The deadline is growing near, and contestants are growing weary. Our stomachs are growling for fattening food. What I would do for a large piece of cake, and a huge bowl of ice cream right now. I see the end of the finish line as it draws closer and closer; it is almost here, only a few more days.  December 19 is on its way.

We have been on the "Gilroy's #1 Loser" contest since September.  That's a lot of salad and squats.  Everyone is looking his or her best. We all put our minds to the task, and kept our minds set on the goal.

“It’s phenomenal,” says Ellen Rivera, in charge of the contest at Gilroy Health and Fitness.

In the contest, we have people of all different shapes, sizes, backgrounds, and ages. They all bring something into the competition. It has been a fun time for us all. We all put our best foot forward, and to me we all won, or should I say lost.

Greg Williams, our youngest contestant, who is in high school, brought energy to the boot camp, which made it a whole lot of fun. During the hardest exercises he would say something funny that would make me laugh, and I would forget about how much the exercise hurt.

As we see the finish line in sight we start thinking about how we used look, and feel. We all had our reasons for joining the competition, and I think everyone can agree with  contestant Teresa Quintero when she said, “It was worth the pain and tears.”

Some of us came into this competition wanting to win the overall prize of a trip for two to the destination of the winner's choice.  But as the weeks went on we realized that we were actually doing it for ourselves.  I agree with contestant Joanie Lewis when she says, “I feel like I’m getting healthy. I’m not doing it for the money.  I am doing it for my health.”

Right now Dominique Sierra is in the lead for females.   “It’s not about winning, it’s about success and determination,” Sierra said.

In the lead for the males is Luis Alanis. In second place for females is Joanie Lewis, and second place for males is Scotty McNamara. I am in third place for the females, and Greg Williams is in third place for the males.   

Everyone at the gym has been a great help to all of us, and we appreciate them for all they did. They helped us get through the hardest times. The helped get out flab down and muscle up. As Luis Alanis says, “Thanks to all the trainers, and Ellen.”
Most of us are feeling young and revived. We are feeling like we can do anything. As Scotty McNamara said, “I feel absolutely awesome! I feel like a kid again.”

Boot Camp is getting crazier than ever. Hebe Navarro is getting pumped, and psyched for the end of the contest. I can’t believe that it is actually coming to an end.

I feel like this contest has become part of my life. I know that once it is over. I am going to be upset because I won’t know what to do on Wednesdays. Greg Williams simply puts it, “I owe to my family and friends, it was them who really pushed me to do this, and now I am glad they did.”

I think we all are. This contest has become a lifestyle to some of us. I know that I am going to miss it a ton. I know that I am going to miss every single one of the contestants dearly. I know I am going to miss Ellen’s smiling face, Rigo’s face early in the morning, and his voice telling me to hurry up and keep up, and of course Hebe. I will miss her Boot Camps, I will miss her yelling telling us to go faster, work harder, and of course her singing to the songs that came on over the loudspeaker.

How much did I lose?  Twenty-one pounds and counting.  I am planning on keeping it up, and going back to the gym with or without all my fellow contestants.