Apr 22, 2009 5:12 pm US/Eastern
Subway Get Fit Challenge: The Finalists
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
-
-
Three contestants in the "Subway Get Fit Challenge"
CBS
Hundreds of people applied for the 'Subway Get Fit Challenge', the weight loss contest which has been narrowed down to three contestants.
Whomever loses the most weight wins an extravagent prize, but the biggest win of all: getting in shape, feeling healthy, and learning good nutrition.
Terrel Brooks Jr. is a finalist. A year and a half ago, this Miami man was stranded at sea with a friend. His boat overturned.
He recalled how that life-threatening moment changed his life. He mentioned that being overweight made survival all that much more difficult.
"My friend was able to get on top of the boat," he remembered, "I had to tie myself to the boat and stay in the water for that period time."
He remained at sea for 18 hours before being rescued. He added, "Since that time, I said I was going to make a change."
Terrel stopped smoking, stopped drinking and his weight is his greatest concern.
Joseph Grooms of Deerfield Beach is another contestant. He's 26 years old and wears a size 60.
He's happily married with a baby due on August 18th. He explained how he wants to be fit and active for the newly born. He would also like to be slim enough to slip into an airline seat.
From Coconut Creek is contestant number three. She is Karen Jones, who explains that she is blessed every day with her 13-year-old son, David.
She's dedicated most of her life to him as well as to others who have children with disabilities.
Of David, she said, "He's getting to the point where I can see him having a life outside of me, and I can turn the mirror back and start looking at myself."
They all exercise with a trainer at Bally Total Fitness Center and with a nutritionist who placed all of them on a calorie-limited diet.
After the first week, Terrel lost 12 pounds, Joseph dropped 1.5 pounds and Karen shed 7 pounds.
So begins the three-month challenge with updates every Wednesday for three months from the finalists who are also blogging online at CBS4.COM where there is unedited video of their interviews as well.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
The top stories on CBS4.com
Police: Youth Minister Molested Teen
Click to enlarge
I-Team: Tracking The Florida Stimulus Money Trail 
Stumble It!
Reporting
