By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The Niles-Buchanan YMCA Weight Loss Challenge came at a good time for Marilyn Bryan of Niles.
Beginning at the end of January, after weeks of holiday eating, the contest encouraged about 300 members to participate, said Stacey Mayes, fitness instructor and personal trainer.
At the end of the three months, for the first time in one of the Y's challenges, a women showed the most significant results.
Bryan lost 37 pounds, the highest percentage of body weight – 21 percent.
"This is where I want to be," Bryan said, who is going to continue the program to maintain her current weight.
The program incorporated exercise, as well as a weigh-in every week and for Bryan, "it was really motivating."
Bryan supervises the programs to help the transition for homeless veterans in Niles.
This was the first time a woman has won the challenge, Mayes said.
No one knew who the contestants were during the contest. Bryan's code name was poinsettia,
The first prize was a 32" flat screen television donated by Aaron's on South 11th Street in Niles.
When the television set was added in as a prize midway through the contest, it was a real incentive, especially for Bryan. even though she said the "weight loss itself was a prize."
"She was in the lead the whole time with the highest percentage of weight loss in the history of the Y contests," Mayes said.
"There were lots of inches lost, not always weight, but everybody who participated was successful," added Mayes.
She isn't sure if they will have a contest this summer, but another challenge is planned for the fall, which will keep track of how many minutes members exercised.
Bryan doesn't need the motivation of a contest to continue.
"I am absolutely exercising more. If I don't do it I miss it," she added.