The Weight is Over: West Chester Man Named NBC10 and Friendship Cottage Cheese Biggest 'Local Loser'

The Weight is Over: West Chester Man Named NBC10 and Friendship Cottage Cheese Biggest 'Local Loser'

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Eight weeks and 55 pounds later, West Chester, Pa. resident Carl Steinmetz has been named Delaware Valley's biggest "Local Loser" in the NBC10 and Friendship Cottage Cheese weight loss and healthy lifestyle challenge.

The 41-year-old customer service representative went from 415 pounds to 360 pounds, dropping 13.25 percent of his total body weight, and embraced a healthy lifestyle to beat out four other competitors for the title. Laura Delaney, a 60-year-old food service director from Philadelphia shed nearly 10 percent of her total weight to take second place as the first runner up.

The contest, which was sponsored by Friendship All Natural Cottage Cheese, was not just about losing the most weight; it was about changing one's life for the better by adopting and maintaining good eating and exercise habits. Contestants were judged based on total percentage of weight lost, but also on overall attitude, enthusiasm and dedication to the program.

"I tried just about everything during my 20 or so years of being overweight," said Steinmetz after winning the contest. "But this program was much different because of all of the support I received. Knowing that the public was watching me on TV and online was also a big motivator."

As a reward for all of his hard work, Steinmetz won two tickets to NBC's The Biggest Loser finale in Los Angeles (including seven days and six nights hotel and travel accommodations), exercise gear and an iPod supplied by Friendship All Natural Cottage Cheese and NBC10, plus a one-year membership from Philadelphia Sports Clubs. The other contestants also received great runner-up prizes from Friendship and Philadelphia Sports Clubs as well as exercise gear, CDs and weight scales compliments of NBC10 and the network's show, The Biggest Loser.

Steinmetz and the other aspiring losers were selected to participate in the 8-week contest from a large pool of applicants. The fitness campaign was kicked off on September 14 by NBC10 meteorologist, Amy Freeze, who personally lost 70 pounds to win a national weight loss challenge. She attributes her success to healthy eating and exercise.

To help the five contestants change their ways during the contest, a registered dietitian and media spokesperson for the Mid Atlantic Dairy Association, Althea Zanecosky, performed an in-home "pantry evaluation," developed a customized dietary plan that was tailored to their individual needs and goals and provided on-going consultation to each contestant. Additional healthy recipes were provided by Friendship All Natural Cottage Cheese.

To get them on-track with good exercise habits, Philadelphia Sports Clubs paired each contestant with a personal fitness instructor who guided the participants through workout routines at their local Philadelphia Sports Club. Each aspiring loser met with his or her trainer three times each week and exercised on their own between meetings while the instructor tracked and recorded their progress.

"All five Local Loser contestants are considered to be winners," said Friendship President Joe Murgolo. "What these five people have done over the past two months is truly inspiring. It's a real testament to what a healthy diet and active lifestyle can do and we're proud to have been a part of it."

For additional information on the NBC10 and Friendship Cottage Cheese Local Loser program and the contestants visit www.NBC10.com/10. For more information on Friendship All Natural Cottage Cheese and healthy recipes visit www.friendshipdairies.com.

Other contestants who also won big included second runner-up Christa Knoll from Beverly, NJ, Becky Morris from Audubon, PA and Lori Brown, a bricklayer from Sicklerville, NJ.

NBC10/Friendship Cottage Cheese Local Loser Results

NAME/HOMETOWNSTARTING FINISHINGTOTALTOTAL %
WEIGHT WEIGHT LOSTLOST
1. Carl Steinmetz
(West Chester, Pa.) 415 lbs. 360 lbs. 55 lbs. 13.25%

2. Laura Delaney
(Philadelphia, Pa.) 225 lbs. 203 lbs. 22 lbs. 9.78%

3. Christa Knoll
(Beverly, NJ) 280 lbs. 255 lbs. 25 lbs. 8.93%

4. Lori Brown
(Sicklerville, NJ) 239 lbs. 232 lbs. 7 lbs. 2.93%

5. Becky Morris
(Audubon, Pa.) 208 lbs. 205 lbs. 3 lbs. 1.44%

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Friendship Cottage Cheese

CONTACT: David Shoffner, +1-717-234-8886, ext. 154,
ordshoffner@pavone.net, for Friendship Cottage Cheese

Web Site: http://www.friendshipdairies.com/
http://www.nbc10.com/10

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