Stephanie Cartwright is Thin to Win

Thin to Win contestants Barb Metzger (left) and Kevin Geldean (right) applaud for Stephanie Cartwright as she is named the winner of the 2009 Thin to Win fitness program. The top 12 contestants were honored Tuesday evening at an open house at the Bureau County Metro Center in Princeton. The Metro Center and Bureau County Republican have co-sponsored the Thin to Win program for four years. (BCR photo/Donna Barker)

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PRINCETON — Amid tears and hugs, Stephanie Cartwright of LaMoille has been named winner of the 2009 Thin to Win fitness competition.

On Tuesday night, the Bureau County Metro Center and Bureau County Republican hosted an open house at the Metro Center for this year’s top 12 Thin to Win contestants. Cartwright won the four-month competition with a weight loss of 75 pounds, which calculated a 27.5 percent of weight loss.

Cartwright also competed in the first Thin to Win program four years ago but had regained some of that initial weight loss. In her application for the 2009 program, Cartwright said she wanted to try again and would use the 2009 Thin to Win program as a catalyst to jumpstart her new life.

At Tuesday’s open house, Cartwright talked about getting another chance at not just weight loss but also at developing a healthy self-confidence.

“Not many people get second chances in life,” Cartwright said Tuesday night. “I’ve been afforded one, and I will not take it for granted a second time. I’m in so much better health now. I feel like I can really start over in my life.”

Cartwright also encouraged others to not give up, in spite of occasional setbacks.

“I would tell people to not let life’s circumstances take over your own good health,” Cartwright said. “Realize you are important enough to care about yourself. This is a great lesson to learn.”

Cartwright also thanked the Metro Center trainers, her fellow-contestants, and family for their continued support and encouragement.

“Together, each of you have helped me lose more than a quarter of myself and gain a whole person in the process,” Cartwright said. “This is a great moment for me, and I couldn’t have reached this moment without your help.”

First runner-up in the 2009 Thin to Win program was Scott Harp of Princeton, who lost 69 pounds, for a 26.2 percent weight loss.

Emcees for the evening were Beth Colmone, coordinator of the Thin to Win program, and Kerri Sissel, also with the Metro Center.

Giving an overview of the 2009 program, Colmone said the competition began in January with more than 60 people competing for the top 12 spots. Once those contestants were named, they formed a cohesive group that genuinely cared for each other, she said.

Personal trainers Sandy Efflandt and Barb Monier also spoke at the open house, commending the contestants for their dedication and hard work.

In addition to Cartwright and Harp, the top 12 Thin to Win contestants for 2009 were Ben Borys, Jodi Hargis, Julie Jilderda, Kevin Geldean, Stephanie Balensiefen, Jim Pinter, all of Princeton, Barb Metzger of rural Princeton, Pam Friel of Tiskilwa, Bob Jeffery of Wyanet and Jayson Tuntland of LaMoille.

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