By David Vitrano
L’Observateur

LAPLACE—Deborah Brown of Reserve, as the winner of Airline Athletics’ “Biggest Loser” contest, walked away from the experience with a one-year gym membership and a bag of supplements and accessories worth about $250. But her ultimate rewards go well beyond any material prizes.

According to the LaPlace gym’s owner Milton Berry, Brown has lost 100 pounds over the past year.

“I made up my mind that I was tired of looking like that,” said Brown referring to her former physique.

Although the actual contest did not begin until earlier this year, and Brown was deep into her weight-loss regimen by then, the contest offered a much-needed push to keep on the right path.

“I had gotten to a point where I’d leveled off, and entering the contest gave me more incentive,” Brown said.

Berry and Mary Claire Hotard of Airline Athletics helmed Brown’s journey, offering her advice on daily exercise, portion control and healthier eating habits.

Now that the contest is over, Brown, who works for Louisiana Machinery in Reserve, has no plans of returning to her old ways.

“This is a life-changing thing,” she said. “There’s no going backward.”

Besides the weight loss, Brown has also brought her body fat down from over 50 percent a year ago to 22 percent, according to Berry.

In all 16 people entered the self-motivated contest at Airline Athletics. And while Berry also recognized the contest’s second- and third-place winners—Reginald Rainey and Sherrie Ashante, respectively—he was quick to point out “they all won.”

“Everybody accomplished something,” he said.

Although the contest, inspired by the popular reality television show of the same name, helped generate publicity for the local business, it accomplished much more than that. “Most of all, it’s just a tool to get everyone focused on doing the right thing in the gym,” said Berry.

According to Berry, the gym plans to hold more “Biggest Loser” contests in the future.