After 50 days of shedding weight on their own, two employees under the Benguet provincial government was hailed as the first biggest loser employee after cutting nine and eight kilograms, respectively.
The ultimate titleholder in the 80-kilogram male category is Daniel Calawen, who lost 9.35 kilograms from his initial weight of 73.70 kilograms down to 64.35 kilograms in the final weigh in.
Lily Dominguez was able to shed off 8.60 kilograms from 61.20-kg to 52.60-kg under the below 65-kg category.
Both employees are working at the Benguet General Hospital and led 49 contenders from various offices of the Capitol in the first competition, which is part of the Adivay Festival.
Provincial Sports Coordinator Dean Mark Monang said they were also surprised with the result of the competition especially because it was launched during the festival season towards the holidays.
“It was really interesting, knowing that they did the weight loss on their own; most of them are encouraged to continue cutting back their weight and be fit.
Although many of the contenders didn’t come back for the final weigh in, some of them think they gained more weight than their initial weight,” Monang said.
In the 65-kg and above category, Joice Tibao of the Assessor’s Office lost 5.75-kg from 76.10-kg in the initial weigh in to 70.35-kg in the final weigh in.
The 43-year-old Tibao said she lost weight mostly through her low carb diet but not much on exercise.
Tibao, who has three kids and two grandchildren, said it has been a long time since she wanted to lose weight so she wasted no time joining upon hearing of the biggest loser challenge.
“I am still aiming for an ideal weight so, I am aiming to get there one step at a time,” she said.
She would also walk from her home in Barangay Cruz to the Capitol as part of her preparation.
She was followed closely by Connie Contero with 5.25-kg. weight loss in the same category.
Christian Bay-an, meanwhile, is the first-place winner in the 80-kg. and above category, losing 4.55-kg from his initial weight of 87.20-kg. to 82.65-kg.
The 26-year-old Bay-an said the challenge is a personal one for him as it pushed him to really pursue weight loss.
Bay-an said he went through depression in the past causing his weight gain but now, he aims to continue lowering the scales more.
“Mostly no rice talaga ako and then every afternoon I commit myself to walk from Capitol to Km. 5. Sometimes I have cheat days,” he said.
He said it was also his officemate, second placer Avelino Cayat Jr., who pushed him and his officemates to join the competition and to commit to the weight loss challenge. Cayat lost 4.15-kg. from 83.20 to 79.0-kg. during the final weigh in.
“I really wanted this because from my doctor’s prescription I need to get back to 70 to 75-kg. weight, which is a long way to go. I need to have a healthy lifestyle,” he said.
All the top winners brought home a wooden trophy and cash prizes and walked away with lighter steps.
Monang said they will again stage the biggest loser challenge next year hoping for more contenders, but more importantly, it would push the employees to commit to have a healthier lifestyle. – Ofelia C. Empian
