Staff at the Gladstone campus are hoping groundsman, Dennis Simon will become the biggest loser in 3 weeks time.

Dennis, who has worked as the building and grounds supervisor at the Gladstone campus for nearly 10 years, entered a local radio competition last month based on the television show, The Biggest Loser.

The radio competition, like the TV show, is designed to help people lose weight and get fit. Each week the competitors vote one member out of the game and now, after 8 weeks, Dennis is 1 of 3 competitors left.

Dennis admits the competition has been hard work for him, but the support he has received from his family, friends and workmates at the Gladstone campus has kept him motivated.

Dennis started the competition at 139 kilos and now weighs 131kgs and has lost 23cm in body measurements. More importantly, his blood sugar levels, which were anything from 10-17 are now down to 5-7.

“I use to be very involved in all sorts of sports and was a keen footballer, water polo player and involved in surf lifesaving, but gradually as I got older and a bit lazy, I started to put on weight. The older I got, the harder it was to get back in to exercise.

“At the beginning of the year I was told that I would have to go on insulin to control my blood sugar levels, through sticking to the diet and exercising I am hoping to avoid that.

“This competition has given me the motivation and support I needed. It really is a second chance and I like to encourage all diabetics to get started on a program of diet and exercise. It really does make a difference,” said Dennis.

Staff at the Gladstone campus have been watching Dennis’ progress and are very proud of his efforts and now they are asking the CQU community to get behind him and help him make it through to the end of the competition.

The final 3 weeks of the program require members of the public to vote for who they would like to be named the Biggest Loser and Dennis’ colleagues at the Gladstone campus are asking other CQU campuses to help out by voting.

Voting is easy, go to the radio's website at www.4cc.com.au and click on the Biggest Loser link and follow the directions. You need to vote once a week for the next 3 weeks, starting today.

You can also send a message of support to Dennis at d.simon@cqu.edu.au.