As the 22 Black Hills Workshop Lose to Win Contest teams reached the midpoint of their seven-month weight-loss challenge, they successfully and collectively lost another 215.77 pounds for the month of February. As the teams prepare for the second half of their fitness journey, another honorary team joined their ranks for the remaining three months of the contest.

"Good evening, losers," Rapid City Alderman Malcom Chapman greeted the cheering teams of fitness contestants. "I've never had a crowd that I could call losers and then have them applaud."

Chapman congratulated the participants for their efforts to prevent heart attack and stroke, lower their blood pressure and cholesterol levels, improve their sleep and reduce osteoarthritis while delaying the onset of Type 2 diabetes.

"It isn't just about weight loss; it's about impacting your community," he said.

Joining Chapman's team were Rapid City Council members Deb Hadcock, Lloyd LaCroix and Ron Weifenbach, all of whom were weighed on Feb. 18. They'll have plenty of catching up to do to reach the 1,481.15 pounds lost since last October.

Keeping up a rally pace, members of the Eight 2 Much Team take early morning walks of a mile or more each day. They also lift weights or exercise to burn calories and tone their bodies, all before going to work in the mornings. "We love it. It's become a habit," one team member said.

Bobby Sullivan, a member of the Extreme Makeover Team and a person supported by the Black Hills Workshop, has lost 40 pounds. He also has experienced a general improvement in fitness and health while lowering his blood pressure.

"The clients have so much determination and the will power to lose weight," said Barb Volker, an Extreme Makeover member and registered nurse at the Workshop.

Even Volker has become aware of every morsel of food she puts into her mouth. Not only will the extra calories add to her weight, but it also has a negative impact to her team.

Her team spirit is probably why she goes to a Thursday night exercise class taught by Josh Usera of Dynamic Marshal Arts at the Workshop. She also exercises three to five times weekly, something she admits she may not have achieved on her own.

At the midpoint, no one has dropped out of the weight-loss program so far. However, January was a difficult month with significant plateaus experienced by a lot of the members.

"They're just now starting to get pumped up," Volker said.

Mark Wylie, one of the three top losers of NBC's "The Biggest Loser 3," continues to stay in touch with Volker, sending exercise DVDs and writing personal "shout outs" to individuals and teams for their efforts to lose weight and to keep it off.

Volker and the Lose to Win Committee will begin planning for the May finale in the next few weeks, something that will take a lot of work and coordination.

Because of the success she has seen over the last four months, she doesn't necessarily want the program to end in May.

"I think this has helped everyone all around," Volker said of the program.

Contact Jomay Steen at 394-8418 or jomay.steen@rapidcityjournal.com.

By the numbers

Nov. 19

* 939.93 total pounds lost

* In first place: Chunky Monkey with 4.52 percent body weight loss

* In second place: Extreme Makeover with 4.3 percent body weight loss

* Team challenge winners: Killer Bees (tug-of-war)

Dec. 17

* 206 total pounds lost

* In first place: Chunky Monkey with 1.29 percent body weight loss

* In second place: Extreme Makeover with 1.42 percent body weight loss

* Individual leader: Bobby Sullivan, Black Hills Workshop

* Team challenge winners: Flubber and Friends (obstacle course)

Jan. 21

* 119.45 total pounds lost

* In first place: Extreme Makeover with 2.75 percent body weight loss

* In second place: Eight 2 Much with 1.52 percent body weight loss

* Individual leader: Michael Schille with 13.6 pounds lost

* Team challenge winners: Extreme Makeover (food drive)

Feb. 19

* 215.77 total pounds lost

* In first place: Extreme Makeover with 2.13 percent body weight loss

* In second place; Lard De Da's with 1.84 percent body weight loss

* Individual leader: Bobby Sullivan with 13.4 pounds

* New honorary team: City aldermen Lloyd LaCroix, Ron Weifenbach, Deb Hadcock and Malcom Chapman.