Congratulations to all!

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For the past 12 weeks, 6 Express readers competed for $5,000 and a one-year membership to Gold’s Gym. They have earned points by losing weight and competing in fitness challenges. Each contestant was given one hour each week to work out with a Gold’s Gym personal trainer.

Together, the 6 of them lost nearly 200 pounds!

A Reveal Reception was held at The Washington Post, just steps away from where the contestants met each other and their personal trainers only 12 weeks ago. Before the reception, the contestants were treated to skin and hair care treatments at Frizzles Salon. All three ladies received $500 to spend at Terra, a boutique specializing in dresses, where they also had personal shopping consultations. And the gentlemen were provided custom-tailored suits from Geoffrey Lewis, Ltd.
They all looked their best!

Geoffrey Lewis, Ltd.
Geoffrey Lewis, Ltd. is a family-run men’s and women’s custom clothing boutique that has dressed Washingtonians for 40 years. Master Tailor and Proprietor Angelo Abatzis learned the trade in Greece and is now tailoring for politicians, celebrities and residents of the D.C. area with the help of his son Kosta and son-in-law Christo. Greg said, ”Everyone was fantastic, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate the kindness and attention to detail I received. They made a perfect fit. I love my suit, and it makes me feel like a new man.„ The store is located downtown at 14th and H Streets NW.

Terra
At Terra, they are all about the dress. Terra offers a well-edited selection of dresses and accessories from established and emerging designers from around the world. Their carefully chosen mix highlights a woman’s best assets. Jamie said, ”The ladies at Terra were amazing. Within just a few minutes I had a dress on that looked incredible and was definitely made for me.„ Terra is located just north of Dupont Circle on Connecticut Avenue between R Street and Florida Avenue NW.

Frizzles Beauty Salon
A full service salon in Old Town, Alexandria, VA, Frizzles offers the latest in hairstyles, nail techniques, dermatological and massage therapy services. They bring international flair to Old Town with a staff that has worked in cities around the world: Paris, Montreal, London, New York, San Diego and Washington D.C. Kim said that her day at Frizzles made her feel, ”wonderful...to be pampered just made me feel like a queen for a moment.„ You’ll find Frizzles - frizzlessalon.com - at 534 John Carlyle Street in Alexandria.

The night we’ve been waiting for!
The reception started off with a meet-and-greet as our contestants, their guests and trainers arrived, mingling with V.I.P.s from Gold’s Gym, Express and The Washington Post.

Katharine Weymouth, publisher and CEO of The Washington Post got things rolling: ”These 6 contestants were chosen from over 850 entries, and each week they inspired thousands of readers, including those of us who meant to go to the gym this morning.„

Then our brave contestants stepped up to thank Gold’s Gym and Express for this opportunity. Larry spoke for the group when he said ”We have opened up a great door in our lives that we thought we’d never see.„ He went on to say, ”For me, this was my golden ticket opportunity. To the other challengers, I want to encourage you to stay F.I.T.: Focused… Invested… and Triumphant.„ Anthony and Jamie also had some heartfelt words for their family, friends and Gold’s Gym for helping them change their lives for the better.

Lisa Zoellner, chief marketing officer, Gold’s Gym was there too: ”Our mission is to help people realize their individual potential through fitness. It’s not just about muscles, it’s about finding their strength: to overcome diabetes, to do better in their work, or to live a long and happy life with the people they love.„

One of the big surprises of the evening was that Gold’s Gym awarded Larry a Runner-Up Prize of a $1,000 gift card to Gold’s Gym for finishing in second place overall! And, to each of the contestants, for all their hard work and individual success, Gold’s Gym gave a one-year membership!

And the winner is… Meaghan!
Meaghan’s original motivation for entering was that she wanted to be able to wear her mother’s wedding dress in her upcoming wedding. Well, after 3 months it looks like Meaghan will need to take an unexpected trip to the seamstress, the dress is now too big for her! Meaghan has also signed up to run the Navy 5-Miler later this month.

Meaghan said: ”I think that this contest is one of the best things that could have happened to me. I haven't been this happy or healthy in a very long time.„

Points are awarded weekly for weight loss and competitive challenges. In the event of no weight loss, or a less than 1% weight gain, contestants receive 0 points. Over 1% weight gain, contestants lose points proportional to their percentage of weight gain.