“Nothing will work unless you do.” ~Maya Angelou
That was the mission for 253 Liberty Lutheran employees, their friends and spouses, who signed up for the organization’s annual Biggest Loser weight-loss challenge. Weigh-ins started at the end of January. Over the course of eight-weeks, staff members could go solo in the competition or partner with a “bestie” (best friend/coworker/spouse) for extra motivation.
The 2014 winners:
Individual – Todd Miller, Lutheran Children and Family Service: 12.32% weight loss! Todd won a $100 prize from Liberty. He also won a pot of cash from participating employees who were asked to contribute a dollar to the program.
“Besties” Team – Brian Smith and Jim Nuding, Paul’s Run Retirement Community: 7.61% weight loss! Brian and Jim took home $100 each for their first place prizes.
Collectively, employees lost a total of 755.7 pounds, an average of 2.86% weight loss. A total of $810 in Visa gift cards and cash, as well as 15 other prizes, were awarded for the top honors and program participation
Liberty’s Wellness Works program and its Employee Wellness Team supported and encouraged Biggest Loser participants in many ways, including weight loss and fitness coaching, healthy eating tips, and offering techniques to reduce stress and develop better sleep habits for overall wellness.
“I think having a partner helped many participants this year,” said John Fairchild, Liberty’s Employee Wellness Coordinator. “Using the gym at The Becoming Center for free was a huge benefit. I saw people in there I have never seen before.” John hopes the Biggest Loser challenge equipped participants with the education and motivation to continue eating healthy and making fitness a part of their daily routines.
Todd Miller, the 2014 Biggest Loser Individual category winner, says the program was a great motivator to help him reach his goal of losing some extra pounds.
“When faced with a snacking decision, the challenge made it impossible for me to say, ‘Today I will have that bag of chips and tomorrow I will make the right decision.’ I knew that I had a limited amount of time to reach my goal.”
Todd says he appreciated Employee Wellness Coach Kelli McIntyre’s visits to his LCFS office through the eight-week program, which he says helped him assess whether he was making the right choices for his health.
If first place is any indication, it looks like Todd was making the right choices!
Organization-Wide Individual, % Weight Loss
- Todd Miller 12.32% – LCFS /Rising Sun
- Bincy Thomas 10.7% – Paul’s Run – $25 prize
- Jim Nuding 9.45 % – Paul’s Run – $10 prize
Each Family of Service Individual Winner, % Weight Loss
- Todd Miller 12.32% – LCFS /Rising Sun
- Bincy Thomas 10.7% – Paul’s Run
- Ellen Corbin 8.49% – The Village at Penn State
- Yvonne Maiden 7.19% – Artman
- Jane Thomas 6.42% – LCFS/Roslyn
- Marlon Duckett 6.27% – LCFS/WOL
- Florence Sessions 4.59% – Liberty at Home
- Cindy Stewart 4.52% – Whitemarsh
- Patrice Rhodes 3.31% – LCFS/WPSC
Organization-Wide “Besties” Team Winners, % Weight Loss
- Brian Smith/Jim Nuding 7.61% – Paul’s Run – $100 prize for each
- Susan/Todd Rothenberger 6.81% – Artman – $50
- Anthony Truppa/Jennifer Brown 5.96% – Paul’s Run – $25 each
Each Family of Family of Service has a pair of “Besties” Winners, % Weight Loss
- Susan and Todd Rothenberger 6.81% – Artman – $25 each
- Todd Miller/Charlotte Williams 5.96% – LCFS/Rising Sun – $25 each
- Jessica Aikey/Andrea Chronister 5.15% – The Village at Penn State – $25 each
- Jason Reinert/Cindy Stewart 3.37% – Whitemarsh – $25 each
Congratulations to our Honorable Mention Participants: (Who ALL Lost > 4% Body Weight)
- James Crowley
- John Fairchild
- Bill Formica
- Craig Hamilton
- Micheal Harbison
- Linda Hatcher
- Makeda Hunter
- Stacy Leonard
- Dorothy Marcelis
- BJ Maul
- Kristi McEowen
- Bradley Moyer
- Chris Moyer
- Marco Pierre
- Robin Smith
- Shantala Thompson
- Nick Weber
- Nyoka Wilson
About Liberty Lutheran
Incorporated in 2001 and headquartered in Ambler, Pa., Liberty Lutheran, with locations across Pennsylvania and combined service history of 300 years, faithfully provides vital resources to more than 61,000 individuals and families facing life-changing situations. These individualized services include independent and personal care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, hospice care, in-home supports, wellness services, children and family services, integration services for immigrants and political refugees and disaster response. Liberty Lutheran’s team of dedicated employees serves individuals and families through their family of services in Pennsylvania, including Artman, Paul’s Run Retirement Community, Liberty at Home, Lutheran Children and Family Service, Lutheran Congregational Services, The Hearth at Drexel (formerly Mary J. Drexel,) and The Village at Penn State. www.libertylutheran.org
