Canal Winchester man becomes 'big loser,' sheds 71 pounds


CANAL WINCHESTER - The average person doesn't take too kindly to being called a "big loser," but 29-year-old Scott Shoup doesn't consider the term to be an insult.

Instead, it's a label this Canal Winchester resident proudly wears. Scott won a total of $60,000 just for shedding extra pounds.

He was a $10,000 winner in the Million Dollar Body Game, sponsored by www.beachbody.com, in August. The win qualified him for the grand prize drawing.

He took home an additional $50,000 earlier this month, after losing 71 pounds during a span of six months between 2006 and 2007. He also lost 22 percent of his body fat, trimmed 10.5 inches from his waistline, and gained 10 pounds of lean muscle during that time.

The company www.beachbody.com is giving away more than $1,000,000 to spur individuals to lose weight and get in shape using its products.

Shoup was one of six $50,000 winners recognized during an awards ceremony March 7 in Anaheim, Calif., chosen because of his physical transformation and commitment to fitness and nutrition.

Two $250,000 winners also were crowned.

Shoup's transformation began in September 2006, when he and then fiancée Amanda saw an infomercial for Turbo Jam, a "calorie-blasting" exercise program that combines kickboxing, body sculpting and the latest dance music.

Scott, a former high school football player and wrestler, had topped the scales at 213 pounds, packing on more than 70 pounds in the years following graduation. He suffered from sleep apnea, severe acid reflux and other gastrointestinal problems. The extra weight also affected his self-esteem.

"Probably one of the most humbling consequences of being so overweight was having to purchase what I like to call 'men's maternity pants,' you know the khakis with the 'superstretch waist band' for men whose bellies need a lot of extra room," Scott said in the essay that accompanied his entry.

He kissed those embarassing pants goodbye after losing nearly 50 pounds, 6 inches off his waist and 15 percent body fat following the Turbo Jam program for 90 days. He then decided to step up his exercise regimen, adding P90X, another www.beachbody.com program, to his routine.

After using P90X, Scott had washboard abs and the confidence to enter the Million Dollar Body Game.

His experience has inspired others, including Amanda, whom Scott wed on Jan. 12, 2007, in Negril, Jamaica.

"Scott's motivated me to be in better shape and to enjoy life," she said. "He's just an average guy, who lost the weight and got fit."