For seven weeks, 12 individuals have been battling the bulge to become Gainesville’s biggest loser.

Mirrored after the hit TV show, the Biggest Loser, competitors have one goal in common: to lose weight and to learn how to live a healthier lifestyle.

One day a week, for a total of 13 weeks, the participants meet to weigh in and discuss a health related topic. Lead by coach Theresa Schmidlkofer, who is also competing to loose weight, those topics have included protein, portion control, the benefits of drinking water, colon health, sugar’s affect on health and more.

Her first time to lead a weight loss challenge, Schmidlkofer said she has been surprised and concerned by what she has learned during the meetings.

“I think especially with everything I’ve learned during this challenge, that it really needs to be out there because people just don’t realize what we put in our bodies and that most of your doctor visits are due to nutrition,” said Schmidlkofer.

The most depressing revelation for Schmidlkofer, was when she learned how bad sodas really are.

“I knew that pop wasn’t good for you, but I did not realize that it sucks the calcium out of your bones,” said Schmidlkofer. “Now I can’t hardly stand to drink soda because every time I do, I just think about that.”

Schmidlkofer originally weighed 289 pounds when she first began the challenge. Now, she has lost over 10 pounds and said she is excited to continue to loose and to continue leading challenges even after this one is completed.

However, when Schmidlkofer first decided to lead a challenge, she was not as confident.

“I was afraid to lead a challenge because I had weight to loose too and I was worried people would be hesitant to join with a leader who was also loosing weight,” she said.

Fortunately Schmidlkofer overcame that fear and is currently in third place for the weight loss challenge. In first place is the Register’s own Natalia Jones and in second place is Schmidlkofer’s daughter, Michelle Christian.

Schmidlkofer’s mother, Lora Pentlin, and father, Bill Logan, are also competing to loose weight.

Logan, who has already lost over 100 pounds on his own before the challenge began, said he feels as though he has gotten his life back.

Prior to moving to Gainesville to live with Schmidlkofer and her husband, Walter, Logan said he was living in Kansas, weighing around 400 pounds and confined to a wheel chair.

Once he moved in with his daughter, Logan said, she helped him regain his independence by loosing weight.

“If I hadn’t moved here, I’d probably be dead,” he said. “If it wasn’t for her, I would be dead.”

When he came to live with the Schmidlokers, Logan said he couldn’t hardly do anything. Now, however, he no longer needs the aid of a cane or walker and even goes outside to help with the yard work.

Theresa Schmidlkofer’s mother, said she too is grateful to her daughter for helping her loose weight.

While she doesn’t have as much weight to loose as Logan, Pentlin said she decided to join the challenge after gaining weight once she quit smoking.

Since Sept. of last year Pentlin had weight 132. When she started the program, she weighed 152 pounds. Currently she has lost around four pounds.

While participating in the challenge, Pentlin said she has been shocked by how it has changed her outlook on nutrition.

“I’m going to be 67 next month and until I started this weight loss challenge, I never looked at the calorie count, carbohydrates or anything like that,” she said. “It has just really opened my eyes as far as what you put into your body.”

Since Theresa Schmidlkofer is the coach for the challenge, she has taken herself out of the cash prizes for the winners. For all of the other participants, a cash prize will be given to first-third place and to the person who has lost the most inches.

If any of the contestants gain weight during the challenge, they have to put money into a pot which will go towards the cash prize.

Although it is too late to sign up to participate for the current weight loss challenge, Theresa Schmidlkofer said she fully plans to continue to lead other challenges in Gainesville.

For those interested, it is $29 to join. Currently, the weight loss challenge is held every Saturday at 11 a.m. in the meeting room of the Cooke County Library. However, Theresa Schmidlkofer said she is unsure if she will be able to hold the next challenge there and is currently seeking another place to hold the meetings.

During the next challenge, she said she will also have the help of a few weight loss coaches to help during the meetings and with particpants’ accountability.

It does not matter your age or how much weight you want to loose, added Theresa Schmidlkofer. All that does matter, is that you want to loose weight.

“They have to want to do that,” she said. “Don’t be scared of failure, because that was my big obstacle before doing this challenge. Fear is an obstacle you have to overcome, but as long as you truly want to loose weight you’ll be able to do that.”

For those interested in joining the next weight loss challenge, becoming a weight loss coach or donating space for the next meetings, contact Theresa Schmidlkofer at 668-2263 or e-mail theresa@leadingincome.com.

To learn more about the challenge, visit www.wlcnow.com.