'Losers' turn winners

Friends Kathy Terrel-Perez and Lisa Warren want to find “Douglas County’s Biggest Loser.”

No, they’re not looking for who can be the biggest failure.

They’re challenging themselves and other overweight county residents to change their diet and exercise in order to lose the most weight in 25 weeks. On Saturday, they’re inviting community members to sign up for the contest, which will last until Sept. 23, at the Sutherlin Community Center.

Terrel-Perez, 38, and Warren, 36, of Sutherlin came up with the idea after they recently auditioned for NBC’s reality television show “The Biggest Loser” and were not accepted.

Instead of being discouraged, though, they decided to start their own competition.

On the television show, severely overweight contestants are challenged to lose
weight through diet and exercise without any surgeries.

“I get inspired watching the show to see the people actually losing weight,” Warren said.

Warren and Terrel-Perez say they see a lot of other overweight people in the community who could benefit from the contest.

“A healthy community is a better place to live,” Terrel-Perez said.

Warren and Terrel-Perez, who both weigh around 400 pounds, say they think the contest will be good motivation for them because they want healthier lives.

The women no longer want to scope out a room for chairs that can support them and they want to fit into a bathtub filled with water so they can enjoy a bubble bath.

Terrel-Perez and Warren desire to play with their children without becoming tired after only a few minutes. Terrel-Perez has four children and is married to Antonio Perez-Sandoval. Warren has three children.

Terrel-Perez, who is a homemaker, would like to lose 150 pounds in the 25 weeks, and Warren’s goal is to exercise an hour every day and lower the number of calories she consumes. Her long-term goal is to lose about 300 pounds.

For the local contest, the winner will be determined by the biggest percentage of weight loss — not the most pounds.

Participants will weigh-in on Saturday on a digital scale that will weigh to a tenth of a pound. The scale can weigh people up to 420 pounds.

After the initial weigh-in, there will be two more on May 6 and June 10. Whoever has lost the biggest percentage of weight on each of those dates will be awarded $5 of each person’s total entry fee, which is $45 per person.

At the final weigh-in Sept. 23, the person who has lost the most will be awarded $25 of each person’s entry fee. If 10 people participate, the final prize would be $250, and if 40 people sign up, the prize will be $1,000. Families and friends will be invited to the last weigh-in.

Participants will be encouraged to stay in contact with one another throughout the 25 weeks to motivate each other, Terrel-Perez said. On Saturday, the contestants will decide whether they want to get together to participate in games too, said Warren, who does the accounting for Sutherlin Middle and High Schools’ lunch programs.
The contest is open to youth with parental consent.

The women are going to use a book from the TV show “The Biggest Loser” for tips on how to lose weight, but contestants can use any method that works for them.

“If (the contest) is successful, we will do one again right afterward,” Warren said.


• You can reach reporter Danielle Gillespie at 957-4202 or by e-mail at dgillespie@newsreview.info.

CONTEST glance <b>WHAT:</b> Douglas County’s Biggest Loser, a weight loss contest <b>WHERE:</b> Kicks off at Sutherlin Community Center, 150 S. Willamette St. The contest lasts until Sept. 23. <b>WHEN:</b> 6 p.m. Saturday <b>INFORMATION:</b> Lisa Warren, 459-0665 or Kathy Terrel-Perez, 459-7483.