Checking in with our Controltrim Challenge contestants

It's been a month since our 10 Atlanta Controltrim Weight Loss Challenge contestants started whittling away the weight. How much have they lost? Who's leading the race? Let's find out!

After running the numbers, Susie Powell is ahead of the pack, with a nine-pound weight loss. Now at 215 pounds, she's looking forward to becoming a better role model for her daughter, and impressing her boyfriend with her new figure when he returns home from Iraq.

But Alora Gaddy is close behind, now eight pounds lighter at 180. She's already accustomed to her new eating plan, which includes healthy foods and portion control.

Also dropping eight pounds is Theresa Conklin, who was motivated to join the challenge after a discouraging shopping trip for her son's wedding. Now weighing 174, she's well on her way to looking fabulous for any special occasion!

And the total weight loss between all 10 women? Forty-five pounds! Congrats, ladies! Keep up the great work!

Remember to check back soon to see who our "biggest loser" is!

Here's a shot of Alora today, eight pounds lighter, now at 180 pounds:



And here's Theresa at 174, also minus eight pounds:

Follow 10 Atlanta women racing to lose!

Fried chicken, grits, and hush puppies are hallmarks of Southern cooking, but they aren't too kind to your figure.

And they certainly haven't been kind to these 10 Atlanta women: Alora Gaddy, Dawn Fleming, Kari Conkle, Susie Powell, Sharie Rhea, Matilda Tuma, Theresa Conklin, Tina Tucker, Thelia Stevens, and Pamela Kennard-Hil. That's why they weigh a cumulative 1,979 pounds.

Now they're determined to whittle away a total of 504 pounds for good -- but in an unusual fashion. They're participating in the first-ever Atlanta Controltrim Weight Loss Challenge, sponsored by L A Weight Loss.

Starting today, these women will be on the L A Weight Loss plan, and competing against each other -- and the calendar -- to achieve their weight loss goals in six months.

The reward? Women who meet their goal weight by May 16, 2008, will be reimbursed for the program fee, and one grand prize winner will win a $1,000 new wardrobe shopping spree. (Mama needs a new pair of shoes ... or 20!)

During the challenge, the women will meet with their personal L A Weight Loss counselor three times a week to learn healthy eating habits and stay on their weight loss track. They'll also weigh-in once a week at the center, write their meals down in their daily diary, and use Controltrim in their everyday cooking.

Want to meet the women? Click here to read their stories and see their photos before they transform their bodies!

We'll be following their journeys by posting monthly updates on their progress. So be sure to check back here or bookmark this link.

Media interested in interviewing these women or learning more about the Atlanta Weight Loss Challenge can contact Jackie Zima at Jackie@GregoryFCA.com, 610-642-8253 ext. 138, or 215-534-2973 (mobile).

Good luck to all our participants! See you at the starting line!

Pamela Kennard-Hil to start anew in Atlanta

Weight gain is not discriminatory. Even people you think would be in great shape can carry excess pounds. Take Pamela Kennard-Hil, a physical therapist who started struggling with her weight two and a half years ago.

That was when her firefighter husband died suddenly on the job, and Pamela decided to start over. She and her four sons moved from Los Angeles to Atlanta, where Pamela's best friend lived.

But the transition didn't go well. The stress of losing her husband and trying to raise four kids wore Pamela down. She turned to food for comfort, eating mostly potatoes, french fries, fried fish, and fast food. Her weight increased to 201 pounds.

With high blood pressure and low energy, Pamela knew she needed to change her life. So when she heard about L A Weight Loss and the Atlanta Controltrim Weight Loss Challenge, she jumped at the opportunity to shed 50 pounds for good.

Pamela is determined to become a healthier person, and a better role model for her sons and patients. And once she reaches her goal weight with this challenge, she plans on tackling another: the ING Georgia Marathon on March 30, 2008.

Here's Pamela now at 201 pounds, soon to slim down!



FAST FACTS

Name: Pamela Kennard-Hil
Hometown: Atlanta
Age: 47
Height: 5'9"

Starting weight: 201 pounds
Goal weight: 151 pounds

Favorite foods: Fried fish and chicken.

Biggest temptation: French fries.

Biggest motivator: Having her kids by her side.

Current eating philosophy: Filling up on fried food.

Biggest reason for participating in the challenge: To become a better mother and physical therapist.