Nikki Barker (left) and Christine Cooper share the prize for partners who made the most changes during the fourth annual Lakeshore Lifestyle Challenge, January to April 2017. Photo submitted

The fourth annual Lakeshore Lifestyle Challenge, which has been underway since January, wrapped up the week before Easter, the goal of which was to provide opportunities for promoting a healthy lifestyle in a positive and supportive environment. Each participant had their own personal reason for joining. Among those were to lose inches, to help with stress, to learn how to eat better or to tone certain areas.

For first time the Challenge was done in a partner format, which proved to be successful as it helped everyone stay on track and to stay motivated and accountable.

Rather than an unrealistic ‘quick fix’ approach so often seen, the Lakeshore Challenge promotes a healthy lifestyle, one that is achievable, sustainable and is healthy both physically and mentally.

Through a change in their eating habits and regular exercise, Emily and Kim Paulin collectively lost 21 inches. With the help of Weight Watchers, a points based system that helps with portion control, both participated in numerous classes and were in the gym regularly to perform cardio and resistance workouts.

Lee Henderson and Shelley Miller lost 14.5 inches in total. Although they didn’t have a lot of pounds to lose, their body shape and attitudes saw significant changes.

Nikki Barker and Christine Cooper share the prize for partners who made the most lifestyle changes. Their eating completely changed and they both credit the grocery tour by Kathryn Forsyth, Registered Dietician and a seminar on healthy eating by Charmaine Kingston. They both tried numerous classes like spin, yoga and muscle mania. If they couldn't make it to a class they'd meet in the gym or encourage each other to perform a workout at home. Mentally, they both felt more positive and were able to deal with stress more successfully.

The Lakeshore Lifestyle Challenge is three months, but it is intended to be a lifestyle that is continued and modified as needed. The ultimate goal is to make changes that are sustainable and to understand that healthy is not a picture on the cover of a magazine or a billboard but it is something that looks different on everybody.

Mother daughter duo Emily (left) and Kim Paulin collectively lost 21 inches since the Lakeshore Lifestyle Challenge began in January. Photo submitted

Partners Lee Henderson and Shelley Miller lost 14.5 inches for the fourth annual Lakeshore Lifestyle Challenge. Photo submitted