Biggest Winner competition names Randy Carr its 'biggest winner' None

Randy Carr of Knoxville has been pursuing health and fitness for years but has never quite been able to get where he wanted to be. Now, he finally feels like he's moving in the right direction.

Carr was named Thursday as the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon Biggest Winner, outpacing his competitors in overall health achievement and efforts to be an ambassador for health and fitness to the community.

The Covenant Health Biggest Winner Weight Loss Challenge is a friendly competition between members of a selected team who train together for the Knoxville Marathon. During the five-month program, team members get advice on health and fitness from Covenant Health and the Knoxville Track Club.

Covenant Health fitness advocate Missy Kane said it's not about losing weight so much as it's about gaining overall health and well-being.

"The Biggest Winner isn't all about weight loss," Kane said in a news release. "It's about changing your life and the lives of others."

Carr has lost about 12 pounds on the program, and his body fat has dropped 3.8 percent. He also dropped some mental baggage that was holding him back from reaching and keeping fitness goals.

"I was always so self-conscience," Carr said, "and always felt like the fat kid standing on the sidelines on the playground. Too afraid to jump in, and not feeling like I belonged."

All that's changed since Carr started the program in early November. In addition to guidance from a registered dietitian, exercise physiologist, physical therapist and Kane, Carr took full advantage of life coaching sessions and personal training from Chris O'Hearn at Fort Sanders Health and Fitness Center.

Carr said he's come out of his shell, so much so that he's ready to step forward and use what he's learned to help others. He credits the program with giving him the courage to pursue and obtain certification as a personal trainer. In particular, he looks forward to working with people who are in the same situation he's been in.

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Randy Carr earns 'Biggest Winner' fitness honor