Check out the slide show at the bottom of this page to see the beginnings and progress of Lou and Leslie Ekus.

Lose to Gain is the brainchild of Lou & Leslie Ekus, who have been fundraising for Friends of Children for the past five years. After their restaurant, Holy Smokes BBQ & Whole Hog House in West Hatfield, burned down on June 21, 2007, they started to pack on the pounds and Lou & Leslie were no skinny-minny's to begin with.

While watching one of their favorite shows, "Biggest Loser", they came up with the idea. The next day, they set out to recruit a gym who would work with them and Liz Dolby and Jeff Anderson, owners of The Body Shoppe in Greenfield, jumped at the idea. Liz and Jeff donated memberships and enlisted The Body Shoppe's staff to act as the personal task masters and auditors in keeping the couple on track. After full medical exams and approval by their physicians, Leslie and Lou had a full exercise program designed by Lindsey Anderson, an exercise kinesiologist, including weight training, flexibility, and cardio. Their nutritional plan was designed by the Body Shoppe's experienced nutritionist staff. They will be submitting themselves to an official weigh in on February 29th at the gym.

Click on this hyperlink to enter the Lose to Gain website. 

To check on Lou and Leslies progress, click on this link....Lou and Leslie Progress Report