“The committee decided that five successful years produced great results,” said Iris Simon, co-chair of the program. “During our tenure, 1575 participants lost 11,681.2 pounds in Hancock County.”

“We were always about helping folks make life-style changes to improve their health,” says Jenny Gott, co-founder. Lose and Win was not a diet, but rather an information, activity and support program to improve day-to-day eating habits and to develop a healthy lifestyle to last a lifetime. “Participants didn’t just lose weight, they made lifestyle changes,” continued Gott. “Some quit smoking while others added regular physical activity to their lives or gave up soda and other sugary drinks and switched to water.”

Based on the book “The Town that Lost a Ton”, resident teams like Schoodic Shedders, Excess Baggage and Slim downs participated from all over the county, Bucksport, MDI, Schoodic, even Deer-Isle – Stonington, who this year boasted the biggest winner / loser: the Burnt Cove String Beans. “ Lose and Win was a big hit here on the Island”, said Heather Barton - Lindloff, school health coordinator. “People looked forward to it every winter.” Weekly programs included success stories, stress and sleep management, dance and other physical activities, and a recipe of the week.

Lose and Win was sponsored by a group known as Healthy Hancock, a coalition of organizations, hospitals, school health coordinators, the Ellsworth American, University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Cheryl Wixson’s Kitchen, all working together to improve the health of residents in Hancock County. “It was a fun five years, and the committee really worked well together, “ recalls Simon. “If you help someone make a healthy life-style choice, then everyone wins.”