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Fittest Loser At Work teams have lots to lose, something to gain

It took a lot of sweat and strain for the winning At Work teams to take home first-, second- and third-place finishes. Members of all three teams say they would do it again in a heartbeat. They feel better, have more energy and are proud of their results.

They were energized further by the crowd at a May 13 celebration of the Fittest Loser Challenge, where contestants represented their 38 At Work teams during the finale, held at Chandler's Banquets in Schaumburg. All the teams' members know the effort it took to be earn the winning spots and they cheered enthusiastically.

Not one of the winning teams expected to end up on top, and all were excited their hard work paid off. Taking home the top prize was the Pump Supply Pounders, an enthusiastic team from Pump Supply Inc. of Elgin.

Leading the group was Ed Poczatek, the self-proclaimed “grand high exalted captain.” He praised the efforts of his team, especially Jason Gray, who took home the top individual award. The Pump Supply Pounders trimmed 11.02 percent off their starting weights.

“They all worked very hard, I'm very proud of them,” said Poczatek, who won the individual award two years ago.

The team did a Foodie 5K together and ran in the Deer Park St. Paddy's 5k. They supported one another throughout the competition. Some members had some difficult challenges.

“I'm on the road a lot and before this challenge I would stop at a fast-food place and pick something up,” said Josh Hoyne. “It wasn't always easy to find healthy choices.”

For Heather Bahlenhorst, the challenge was being able to exercise.

“I threw my back out bending over to tie my shoelace,” she said. “So that set me back a bit but I've signed up to do a 5K in June.”

With a 30-pound weight loss, company owner Rick Williams was very satisfied with his results, but he too was challenged.

“I'm a big snacker,” Williams said. “My strategy was to give up snacking after 6 p.m.”

The top individual honors went to the Pounders' Gray, who had an astounding 40.5-pound weight loss.

Gray admitted it wouldn't have been easy to go off the diet during the day, since Pump Supply is a small company and co-workers would be able to spot someone eating something unhealthy. He also felt the support they gave to one another was a key to the team's success.

“I also really appreciate the support of my wife, Melissa, who helped me with the diet and the exercise,” said Gray. “We live in Aurora and we took classes together at the Vaughn Center. I should mention our instructor, Rose Litke, who was awesome.”

All that exercise paid off. Gray lowered his body fat from 24 percent to 12 percent.

Team members took home the top prize of $2,000 donated to the charity of its choice and Fitbits from sponsor Assurance. members also received a $100 gift card to Gap at Deer Park Town Center and a pair of running shoes and Superfeet Insoles from Dick Pond Athletics.

As top individual finisher, Gray received a one-week stay at the Biggest Loser Resort Chicago in Itasca.

Taking the second-place award was the Links Dream Team from Links Technology Solutions Inc. Their team sported a 9.26 percent weight loss. The team worked out together and participated in a fitness boot camp.

Everything went up a step when Jim Burke, chief operating officer and vice president of Links Technology, got involved.

“Jim purchased a Fitbit for each of us,” said Mary Kay Piper. “We were able to track what everyone else was doing and then it became a competition between us.”

Everyone stepped up their game trying to outdo the other. It wasn't easy with Piper taking the lead.

“It's the middle of the night and here is Mary Kay up doing laundry and tracking steps,” said team member Tone Przyszlak. “I accused her of putting the Fitbit in the dryer to get more steps.”

Together Piper and Alisa Brenzinger put in 100,000 steps in a week. Most people do 2,000 steps. Each one had the other's back at work, literally.

“My pants were getting baggy,” said Brenzinger. “All of a sudden, Mary Kay is behind me trying to pin them”

Brenzinger didn't just lose inches, she also improved her health.

“My cholesterol went down 100 points,” she added. “That's amazing.”

The Links Dream Team also had an individual award winner. Mary Kay Piper dropped 25 pounds and lowered her body fat to 12 percent. She was an inspiration to her team.

“I remember the day we went to Biggest Loser Resort,” she said. “I was sick to my stomach all day, I was so worried about it. It turned out to be an incredible experience. We all enjoyed it so much.”

She also credited the support of the people at work and the support of her husband, John.

“Every night at 10 p.m. my husband and I would go for a walk,” she added.

The Links Dream Team took home $500 to be donated to the charity of its choice, provided by, coincidently, Links Technology, also a corporate sponsor of the Fittest Loser Challenge. Each member received a 10 in One Platform Trainer from PPF Sport Science.

The third-place award went to the Reduction in Force team from Management Association. They lost 8.74 percent of their starting weight. Led by Julie Belloli, the team was very supportive of each other and of their captain, declaring her the “best captain ever.”

Belloli was the fifth member of the team and didn't compete since she is expecting a baby. She did motivate the team and did the postings to the Daily Herald's Fittest Loser Web page. Each team member received a $50 gift card to Avalon Salon & Day Spa and a $25 gift card from Whole Foods Market Schaumburg.

All three teams enjoyed the competition and were very appreciative of the work the Daily Herald had put into the challenge. They all plan to participate again next year.

“In the beginning it was hard,” Piper said. “But the team was great, and it ended up being so much fun.”

  The Links Dream Team from Links Technology Solutions Inc. took second place in the At Work team challenge. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Third place went to the Reduction in Force team from Management Association. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  A lot of hard work paid off for the Pump Supply Pounders, an enthusiastic team from Pump Supply Inc. of Elgin. The team won first place in the Fittest Loser Challenge's corporate competition. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com

Fittest Loser Challenge contestant profiles

<b>Team, first place</b>Team Name: Pump Supply Pumpers

Company: Pump Supply Inc.

Weight lost: 11.02 percent

Team prize: $2,000 donation to charity of choice from Assurance

Individual prizes: $100 gift card to Gap at Deer Park Town Center; a pair of running shoes and Superfeet Insoles from Dick Pond Athletics; Fitbit from Assurance

<b>Team, second place</b>Team Name: The Links Dream Team

Company: Links Technology Solutions Inc.

Weight lost: 9.26 percent

Team prize: $500 donation to charity of choice from Links Technology Solutions Inc.

Individual prizes: A 10-in-One Platform Trainer from PPF Sport Science

Team, third place

Team Name: Reduction in Force

Company: Management Association

Weight lost: 8.74 percent

Individual prizes: $50 gift card to Avalon Salon & Day Spa located at Deer Park Town Center; $25 gift card Whole Food Market Schaumburg

<b>Individual, first place</b>Jason Gray

Team: Pump Supply Pumpers

Weight lost: 19.29 percent

Prize: Week stay at the Biggest Loser Resort Chicago (valued at $3,000)

Individual, second place

Mary Kay Piper

Team: The Links Dream Team

Weight lost: 15.08 percent

Prize: Spa package

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