
Thanks to a story by Elizabeth Coe, a reporter for the Loudon Times-Mirror which was posted on Google, I found out about a contest sponsored by SC Johnson on MyLifetime.com
Take a look at the site MyLifetiime.com to learn more about the contest
and read about one of the finalists below...
Ashburn Woman Shows Reality Of Weight Loss Online
March 1, 2008
by Elizabeth Coe @ Loudoun Times-Mirror
Since heart failure put her in the hospital two years ago, Ashburn resident Chela Hardy has been turning her life around.
At the time, Hardy weighed 300 pounds, and doctors told her unless she made some changes, she would need a heart transplant soon.
She also was informed that she had hypertension, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. She was 37 years old.
Hardy took her doctor's advice seriously, and since then she's been losing weight. She said she is already 54 pounds lighter and much healthier.
“2008 is the year that I continue on my weight loss journey and on my health and wellness journey," she said. "This is the year that I drop another 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 pounds."
As part of her commitment to weight loss, she entered a competition on www.MyLifetime.com called the Clean Start Challenge, which asked women to choose a resolution for 2008 and stick to it for at least three months while documenting their progress online.
Hardy was chosen as one of 10 finalists. Each week, she creates a short video detailing her experiences with weight loss and uploads it to the site.
Now, four weeks into the online reality challenge, she said she's glad to be able to inspire others who may face a similar challenge.
"I'm cutting back on everything. It's all about portion control," she said. "Now, because I have these health issues, I have to do it. It's not even a matter of vanity."
Hardy's diet used to be anything and everything, she said. Working as an author and freelance writer, she lived a sedentary lifestyle, and over the years, the weight just piled on.
In taking it off, Hardy said she wants to do it naturally. A combination of low-sodium, carbohydrate-sensitive, low-fat foods and moderate exercise, like walking has helped her get this far in achieving her goal.
Hardy has already dropped from a size 30 in pants to a size 18, and she plans to achieve more.
"It's not just about weight loss, it's also about what else I can accomplish," she said. "I want to feel better about myself. I want my confidence back."
Hardy said being diagnosed with congestive heart failure literally "floored her" because she never expected that at 37 she would come so close to losing her life.
Over the next 18 months, she hopes to get down to about 170 pounds.
One thing that keeps her going is the thought of buying new clothes and giving herself a full make-over when her weight loss is complete.
As of now, Hardy is still wearing her old clothes, using a sash to hold up her baggy pants.
Kate Garsson, spokeswomen for Lifetime, said the winner of the Clean Start Challenge will be awarded $10,000 and a theme-park vacation.
But Hardy said it's not the money that is important.
"This is giving me my confidence back," she said. "Either way, whether I win or not, this has opened doors, and it's like a new career path for me."
To view Hardy's videos and learn more about the Clean Start Challenge, visit www.MyLifetime.com.