Xtreme Fitness program winners have been announced after a gruelling four-week competition that saw the participants undertake a disciplined lifestyle and tailor-made exercise regimes.

The health lifestyle fitness competition attracted 30 competitors who gathered at the SDA Grounds lalovaea last Saturday for a prize-giving ceremony.

The competition comprised two teams that participated in their fun games with the main goal being the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle and physical fitness.

Chris and Mitchell Lemisio, who run the fitness program, announced the winners on Saturday.

LJ Pomare won the weight loss challenge, having shed 17.4kg while Setefano Talaipa took the prize for the highest fat loss challenge when he lost 17.4 per cent in body fat.

Both of the winners of the two different categories were each given $300 tala prize money.

Mr Talaipa told the Samoa Observer in an interview that he was thankful the program had come to an end as being a participant was a challenge.

“I went through difficulties while I was participating in this challenge, most likely food, sometimes I get to hide from my family and have my own meal and avoid them offering food,” he said.

“But everything else was just easy for me. I do my own training in order to lose both kilo and body fats. It is not all about winning the competition but the changes I got are worth it.”

One of the competitors, Sui Sylvia Tavita, told this newspaper that she weighed 216kg when she first joined and has now tipped the scale at 195kg, losing a total of 21kg over the four weeks of the competition.

“The reason why I joined is because I realised it is time to make a change for myself,” she said in an interview.

“Ever since I moved back to Samoa I have noticed that I’ve gained more than my usual body I came with so I think it’s time to start a change for myself. 

“I joined this challenge to actually lose weight and also to work on my fitness.”

One of her difficulties, prior to joining the competition, was her ability to walk long distances.

But that has changed with Ms Tavita indicating that she can walk further.

“Before I cannot walk that far but after I joined the challenge I can actually walk further than how it was before. 

“I faced a lot of challenges throughout my fitness challenge such as choices of food, I sometimes just ignore the table and what’s on it and avoid eating fast food. 

“Some days I get really tired from work and thought, would just stay home but I pushed myself and got up. 

“I didn’t come this far to go back to where I was before. I am happy with where I am right now and I will continue on in life to cut down those numbers.”

Speaking to the Samoa Observer last Saturday after the awarding of the prizes, Ms Lemisio said it was their fourth challenge to organise since the establishment of the program in March last year.

She said it is an exciting fitness and healthy lifestyle program which targets people who weigh 150kg and above.

“The reason for this challenge is to kick starts our new year’s resolution,” she said. “It is an exciting program and we’re targeting people from 150kg upwards for our next challenge. 

“We want people to be comfortable with being a part of these competitions.”