Move It and Lose It
Winners Announced!

Having received close to 100 letters, Sylvia Orizaba, owner of Body Empowered Fitness (in Northbrook and Highland Park) has selected 6 women and 5 men to participate in her Move It and Lose It program.

Similar to television’s The Biggest Loser, Sylvia and her trainers are working with the 11 winners to help them lose weight, get fit and feel great….at NO COST to them! At the end of the 6 month program, the person who has lost the greatest percentage of his or her own body weight, will be declared “The Winner” and will receive FREE personal training sessions for the rest of his or her life at Body Empowered Fitness.

The workouts began on February 1st and will continue through July 31st. Weights and measurements will be taken each month, along with photos, to chart the contestants’ progress. Following is information regarding the 11 Move It and Lose It participants (4 of whom are married couples!) If you need more information about Body Empowered Fitness, please visit their website at www.bodyempoweredfitness.com.

Angela Ennessy
Highland Park
Age: 26
Full Time High School English Teacher
Starting Weight: 5’10” - 270 pounds
Of Special Interest: Angela will be getting married in July of 2008. Her goal is to lose over 50 pounds before her big day. She also mentioned that she wants to be more of a role model for her students (in terms of demonstrating a healthy lifestyle).

Allison Kay
Northfield
Age: 36 years old
Separated from her husband, she lives with her parents and is raising a 2-year old son. She is a teacher.
Starting Weight: 5 ‘ 2” - 222 pounds
Of Special Interest: In her letter, Allison wrote: “I am a 36 year old female who has the energy of a 90 year old. It is my dream to get my life back and to give my 2 year old son the kind of mother he deserves.”

Michelle Goldin
Northbrook
Age: 24
Michelle is a single mother raising a 4 year old daughter. She is an office manager.
Starting Weight: 5” 3” - 260 pounds
Of Special Interest: Michelle writes, “I cannot live my life to the fullest because of my weight. It has caused problems with all aspects of my life from my interactions with my daughter to my overall health. I need a change!”

Angie and Bob Suszek
Highland Park
Ages: Both are 41
Occupations: Bob is a Territory Manager for a heating and air conditioning wholesaler and Angie is a stay at home mom taking care of their 4 children (ranging in age from 1 to 11 years old)
Starting Weights: Bob is 6’ 3” - 390 pounds ~ Angie is 5’ 5” - 209 pounds
Of Special Interest: In their letter, they wrote: “As you can imagine, our four children keep us very busy. But in spite of our hectic schedules, we have let our weight get out of control. We know that many of the aches and pains that keep us from doing all the things we want to do can be attributed to being overweight and out of shape.”

David Allen
Glenview
Age: 38
Occupation: Musician and a married father of 2 (7 year old Jacob, who has autism, and Zachary)
Starting Weight: 6’ 1” - 300 pounds
Of Special Interest: David has struggled with his weight since the age of 10. He no longer has the energy that he wants and needs to play with his kids or do his music gigs. He likes to exercise, but when he is this heavy, it becomes too much of a struggle. He knows that he needs to take the weight off to live a happy, healthy life.

John Fitzpatrick
Northbrook
Age: 45
Occupation: Senior Portfolio Manager, Allstate Investments, LLC
Starting Weight: 5’ 11” - 265 pounds
Of Special Interest: In his letter, he wrote “I’m getting frustrated with myself. I know I need to lose weight, but my lazy body is not willing to do it and my mind convinces me that I can always start tomorrow….so I head to the kitchen, eat some more junk food and watch some TV. The problem is that I have procrastinated for 5 years and I have now gained another 50 pounds….please help.”

Melissa Pollack-Valentin
Rick Valentin
Skokie
Ages: Melissa is 35. Rick is 36.
Occupations: Melissa is a social worker and Rick is a carpenter.
Starting Weights: Melissa is 5’ 9” - 294 pounds ~ Rick is 5’ 11” - 315 pounds
Of Special Interest: In her letter, Melissa wrote: “My husband Rick and I have been married for three years…but instead of enjoying our post-honeymoon time together, we are each facing some of the biggest health challenges of our lives. We are committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure a long and healthy life together.”

Gregg Miller
Deerfield
Age: 38 years old
Occupation: Advertising (Gregg is a married father of 2)
Starting Weight: 5’ 7” - 287 pounds
Of Special Interest: In his letter, he wrote “I wasn’t always the biggest guy in the room. I never could have pictured that at the age of 38, I would be this heavy. My life has gone from being a competitive hockey player to a man who can’t even get on the ice to play with his 5 year old son. During college, I weighed 185 and was in perfect health. Today, 15 years later, I suffer from high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and knee and back pain…all as a result of my weight. I own my own business and everyday involves some sort of crisis…I turn to food to deal with the stress in my life. Please help me to help myself, so I can be around for my family.”

Kathy Altonji
Glenview
Age: 45
Occupation: Owner of an Event Consulting business
Starting Weight: 5’ 7” - 200 pounds
Of Special Interest: In her letter, Kathy wrote “I am stuck! I have no idea how this happened. What I do know is that I am tired of crying in the dressing room at Nordstrom, not wanting to go to parties because I hate how I feel about myself, tired of talking about it to friends, and not being able to commit to a change. I tend to push exercise and thinking about what I am eating into the tomorrow category. I need tomorrow to come today.”

Move It and Lose It Recap

The Move It and Lose It program will begin February 1st and will continue through the end of July. Each of the participants will receive FREE personal training sessions along with nutritional guidance for the entire six-month period. The person who sheds the highest percentage of his or her own body weight, will receive a lifetime of FREE personal training sessions at Body Empowered Fitness.

Those interested in being considered should send a letter and photo to: Body Empowered Fitness, Attention: Move It and Lose It, 332 Skokie Valley Road, Suite 102, Highland Park, IL 60035.

They can also communicate via email to bodyinpower@yahoo.com. All letters must be post-marked by January 25th, 2008. The program begins on February 1st.

Any questions should be directed to Sylvia at 847-322-5667. For more information about Body Empowered Fitness, please visit www.bodyempoweredfitness.com

Body Empowered Locations:

332 Skokie Valley Road, Suite 102
Highland Park (between Anton’s and Fudrucker’s)

1859 Janke Drive
Northbrook (one block South of Techny and one block East of Shermer)

Phone Number for both locations - 847-322-5667