Weight Warriors win while losing Published Oct. 27, 2006 By Dylan Laurie 16th SOW Public Affairs HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The 16th Services Squadron's 15-week Weight Warrior's competition came to a conclusion Oct. 16 with Sharon Blalock, Air Force Special Operations Command, taking first place. The goal of the program was to assist Air Force members with losing weight and improving their overall physical fitness. Winners were determined by their percentage of weight lost compared to their original weight. "I think I can speak for the other four individuals who participated in the final assessment when I say that we are all big time winners!" said Blalock. "Each of us developed a healthier lifestyle which translated into lost inches and pounds." Sarah Lloyd, 16th SVS fitness specialist and program coordinator, worked with Brent Cowen, the Health and Wellness Center's exercise physiologist, and Sandra De-mezzo, the HAWC's dietician, to develop the program. Throughout the competition, participants attended several nutrition and exercise classes, and were tested on the one-and-a-half mile run, crunches, push-ups and abdominal circumference. Karen Cataldo, Riptide Fitness Center manager, taught a power physical training class during the program. "One participant reported back that she didn't see a significant amount of weight lost," Cataldo said. "However, she did notice a reduction in her waist size by seven inches." Lloyd was very pleased with how well the course turned out. "All of our participants worked extremely hard, and that hard work paid off," Lloyd said. Second place was Jill Larson, 16th Services Squadron. Third place was Travis Craig, 16th Special Operations Wing. The total amount of weight lost by all participants during the program was approximately 79 pounds, according to Cataldo.