Winners Announced in Miami-Dade Get Fit Challenge
Miami Dade Fire and Rescue has announced the winners in its "Get Fit" challenge, a 12-week body composition contest organized by Local 1403 fitness coordinators, Lieutenants Denise Paganacci and Brandy Paternoster, and designed to help fire fighters and civilian personnel improve their health and fitness, experience friendly competition with their peers and gain muscle while losing body fat.
In first place, “Dough Boys” Local 1403 team members Yamil Mustafa, Jay Duncan and Nilo Guzman each received $1,500, a Tread Climber™ 5300 and 24 hours of leave time. Team “38 Fat Burners” took second place and “Team Fugazy” won third place. Prizes included cash, leave time, kettle bells and gym bags.
More than 80 teams participated in the fitness challenge, and all entry fees went to the Children’s Cancer Caring Center, a free cancer treatment program. During the fitness challenge awards ceremony, Chief Herminio Lorenzo presented the Children’s Cancer Caring Center with a check for $20,000. The Caring Center has made it possible for thousands of cancer-stricken children to receive care at no cost to their families. In addition, more than 10,000 family members have benefited from the organization’s program -- helping them stay together as they manage the challenges of dealing with their child’s catastrophic illness. Every $1 donated to the Center, enables it to provide more than $4 of medical care.
The "Get Fit" challenge, which began August 12, consisted of teams of three fire fighters. Each team member’s weight and body fat composition were recorded at the start of the contest and again at the end.
Participants were instructed to lose fat and to maintain lean muscle by making healthy lifestyle changes to improve their overall health.
Lieutenants Paganacci and Paternoster wanted to recognize and reward as many additional members of the challenge as possible, regardless of their team’s status. “They all made outstanding strides in making positive lifestyle changes,” says Paganacci. In addition to the top three teams, one civilian team was recognized for its overall high score, while six individuals were recognized for their accomplishments.
Overall, the challenge was a huge success and many of the participants have made positive healthy lifestyle changes. Lieutenant Mark Lamb shared his experience. “I have lost 35 pounds, five pant sizes and, more importantly, lowered my cholesterol. The spirit of being on a team helped me get over the hump days that I might have not gotten through otherwise. This has truly been a life changer for me!”
Fire fighter Keith O’Prey, a member of the second place “38 Fat Burners” team, was very successful with the challenge. “For me personally, the changes have been dramatic,” O’Prey says. “My energy level has sky rocketed and my chronic low back pain is gone. On the job…I can’t say enough. On a recent house fire, I walked out of the house following suppression, search and overhaul activities feeling strong and having very little fatigue issues. I know that would not have been the case two months earlier.”
He adds, “My frequent PVCs have been completely eliminated for almost two months now. So win or lose, this had been the most productive three months of my life. I will keep this up!”
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