News Lifestyles Editor

ALPENA — When losing means winning, the Welches are on board.

This family topped the competition in the 10th annual Thinner Winner contest. The Alpena community lost 1,219 pounds and 1,338 inches during a five-week fitness competition led by Bay Athletic Club where people ate better, exercised more and supported each other in teams.

The competition inspired hundreds of people to sign up, creating more than 35 teams that worked together to overhaul their nutrition and fitness habits. At the Friday, Nov. 8, finale, results were shared, and winning teams revealed.

Thinner Winner team, Drop the Fries, Move the Thighs, earned Bay Athletic Club gift cards for their second place finish. Pictured from left to right are Danielle Green, Julie Patterson, Irma McDonald, Gretchen Kruse, and Penny Larkin. Not pictured is Barb Sumerix.

Team Fat Blasterz, made up of Randy Welch, Sandie Welch, Jeremy Welch and Collette Welch, won $1,000 for losing the greatest percentage of inches and weight. Jeremy Welch was the number one individual winner overall in the competition, losing 28.2 pounds in just five weeks.

At the Friday finale, Jeremy Welch credited his parents, Randy and Sandie, for inspiring him to sign up, and his wife, Collette, for helping him eat right.

“I want to thank my wonderful wife and her cooking that kept me on track,” he said.

The Welches were among many couples in the competition who signed up together and inspired each other throughout the five weeks to eat healthier, drink more water, and get moving.

Randy and Sandie Welch decided to take control of their health a few years ago. They were facing some health issues, and teamed up to lose weight and engage in healthier lifestyle changes.

“Many of you know my parents, and they both had tremendous weight loss over the past two years,” Jeremy Welch added. “They begged us to do it last year, and we turned them down. Then we went ahead and did it this year, and apparently I needed it.”

“Randy and Sandie Welch started in a corporate fit challenge with us … two years ago, and they drastically changed their health,” said BAC Community Outreach Director Sarah Morrison. “They were ready to do something. You can watch their 60-second stories. They were facing an unhealthy lifestyle that was going to limit what they were going to be able to do in the future, and they had dreams to go skiing with their grandkids. They weren’t ready to just sit down and stay there for retirement.”

She said they have continued to maintain their new healthy lifestyle.

“They’re still at the club all the time,” Morrison said. “They go in the pool, they move, they eat better, and they’re inspiring their family.”

Team Drop the Fries, Move the Thighs, made up of Danielle Green, Julie Patterson, Irma McDonald, Gretchen Kruse, Penny Larkin and Barb Sumerix, took second place, receiving Bay Athletic Club gift cards.

“The Bay Athletic Club team looks forward to ‘Thinner Winner season’ each year because it’s a great way to reach out into the community and share the BAC mission of creating a healthier, happier and stronger community,” Morrison stated in a press release. “This competition inspires people to make permanent lifestyle changes, in turn, positively affecting those around them.”