DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE - Participants in a two-month-long exercise program in Fort Providence saw results.

The Biggest Loser exercise group started on Jan. 11 with approximately 40 people. When the program ended on March 8 the group had been whittled down to 22 to 25 regulars. Between them they lost 188 pounds over the course of nine weeks.

"The people who stuck with it saw great results," said Amanda McGillivray.

McGillivray, a member of the local RCMP detachment, and nurse Karen Ludlow organized the program. Both are active and community members often ask them for exercise tips, McGillivray said.

The two women decided that organizing a group would provide motivation for members of the community and help them stay healthy.

"We just wanted everyone to get in shape," McGillivray said.

For lack of a better name, the women borrowed the title of the popular television show The Biggest Loser. Each season, contestants vie for a cash prize by losing the most weight. There were no cash prizes in Fort Providence, but that didn't stop participants from challenging themselves.

Every Monday, the group came together for a weigh-in and joint exercise session that was dubbed "boot camp." McGillivray and Ludlow taught participants exercises they could do at home including ones targeting abs and cardio and some that incorporated weights.

During the rest of the week participants had to exercise on their own. Staff at the school opened the gym early and people would go regularly to work out, McGillivray said.

For the weigh-ins, McGillivray would cover the scale readout and ask each person if they thought they'd lost weight over the week. Most said no because they said they hadn't exercised enough or they had eaten too much, she said.

Despite the predictions when their weight was revealed almost everyone lost one to two pounds a week.

At the final weigh-in on March 8, the individuals' total weight loss was revealed. Most people were surprised, especially by the inches they lost, McGillivray said.

"They knew their clothes were fitting a lot better but they didn't realize how many inches they were losing," she said.

The biggest loser, whose name wasn't revealed, lost just over 30 pounds. Another participant lost a combined total of nine inches from their chest, waist, hips, legs and biceps. The program was a success, said McGillivray.

Although it's officially over, participants gathered on March 15 and 22 for extra boot camp sessions.

"They feel better, they feel healthy," said McGillivray.

Judy Magrum, one of the participants, said the program really paid off for her.

Magrum, who lost 13 pounds, said the program gave her a jump start on spring which is when most people normally feel the need to get more active after the winter.

"It was probably one of the best things I've done for myself in Fort Providence; it was that good," she said.

The Monday workouts were intense and you could feel the results for the next two days, she said. They also challenged you to see how much you could do over the week, said Magrum, who plans to continue exercising.