PEA RIDGE — Chad Whatley went for a workout on a Saturday morning at Dye Hards gym, as he has been accustomed to for weeks. This particular morning he fainted, falling into the wall.
Whatley, winner of the spring round of Pea Ridge High School principal Rick Neal’s weight loss contest, didn’t realize losing 80 pounds meant he no longer needed to be on medication for high blood pressure.
In the fall, Neal put on a program that modeled that of NBC’s hit show, The Biggest Loser. Twenty-six contestants lost over 300 pounds in 12 weeks.
This spring, the competition ran from Feb. 28 to May 1. Several Pea Ridge residents met three days a week for three months, and lost 430 pounds collectively.
Participating contestants included six men and 16 women in three divisions - men’s weight loss, women’s weight loss and a transformation contest.
The contestants weighed in every Saturday and were measured every three weeks. Women averageda loss of 10 to 21 pounds, while men averaged 25 to 80 pounds lost. Most participants dropped five to 25 percent body fat.
“The weight loss and body fat loss is the big story, it gives people motivation to make a life change, watch what they eat, control their weight by exercising,” Neal said.
Whatley, 39, took first place in the men’s division by losing 80 pounds and going from 58 percent body fat to 30 percent. The runner-up was Jeff Arnold, 29, losing 51 pounds and 10 percent body fat.
Kristy Turner, 38, lost 21 pounds to take first in the women’s division, losing nine percent body fat.
The runner-up was Cheryl Whatley, 41, with 18 pounds and five percent body fat.
Greg Wright, 48, and Tina Bangs, 43, won themen’s and women’s transformation contest.
Winners received $500 cash and a six-month membership to Dye Hards in Pea Ridge. Runners-up received $175 cash plus the six-month gym membership.
Neal is planning another round of Biggest Loser in the fall.
Through the summer, he hosts a boot camp that meets at City Park at 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. The cost is $70 for 12 weeks.
For more information, call Neal at 228-2059.
Community, Pages 6 on 05/19/2010