Who will be the Fittest Loser? Meet the five contestants

"I want to change!"

"I need this so bad!"

"I NEED HELP!"

When the Daily Herald and Live Well magazine announced the Fittest Loser Challenge, a weight-loss contest sponsored by Push Fitness, more than 130 readers clamored to participate.

As the letters poured in, they revealed years of struggle and anguish over weight.

For some, obesity has been a lifelong battle. Others gained weight gradually as adults.

Many entrants were inactive and admitted "terrible" eating habits. They had lost weight before on diets, but gained it back.

Some are haunted by their parents' early deaths. And many simply want to be able to play with their children or walk up stairs without losing their breath.

Push Fitness in Schaumburg chose five contestants. Last week, they started working out free of charge three times a week with a Push personal trainer. They'll also be expected to exercise at least twice a week on their own, and will get diet advice from a nutritionist.

Push co-owners Mark Trapp and Josh Steckler warned the workouts will be intense.

"This is going to be hard stuff," Trapp told the contestants. "It's going to hurt. You're going to wake up and be sore. I'm telling you, it's going to be a battle."

"You have to decide this is something you really want to do that you're committing yourself to."

Each competitor has a unique background and motivation.

There's the cop who has to chase bad guys. The principal setting an example for his students. The former jock getting back his competitive instinct. The single mom fighting depression. And the executive in her 40s who wants her husband to look at her the way he used to.

They have one goal in common: a desperate desire to lose weight and take control of their health. We wish them luck. We hope that their hard work and lessons learned over the next 12 weeks will offer inspiration and useful tips for our readers. Let the losing begin!

Whoever loses the greatest percentage of weight in 12 weeks will win: a $1,000 shopping spree at Deer Park Town Center; a $200 hair and makeup makeover from Hip Salon in Schaumburg, and a photo session by Essence Photo & Video in Schaumburg.

The cop

As a Hoffman Estates police officer for 23 years, Lisa Notarnicola has had to chase her share of criminals.

Once, trying to catch some kids smoking pot, she tried to flip over a fence, like she used to do easily when she was younger. But she couldn't quite make it, and her police belt got hung up on the fence.

Caught upside down in the air, she had to have her boss help her down. They caught the kids, but it was embarrassing for someone who prides herself on staying active.

Lisa, 46, grew up in Hoffman Estates and was always stocky, but played basketball, volleyball and softball in high school and college.

She loved her time in police academy, when the training put her in the best shape of her life. But after an initial test, officers don't have to meet any further fitness requirements.

Lisa patrolled the streets for 23 years, and last year started a new position as community relations officer in neighborhood schools.

She starts with one advantage by being more active than her competitors, riding a spinning bike three times a week at home.

But, she says, her "downfall" is peanut butter. When making her kids sandwiches, she'll often eat it with a spoon.

At 5-foot-4 and 185 pounds, Lisa's goals are to lose 35 to 40 pounds, get in and out of her squad car easily, and to compete in the Muddy Buddy run-and-bike obstacle course in Gilberts this August.

Growing up with four brothers made Lisa very competitive.

"Bring it on!" she said. "I'm going to win!"

The principal

Students at Holmes Junior High School in Mount Prospect are asked to write out plans for their fitness goals.

Principal Rob Bohanek is leading by example. Not only is he setting an ultimate goal of losing 100 pounds, but he announced his participation in the Fittest Loser Challenge over the school intercom.

This year, Rob helped create a fitness room for the students and faculty, with weight stations, bicycles and music.

Many schools ask for state permission to waive physical education, but showing a commitment to exercise, Holmes has P.E. every day.

Growing up in Pennsylvania, Rob used to play all kinds of high-energy sports, including soccer, but once he became an administrator, he stopped working out. He now carries 285 pounds on his 5-foot-11 frame, which makes it difficult to keep up with his wife and two children at home in St. Charles.

At age 45, he's also diabetic and has high blood pressure, so he'll have to start slower, but is determined to push beyond his current limits to salvage his health.

"I'll be giving this my very best Holmes effort," he said.

The single mom

Christine Reiss was a cheerleader and dancer at Lake Park High School in Roselle, and never had a problem with weight, though it runs in her family.

But she became mother at 22, and at 5-foot-3 has gained more than 60 pounds to 186.

She actually likes working out, but doesn't want to keep her daughter in day care more than necessary, so she spends her time at work or at home with her parents in Hanover Park.

During her first interview for the contest, when trainers asked her motivation, Christine started to cry.

"I just want it so bad," she said. "I'm just miserable. I'm sad all the time."

The more depressed she gets, the more she turns to sweets and snacks, and resorts to diets and weight pills.

To break the cycle, she hopes getting pushed by the trainers will help her feel good again. As she put it, "I need somebody to whip my butt."

The ex-jock

Eric Ronzio found out how his kids see him when they were making family characters on a Wii video game system, and made his figure a little rounder than the rest.

At 6-foot-4, Eric played multiple sports at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights and basketball at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Now, the most activity he gets is coaching his children's baseball and soccer teams at home in Arlington Heights. At age 35, his weight has ballooned 60 pounds to 276.

Just after telling his wife he needed to do something about his weight, he saw the Fittest Loser Challenge, and knew it was for him.

"I want to set a good example for them (his children)," he said. "I'm tired all the time. I want to feel better."

As a former jock, Eric thrives on competition.

"I grew up playing sports," he said, "so having a competitive event will help keep me going."

The wife

When Liesl Ignoffo went skiing with her family at Wilmot Mountain recently, she found she had to quit after a few runs.

"That was a real wake-up call," she said.

Liesl was lucky to get in the Fittest Loser Challenge. The last slot opened up after one young contestant couldn't get his doctor's approval to participate, and then the alternate found out she's pregnant.

Liesl wants to look more like she did the day her husband married her.

"He just doesn't look at me the way he used to," she wrote in her application. "It really kills me. I know long ago he used to look at me as if her were so proud to have me and now that look is gone. I long for that look from him again!"

At age 41, 5-foot-5 and 185 pounds, Liesl also hopes to get more energy for her two young children and her job as vice president of human resources for a financial company.

She's tried Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig and LA Weight Loss, and lost some weight, but with a diagnosis of hypothyroid, never reached her goal of 130.

Named for Liesl from "The Sound of Music," Liesl retains a young outlook, breaking into song to prove it.

"I am 16, going on 17..."

Like all the contestants, over the next three months, she'll need all the youthful energy she can muster.