Cash prizes for priceless transformations

In addition to awarding employees for the overall percentage of body fat lost, I recently had the opportunity to give away $7,000 for the best before-and-after pictures for the Schell Brothers’ biggest loser contest. This is an entirely different category from what I wrote about a couple weeks ago. It is based on change in appearance, so anyone could win as long as they were willing to strut their stuff for the camera and produce dramatic results. This year’s prizes included $3,500 for first place, $2,000 for second and $1,000 for third, so needless to say the participants were motivated from the beginning. But three winners’ results stood head and shoulders above all the rest. Can I have a drum roll, please?

First place

This year's first place was awarded to Greg Manhard. Greg had recently been employed by Schell Brothers when he heard about the contest last February. With such a great opportunity and nothing to lose, he decided to join to see what he could do. At 58, Greg was the oldest competitor, but he proved that fitness is an ageless sport and anyone dedicated enough to work hard and make better choices can dramatically improve their fitness level. Greg finished the contest in great shape and lost almost 30 pounds, but the most noticeable change was the disappearance of the belly he had when he started the program. Great job, Greg; enjoy your winnings, you deserve it. 

Second place

This year’s runner-up was Cori Bane, who produced the best female transformation of the contest, losing more than 22 pounds while gaining a pound of lean muscle at the same time. There is no doubt Cori took her shape to the next level, melting stubborn body fat and dramatically changing her appearance. It was obvious to anyone who saw her on a daily basis that she looked completely different by the time the 12 weeks were over. She dropped over 38 percent of her starting body fat and locked in second place for the best before-and-after category.

Third place

The winner of the third-place prize and the recipient of a $1,000 bonus is Rhianna Abel. Rhianna was one of the most positive competitors and even on weeks when she did not exceed her personal weight-loss goals, she just shrugged it off and worked harder until she made more progress. Because of this, the results added up over time to very noticeable physical changes. Rhianna’s transformation was very obvious, and her before-and-after pictures showed ripped abs and shapely arms that made everyone who saw her notice. These visible changes secured her place in the final three best transformations. Congratulations Rhianna, you did an outstanding job! 

The before-and-after category of this year’s contest was voluntary, and participants were asked to submit before-and-after photos that included front, side and backs of their bodies to be judged on the most noticeable physical changes. All three winners participated in my 12-week body transformation, and even though this year was extremely competitive, Greg Manhard, Cori Bane and Rhianna Abel stood above the rest in producing dramatic changes in their bodies and winning some extra cash for their efforts. Congratulations to these three hardworking people; it was an honor and a privilege to train them and I look forward to seeing what they can accomplish in the future with their new bodies.