The contest is over

Ten of the original 15 contestants completed the six-month Lighten Up in 2012. Participants were required to weigh in once a month at Slim & Fit Personal Weight Loss & Fitness in Concord Township and blog regularly at www.News-Herald.com/blogs/LightenUp. The 2012 winner is Lisa Scheer of Mentor-on-the-Lake, who wins a month of personal training and nutrition analysis at Slim & Fit. Second place went to Kathryn Bloom of Willoughby, who wins a six-month family membership to Lake County YMCA. Third place went to Margaret Pizzi of Mentor, who receives a $100 gift certificate to Second Sole, an area running shop. The winner is determined to be the person who loses the most weight, by percentage, over the six months. Five contestants dropped out during Lighten Up. Mike Sabo of Painesville failed to show up for the final weigh-in. Previously dropping out were: Crystal Cicconetti, Alisa Nieves, Angela Gieling and Sarah Buchanan. In 2012, the 10 contestants lost 383.3 pounds. In Lighten Ups four years, contestants have lost a total of 1,453.45 pounds.

Lighten Up in 2012 final weight chart

Name Kathryn Bloom Ellen Calhoun Rick Calhoun Craig Deas Margaret Pizzi Lisa Scheer Desirea Thompson Shelley Weber Jill Zimmer Michael Kadlub Starting 331.6 184.4 292.8 233.0 226.8 185.0 307.6 231.2 182.8 266.0 Feb. 307.4 181.8 284.4 224.6 212.0 172.8 293.8 221.6 174.0 261.8 March 288.4 171.6 273.6 218.4 202.0 162.6 277.8 221.4 173.4 250.0 April 278.4 167.4 264.8 215.2 199.8 154.6 274.2 221.4 170.8 263.0 May 267.0 159.2 261.8 213.0 192.0 147.2 272.0 219.2 165.2 264.8 June 264.6 155.6 255.0 211.6 186.6 142.8 277.8 222.4 165.0 242.2 End 263.0 147.4 241.8 216.8 180.6 136.4 270.0 220.8 161.2 238.0 Loss 1.6 8.2 13.2 +5.2 6.0 6.4 7.8 1.6 3.8 4.2 Total -68.6 -37.0 -51.0 -16.4 -46.2 -48.6 -37.6 -10.4 -21.6 -28.0

Dropped out: Sarah Buchanan, Angela Gieling, Alisa Nieves, Crystal Cicconetti, Mike Sabo