE!

Belinda was devastated after seeing pictures of herself… she looked swollen and puffy.  She decided to put down the fork and commit to the Bootcamp Sessions and her results were a 5kg scale weight loss, 17cm off her belly button and dropped a dress size!! Her photo transformations show a huge different to her physique!  Belinda won a $100 voucher at ID Dezine as she will be needing new jeans, a $150 pamper voucher from Avaia Hair, and an $80 voucher to spend at Mass Nutrition Mackay!

 

LEE DAVIS!

Lee was motivated by the challenge as she suffered from debilitating heart palpitations and after years of suffering with them, wanted to get healthy for once and for all.  Lee started training with Red E earlier this year, doing Mackay Bootcamp for Women, and already being in good shape, the YBB Challenge gave her extra motivation to see what she could do in eight weeks!  Lee and her husband own a business so they are working every day and have three young children.  Lee’s physical transformation is STUNNING!  Lee is a classic example of why results never just ALL about the scales… she dropped ‘only’ 1kgs and also lowered her belly button measurement and her body shape changed dramatically with consistent weight training with our Fit Chicks Club Program!  She has amazing abs and brilliant muscle tone!  Lee won a full pamper and gift package from Intuition – The Art of Hair, a $50 Lorna Jane Voucher, a Spray Tan from Niqui’s Boutique and a voucher for her whole family to enjoy at ten-pin bowling thanks to Mackay Leisure Centre.

 

WAYNE HEDRICK!

Wayne was also our “Biggest Loser” over the eight weeks, dropping 7.6kgs !  He has regained his fitness and now has his goal set for qualifiying for the Masters Games in 2014!  A cycling accident a few years ago resulting in a back injury, meant Wayne lost all his previous fitness as a keen cyclist and soccer player.  The YBB Challenge motivated him to start on the path back to optimum health and fitness and he is now training with us regularly in the Group Training Sessions!  He is looking fit, and we can’t wait to help him on his ultimate goal journey to qualify for the Masters Games!!  Wayne has won PT Package from Red E, a special gift pack and chiropractic pillow from Gray’s Chiropractic as he will be needing lots of sleep with his training, a massage from Voh at Gold Coast Magic Hands and vouchers to spend at Cool Mango!

 

 

We also presented prizes to four other Challengers who did extremely well and are just as deserving!

Kate Weston

Kate is well on the path with her family to long-term wellness!  Kate lost 6kgs and 11cm off her waist!  Kate won a Consultation with Naturopath Andrea Cantwell at AFS Chemists, as well as a shampoo and blow-dry at ID Hair and vouchers from Healthy Habits!

Crystal Pioch

With her ultimate goal of her wedding coming up soon, and the extra motivation of the YBB Challenge, Crystal lost 6kgs and 17cm off her belly button!  She is going to be a stunning bride!  Crystal has won an Aqua Zinger from Urban Girls, a voucher from Mass Nutrition Mackay and vouchers from Cool Mango!

Kerrin Crowe

Kerrin was super keen, super motivated and made some huge life changes along the way!  Dropping 4.5kgs and 32cm in total, Kerrin Crowe has changed her life for the healthier!  Well done Kerrin and thanks for keeping us continually updated with your progress!  Kerrin has won a shampoo and blow-dry from ID Hair, and she gets to play with us even more, by winning a Mackay Bootcamp for Women 10 Session Pass!

Megan Barnard

Megan is a supermum who has also converted her kids to loving eating vegetables!  She is happier, healthier adn stronger for them, and testament that hard work will always pay off!  Her before and after photos are amazing – she has some AMAZING abs!!!  Congratulations for changing not only YOUR life, but your family’s as well!  Megan won a shampoo & blow-dry from ID Hair, a Mass Nutrition Voucher and a $50 Rockwear Voucher!

A HUGE Congratulations to ALL of our Participants – we are so proud of every single one of you!  You have the tools now to continue on the path to long-term health and wellness!  Thank you for all of your entries, and congratulations for being a leading example for your families, friends, colleagues and all of Mackay!!  You are inspiring many people!

We look forward to next year’s challenge and inspiring many more people to transform their lives for the better!!  The YBB Challenge website is here and will be updated accordingly next year!  www.mackayybbchallenve.viprespond.com

 

(Selina Wright)