SSHE starts off "Seattle Sutton's 2010 Slim Down" weight loss contest

Seattle Sutton's Healthy Eating (SSHE), the premier meal replacement company in the country, kicks off today its weight loss contest called Seattle Sutton's 2010 Slim Down. Seattle Sutton's 2010 Slim Down contest is the first of its kind for the nearly 25-year old company that provides freshly prepared, portion-controlled meals to thousands of people from coast-to-coast each week.

The contest is a 14-week weight loss challenge beginning today through April 12, 2010 and will provide 10 lucky contestants with the 1,200-calorie SSHE meal plan. Meals included in the contest are every breakfast, lunch and dinner for the contestants, a total of 294 meals in all, for the entire 98 days of the contest.

ACL Labs will measure contestants' glucose (blood sugar), cholesterol and triglycerides at the beginning of the contest and at the conclusion to measure their improvement of health. Blood pressure will also be recorded at the beginning and end of the contest. Contestants will be monitored weekly and weigh-in each week at their distributor locations when they pick up their SSHE meals.

The contestant who loses the most weight based on percentage of body weight loss will win the challenge. The two contestants who lose the second and third most weight based on percentage of body weight lost will also win prizes.

The 10 Seattle Sutton's 2010 Slim Down finalists competing for improved health and great prizes are:

• Andrea L., 46 years old from Flossmoor, Ill.
• Denise A., 50 years old from Hazlecrest, Ill.
• Donna N., 64 years old from Bloomingdale, Ill.
• Heidi W., 23 years old from Chicago, Ill.
• Linda R., 50 years old from Palatine, Ill.
• Martha I., 61 years old from Chicago, Ill.
• Michael K., 41 years old from Spring Grove, Ill.
• Paul Q., 40 years old from Westmont, Ill.
• Phil P., 39 years old from Chicago, Ill.
• Tim G., 51 years old from Aurora, Ill.

The 10 finalists were chosen from thousands of entries accepted from October 5, 2009 through October 26, 2009 from web and mail entries. To learn more about the contest visit seattlesutton.com and read the official rules. Or, follow along with the contestants, go to chicagonow.com/seattlesutton for up-to-date progress.

Prizes for the Seattle Sutton's 2010 Slim Down contest for those who lose the most weight based on percentage of body weight lost are:

• Grand prize is a trip to Orlando for 4 days/3 nights to Universal Orlando Resort. The grand prize is for 4 people and includes roundtrip coach class airfare, ground transfers, hotel accommodations at the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort and passes to Universal Studios Florida.
• First place prize is $1,000 cash.
• Second place prize is 5 weeks of SSHE 1200-calorie meal plan.

Seattle Sutton, founder and president of Seattle Sutton's Healthy Eating said, "I'm overjoyed at the possibility of helping these 10 people change their lives for good. Healthy eating is essential in overall good health. Good health is the most important asset one has in life, without it, nothing else matters...your car, home or material possessions mean nothing without good health."

"Taking on a weight loss challenge like this is very courageous, since habits can be difficult to break. But habits are breakable and health can be re-gained through healthy eating. I've seen it time and again through helping people with our freshly prepared meals and as a registered nurse," Sutton said.

Sutton continued, "I'll be rooting each and every one of our 10 finalists on. I want each of them to succeed and live a healthier life for them and their families."

Seattle Sutton's 2010 Slim Down contest is sponsored by SSHE in cooperation with the Tribune Media Group, and ACL Laboratories.