Dixon wins third annual NIBROC Just Lose It weight loss competition

Above, local sportswriter Lex Dixon lost 84 lbs., 29.41 percent of his starting body weight, during the competition which began in April and ended this past Saturday.

Les Dixon said he was planning to drop some of the excess weight he had packed on and the $1,000 prize to the winner of Nibroc: Just Lose It dangling out there was just extra incentive when he signed up for the competition in April.

Saturday night, Dixon’s effort was rewarded as he was named the winner of the third annual competition, losing 29.41 percent of his starting weight.

“I became best friends with my treadmill at the house,” Dixon said, explaining that he was on the treadmill every morning for more than one hour.

“I never ran one-tenth of a mile,” Dixon said, explaining he set the treadmill’s speed at a high-paced walk.

Along with adding the exercise, Dixon said he cut out one thing entirely, even when he had a “cheat” day – soda.

As to the food, Dixon said it was, primarily, vegetables, tuna and chicken.

“I gave myself that one cheat day,” Dixon explained. “It was usually Saturday, but even when I ate something like pizza, I didn’t give myself a big portion.”

In addition to changing what he ate, Dixon said he changed how he ate, setting 8 p.m. as the cutoff time for food.

In addition, Dixon said he had a reasonable goal for his weight loss, which was to lose 67 pounds over the three months.

“Once I reached that goal, anything else was basically, gravy,” Dixon said, noting that he exceeded his goal by 17 pounds. Over the course of the contest, Dixon said he went from 282.2 to 199.2

In addition to losing the weight, Dixon said he wanted to break another barrier by being the first man to win Nibroc Just Lose it.

“You have to find things to motivate you,” Dixon said.

Part of that motivation came from his family. Dixon said his wife was quick to praise when he had a good weigh-in and very supportive when he had a bad week.

Coming out of the gate, Dixon said he was feeling good as he dropped 22 pounds in the first two weeks. However, that was not enough to win the bi-weekly weigh-in.

While admitting the competitor inside was disappointed, Dixon said he took it in stride.

“I just told myself that I was going to do this at my own pace,” Dixon said. “I think that worked out better for me, but I kept the person that won that first weigh in in the back of my mind.”

Rounding out the top five was Phyllis Patterson who lost 23.061 percent of her starting weight. Patricia Couch, who dropped 21.611 percent of her starting weight. Bruce Hill who lost 17.244 percent of his starting weight and Cheryl Mayne, who dropped 16.577 percent of her starting weight.

Including the 134 people who signed up to participate this year, more than 500 people have participated in Nibroc Just Lose it since it was first held in 2011.

Official said the 116 people who returned for the final weigh-in lost a total of 1,246.4 pounds. Of that weight, 656.8 pounds was lost by the people who placed in the top 20.