Local woman wins first NIBROC Just Lose It weight loss competition

Above, 38-year-old Jennifer Tackett is congratulated by Corbin Deputy Collector Roberta Webb after being named the winner of the inaugural NIBROC Just Lose it competition Saturday. She won $1,000.

Whatever the competition, the difference between winning and losing is usually a matter of a few tenths.

The inaugural Nibroc Just Lose It held true to that as Jennifer Tackett beat out Darin Shelley in the competition to see which of 188 competitors could lose the greatest percentage of their respective body weight.

After four months of hard work, exercise and food control, it was announced Saturday night prior to the Eddie Money concert on the main stage that Tackett lost 21.32 percent of her starting body weight, topping Shelley by .76 percent.

Tackett said she and her husband, Donald, were motivated to get up, get moving and get the weight off by their 1-year-old grandson and the desire to ensure they would be part of his life.

"We wanted to be able to chase after him," Jennifer Tackett said.

Tackett said the cravings for junk food were gone about two weeks into the program. The one thing she did miss was sleep, as the couple was at the gym at 5 a.m. to get in a workout before heading off to work.

"We asked God to help us, and he did," Jennifer Tackett said. "God was with us the whole time."

While the biggest hurdle is getting started, Jennifer Tackett said the physical and mental adjustments during the first two weeks had her wanting to quit.

However, that hurdle was cleared when the contestants took to the scale for the first official weigh-in.

As it came down to the last two weeks, Jennifer Tackett said she began to struggle again as she focused more on doing what she had to do to win.

"The hardest thing was the food," Tackett said. "It seemed like we gave up everything but meat and lettuce."

Despite that, Tackett said there is nothing food-wise she is craving.

Rounding out the top five were Christopher Lipps, Trent Knuckles and Rebecca Warren.

The top 20 contestants were initially brought to the stage where it was announced that they would each receive a one-year membership to the Corbin Park and Recreation McBurney Center.
The top five were then called out.

For their efforts, Knuckles and Warren each received a three-month membership to Baptist Family Fitness. As second runner-up, Lipps received a $50 savings bond from Hometown Bank of Corbin and a three-month membership to Baptist Family Fitness.

As first runner-up, Shelley was awarded $200 and a six-month membership to Baptist Family Fitness along with a gift certificate from Salon 23 in Corbin.

For her efforts, Tackett received $1,000, a one-year membership to Baptist Family Fitness and a $135 gift certificate from The Beauty Shop/Day Spa.

Tackett said the key to beginning a fitness regime is to take that first step and get started.

Once it becomes part of daily routine it becomes easier

Though the contest is over Tackett said she will continue on the fitness path.

"We are trying to change our lives," Tackett said. "This is just the beginning for us."

The prizes including the cash are just icing on the cake.

"We are going to take a vacation and see the ocean," Tackett said.

Roberta Webb, who chaired the competition, said it was worth the effort just to see Tackett’s reaction when she was announced as the winner.

Since the event began April 30, the contestants lost a combine 1860 pounds.

Webb said the event will return in 2012 with the goal of making it bigger and better.

Webb offered her thanks to the event sponsors including: The City of Corbin, Baptist Regional Medical Center Community Health Services, Southern Ky. Chamber of Commerce, Cumberland Healthcare, Inc., The Beauty Shop/Day Spa, B&H Shoes, JC Penney, City Utilities, Salon 23, Baptist Family Fitness, Corbin Parks and Recreation Department and Hometown Bank of Corbin.

"We will have to see about adding some more sponsors," Webb said of efforts to expand the event. The community will start hearing about the 2012 event in March."