By By MaryClaire Foster
The results are in and the biggest losers in Atmore have now been decided.
Gary Smith and Joann Elkins have succeeded at being the two biggest losers in the city, in weight loss competition terms of course.
The two were part of Scale Back Alabama, the state’s annual weight loss competition led by Coach Roger Shultz, a former University of Alabama football player and 2008 runner-up on the Biggest Loser Couples Show.
Statewide participants lost a total of 183,135 pounds. Smith lost 23 pounds and Elkins 17 pounds.
Smith said he got into the competition by chance. His wife was on a team that needed one more participant so he obliged to join. Smith said he lost his weight with the typical measures, but did use the Slimfast method.
Smith said one thing that helped him was allowing himself an occasional cheat, but a measured one, usually substituting a low calorie meal in place of one of his Slimfast drinks.
Smith said one of the biggest things to help him with his weight loss was daily at-home weigh-ins.
Since the final weigh-in two weeks ago, Elkins has lost an additional three pounds and plans to keep going.
Mary Jane Schrock, coordinator of the program at Atmore Community Hospital, said that the program was 50 percent successful, but wishes more people had participated. Still she said she thought it was a positive experience for all involved.
Elkins said she began the competition at the urging of a friend, but her teammates were concerned because of her age, 76.
Elkins was sure and counted calories, carbohydrates and fat grams as well as walked around her home to lose the weight.
She said she really enjoyed the process and plans on losing at least 15 more pounds.
Elkins said she hopes other senior citizens will realize that they too can lose the weight if they try.
Smith said he ultimately wants to lose 50 pounds and along with his wife, who participated in the program also, will continue his weight loss regiment.
The total number of people participating in the state was 40,772. The total number of teams on which all people lost 10 pounds was 690. The total number of individuals that lost at least 10 pounds was 9,701 and the average weight loss among those who lost at least 10 pounds was 14.22 pounds.