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Nazareth's 'Biggest Loser': Week Four

Find out who was the biggest loser in Nutrition On Broad's four-week weight-loss challenge.

The results are in and the weight is off for final weight-loss challenge of 2011. How did our five brave competitors, who each agreed to allow Nazareth Patch track their progress, fare in the competition?

This past Tuesday was the final weigh-in for the 14 participants, who had to deal not only with the rigors of trying to lose weight, but also to control their habits over the holiday season.

Nutrition On Broad owner Christine Simpson gave her clients healthy eating tips, like how to cut out a comfort food and replace it with a healthier option, and how to avoid eating when bored.

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Unfortunately, Tuesday’s rainy evening didn’t bring in as many participants as the first weigh-in did.

“Either the rain scared them off, or they were sure they didn’t win,” joked Simpson about the no-shows.

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Those who knew they had a chance at the prize braved the elements to step on the scale. And for good reason: The first-place winner took home a $140 pot -- not a bad haul for four weeks and a $10 registration fee.

Everyone who lost weight this week was also entered into a raffle -- one ticket for each pound lost. The lucky contestant went home with the penalty cash (the $1 per pound gained from each contestant, plus $5 for each missed meeting) and a nice stack of lottery tickets.

This week saw a total loss of 14.4 pounds in eight people... only two days after Christmas!

The first-place winner of the challenge, a resident of Belfast, was not a participant being followed by Patch. But she still managed to lose 10 pounds in four weeks, which was a 6.16 percent decrease! She went home with the $140.

“People say, ‘why would you do this over the holidays? That’s the best time to eat!’ And I tell them, ‘That’s exactly why!’” said the challenge winner.

And now, on to the results of our five participants:

Donna Burton, 40, of lost another 1.4 pounds this week, bringing her four-week total to 8.4 pounds lost!

“I thought I stayed the same this week,” Burton admitted. “But I’m happy with that!”

Jeanette Skrapits, 70, of only made the challenge’s first meeting. Since then we had been given the update that she wasn’t feeling well, and just last week it seems that she dropped out of the challenge.

Jeanette has participated in three challenges before, and lost a total of 30 pounds already, so we know there must have been a good reason for her not to show. Best of luck to her in the future!

Lori Easterday, 42, of Nazareth lost another 2.2 pounds this week, bringing her total up to 9.8 pounds in four weeks!

That was a 5.61 percent decrease for Easterday, which earned her a second place in the challenge.

Amy Pidgeon, 38, of did not get to weigh in on Tuesday because she was on vacation. But Simpson assured us she would be weighing in later this week, and we’ll get the update on her progress!

Pat Cosgrove, 50, lives in Effort and is participating in the challenge with her daughter, Sarah. Pat lost a total of 3.6 pounds in December!

Cosgrove commented that being tracked by Patch brought a new angle to this challenge.

“I swear it made me more diligent!” she said.

Congratulations to all 14 participants, and if you missed the end-of-year weight-loss challenge at Nutrition On Broad, don’t worry. Simpson will be starting up a new challenge next week, on Monday, Jan. 2, at 6:15 p.m.

Maybe you can be Nazareth’s next biggest loser! 

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