Pounds begin to drop off in Biggest Loser challenge
It is just one week in to the Biggest Loser challenge and our quartet is already seeing their hard work pay off.
In its fourth year, the competition sees four overweight Express & Star readers being put through their paces over the next month by trainers at Chris Jewkes Fitness.
During the challenge the group will be working with three personal trainers, sweating it out in three workouts a week at the Danescourt Road, Tettenhall gym.
Gym owner Chris Jewkes said one week in all four have lost weight, with both Mandy Stevens, from Albrighton, and Sandra Harris, of Upper Gornal, losing 3lb.
Mandy, aged 53, started the challenge weighing 15st, and Sandra, aged 66, was 13st 7lb.
The biggest loser so far has been Karl Woodhouse, aged 40, who tipped the scales at 21st a week ago and has already dropped 13lb.
The father of two, who lives in Hollybush Lane, Penn, said the weight started to pile on when he quit smoking, and as he travels widely for work he often lacks the motivation to prepare the right sort of food.
Mr Jewkes said: "They have all made fantastic starts and I think for all of them it has been a complete re-education."
They are not starving the participants, he said, but getting them to eat sensibly and keep track of their meals in a food diary.
He said: "It is about lifestyle changes, small changes, we are trying to break the habits of a lifetime."
One of the habits James Hardman, aged 29, is breaking is skipping breakfast.
Mr Jewkes said James, of Upper Gornal, is a shift worker who started the challenge at 21st 7lbs and is already down 7lb.
James was getting up for work at 4am but not eating until midday messing with his metabolism.
He said one of the biggest challenges will be finding the time to prepare the proper food he should be eating and cutting out the chocolate and crisps.
Mr Jewkes said: "We look at their individual lifestyles and how we can make it work for them.
"The trainers have been putting them through a range of different workouts, including strength and body weight exercises and cardio, Jewkes said, while trying to make it fun, which was important.
"They are enjoying it, and I think the most important part for them is someone is looking out for them. Someone is there and they are getting results from personal training - we call it 'training smart'. They are accountable."
There will be regular updates on our team's progress throughout the challenge.
