Community teams sharing victories on and off the scale

While some teams are struggling to overcome the weight-loss plateau that seemed to hit just about everyone in week three, other teams have kicked their weight-loss effort into high gear. This past week, the Community Challenge teams achieved victories both on and off the scale.

Five teams — Waist Management Schaumburg, Waist Management Salt Creek, Losing It of Des Plaines, and Club Fit Five and Thin It to Win It of Addison — braved gray skies to complete a 5K at Deer Park Town Center. Two members not only completed the 5K, but also received additional awards. Ed Poczatek of Waist Management Schaumburg took fifth place in his age group, and Nancy Godfryt of Salt Creek’s third team went home with a medal for placing second in her age group.

Others found ways to gain recognition or reach personal goals indoors. Just a few weeks ago, Witness the Fitness member Amy Hansen, of Elk Grove Village, was not able to jog at all. Now she is able to run for 45 minutes without a break. Poolside, Kris Eisenmann from Itasca’s iFit Buddies received a “shark badge” from her gym for swimming 12 times in one month.

Despite continued reports of a stall in terms of lost pounds, some teams reported significant weight loss. Waist Management of Schaumburg is currently in the lead having lost a total of 77.2 total pounds, or 6.9 percent of the team body weight. Close behind are Weapons of Mass Reduction of Batavia, down 57 pounds or 4.6 percent, and Itasca iFit Buddies, down 52.4 pounds or 4.5 percent.