The 50 Million Pound Blog

One lucky voter will win $1,000

The Challenger of the Year contest is underway and your vote will help decide which Featured Challenger from 2008 made the greatest impact inspiring others to lose weight and get healthy.

How the contest works
A total of 12 Featured Challengers were chosen to participate in the 2008 Challenger of the Year contest based on the impact their stories had on other Challenge participants. The Featured Challenger earning the most votes will become the 2008 Challenger of the Year and receive a $1,000 Visa® gift card.

Vote early and vote daily for your chance to win $1,000!
Anyone can vote by visiting the Challenger of the Year contest page. Voting for the contest runs thru midnight December 29. Each vote (a maximum of one per day) earns an entry into a drawing for an additional 1,000 Visa® gift card. One lucky voter will be randomly drawn from all votes cast for this $1,000 prize. So vote early and vote daily!

Have a comment for one of the contestants?
The Challenger of the Year contest is also an open forum for you to communicate directly with the contestants. Post your comments for any of the contestants here or directly on the contestant’s Featured Challenger page by clicking the link next to their photo below.

Meet the contestants
Here are the contestants for the 2008 Challenger of the Year contest. A summary of their Challenge journey and details about who is leading in the contest is available on the Challenger of the Year contest page. Click the link below to read their original Featured Challenger blog story.

Remember vote early and vote daily!

Tikia Brown-Montgomery and Michael Montgomery, Indianapolis, IN

Charmen Daley, Orlando, FL

Tahira Davis, Cleveland, OH

Marcella Jones, Yorktown, VA

Anna Mary Lopez, Orlando, FL

Femi Martin, Brandon FL

Christopher McCray, Hampton, GA

Kenya Morgan, Salisbury, NC

Craig Nash, Chicago, IL

Michelle Thomas, Colorado Springs, CO

Lawana Williams, Southfield, MI

Deborah Wright, West Haven, CT

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are trying to spark Americans to exercise.

As each of know, maintaining an exercise plan is essential, but not easy to do. So, in the spirit of giving, post a comment letting us know:

1. What your biggest obstacle to exercising is, and
2. How do you overcome it?

Motivation to breakthrough barriers comes when we realize we're not the only ones dealing with a particular issue. The article above may have exposed the problem, but not acting on what we've read will only add to the problem.

This community is bonded by common resolve for a solution... So, let us know: How are you breaking through?

You've done it again--your hard work, healthy decisions, and commitment to the cause has made us 3 million pounds lighter!

Take a moment to soak this in... we're moving at a pace faster than any other weight-loss movement. We've dropped 3 million pounds in just 20 months, and our momentum is picking up as we head towards 2009!

Each of you are playing a role in America's most successful and compelling weight-loss story. Each pound you lose contributes to the story of The Challenge. Thank you for joining us.

Congratulations, and keep up the fight!

As part of our celebration, Dr. Ian and Craig Nash (one of our Challengers of the year) posted the following video on youtube. Please share this moment with your friends and family!

Click here to post your comments

My sister told me about "The Challenge" and suggested I use it as a motivational tool. My goal was to lose 15% of my body weight which came out to a total of 37 lbs.  With only 5 more lbs to go, I KNOW I can do it.

The keys to my success:

• Find a fitness program you enjoy.  I hate to run but love to spin.  I currently ride 2-3 hours a week.  Cardio!
• Eat smart.  Watch portion size on meats.  Limit processed foods.  Nothing FRIED!

I want to be able to enjoy all that life has to offer and be the best husband for my wife and father for my kids.  Getting and staying in shape will help me accomplish this goal.

Click here to submit your story and and be featured on our site!