As Aristotle once said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.” The finalists of Kosciusko FIT have certainly shown their determination and endurance over the past 6 months to prove their excellence and tireless commitment to good health.

When the Kosciusko FIT Task Force decided over a year ago to pool resources and coordinate a community wide weight loss and fitness challenge they didn’t expect more than about 100 people to participate. In January they were thrilled to see nearly 700 locals join the challenge. It was a true collaboration to pull off a program of this magnitude; so Kosciusko Community YMCA, Kosciusko Community Hospital, Purdue Extension and Warsaw Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce spent many hours and resources to come alongside the community to help them reach their goals.

The sponsors – K21 Foundation, Century Link, Miller’s Senior Living Community, Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Lake City Radio, Giverny Fitness, and Times Union – helped make it possible. Along the way, the Task Force has been privileged to hear testimony after testimony of people finding their way back to good health. People were losing weight, lowering their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, no longer requiring some of their medications, running in 5K races, getting down to their high school weight after over 20 years, and participating in activities they thought they’d never be able to do. There has been so much success along the way, and as a group they have lost over 6,350 pounds.

On June 14 the top 3 teams and top 3 individual male and female participants were honored and rewarded for having the highest percentage of weight loss. The first-place team was “Fading F.L.A.B.” where long time friends Brad and Aimee Hagg and Fred and Lori Miller lost an impressive 20.51 percent of their body weight as a team.

The second-place team was “Four and a Half Men” where a family effort with Aaron Silveus, Jake Silveus, Scott Silveus and Chris Zehner totaled 19.42 percent. The third-place team was “Rump Dumpers” with good friends Zannie Powell, Jennifer Bell-Crump, Stephanie Ault and Chuck Ault pulling together to total a 13.88 percent weight loss.

In the individual male category, Derek Hockemeyer took first place with an incredible 30.03 percent weight loss. Not far behind in second place was Scott Silveus with 28.30 percent and third place was Jake Silveus with 27.8 percent.

In the individual female category was Holly Hummitch taking first place and overall highest percentage of weight loss at 31.3 percent. Right on her heels in second place was Julia Goon with 30.18 percent and third place was Heather Ousley with 25.66 percent.

The Task Force was so proud of each individual and their accomplishments during the challenge, and felt honored to witness these incredible transformations.

To assist these finalists on their continuing journey of good health the Task Force will meet monthly with them for Group Health Coaching, Exercise Guidelines, Nutrition Education, and Meal Planning Guidance. The Task Force’s hope is to offer Kosciusko FIT 2013 next year.

The often quoted Lou Holtz encapsulates what these individuals have done when he said, “Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.”