Gold’s Gym gives away $5,000; Orsini rules competition

Participants in the 2019 Gold’s Gym Transformation Challenge are joined on stage by family members, friends, and Gold’s Gym staff during the awarding ceremony. (Contributed Photo)

Gold’s Gym Saipan recently gave away a total of $5,000 as part of its cash awards in a weight loss competition they held for their members, with Romolo Orsini bringing home the trophy as the overall winner, earning for himself $1,000 cash and a one-year Gold’s Gym membership.

The competition, called the 2019 Gold’s Gym Transformation Challenge—a 12-week weight loss competition—started with 60 challengers and ended with only 35.

Collectively, the 35 competitors lost over 519 pounds, which averaged to 18.6 pounds per person—15.2 pounds were estimated to be fat body mass and an average decrease in percentage body fat of 5.2 percent, according to general manager Tyce Mister.

“This year’s Challenge was amazing. It ran 12 weeks, beginning halfway through January until the middle of May. …With a contest like this, everyone who rose to the challenge comes out a winner,” Mister said.

“This is a transformation challenge and we want everyone to be safe,” said Aaron Tomokane, Gold’s Gym’s certified personal trainer. “We encourage body fat loss when necessary to be healthier, but we want to see lean body mass [muscle] either maintained or even increased. …It is very difficult to lose fat body mass and at the same time maintain or even gain lean body mass.”

A total of 10 participants were awarded with cash prizes. Aside from Orsini, the other winners were Joann Villena, who won $500 and a Gold’s Gym certificate for six months as first place in the women’s division for ages 18 to 34; May Cabrera and Brittany Hodge, who won second and third, respectively, earning them $300 and a certificate for three months and $200 and a certificate for one month each; Alfreda Camacho won the women’s 35 and over division, earning her $500 and a certificate to the gym worth six months; Shielane Seno won $300 and a certificate for three months for second place; third placer Cherlyn Cabrera nabbed $200 and a one-month certificate to the gym.

Jeffrey Bahillo won the men’s division for 18 to 34, earning him $500 and a six-month Gold’s Gym certificate while Michael Pabalan earned $300 and a three-month certificate for second place. Michael Morales got $200 and a month’s certificate for garnering third place.

Brad Ruszala won first in the men’s 35 and higher division, netting him $500 and a gym certificate worth six months while Ronnel Mostales won $300 and a three-month certificate. Robert Coldeen got $200 and a month’s certificate for garnering third place.